• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC

Life Without Limits

  • Donate
  • Support Hotline: 604-408-9484 / 1-800-663-0004
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Main navigation

  • About Us
    • About Cerebral Palsy
    • Mission & Vision
    • History of CPABC
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Programs & Services

    Workshops

    • Legal Resources

    Recreation

    • Photo & Video Release
    • Programs Calendar
    • Adapted Yoga
    • Dance Without Limits
    • Movement Therapy

    Support & Referrals

    • Family & Individual Support
    • CP Connections

    Financial Resources

    • Camperships
    • Equipment Subsidy
    • Janna Epp Bursary
    • Education Bursaries

    Resources

    • Cerebral Palsy Awareness Project on Vancouver Island
    • Vancouver Island Resource Guides
    • Resource Links
      • Resource Links: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Publications
      • Lending Library
    • Disability Awareness Presentations
  • Events
    • Annual General Meeting
    • World CP Day | BC 4 CP
    • Get Fit for CP Challenge
  • News & Media
    • Subscribe to our eNewsletter
    • News Blog
    • Youth Blog
    • In the Media
    • Communications Etiquette
  • Our Impact
    • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Annual Reports
  • Membership
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Reasons to Donate
    • Other Ways to Give
    • Host a fundraising event
    • Corporate Giving
    • Donors & Supporters
  • First Diagnosis

News Blog · June 21, 2016

Making a giant leap forward and pursuing his dreams – Shayne De Wildt

By Dan Chalcraft

Shayne De Wildt photo

 

“I’ve always been good with technology and would consider myself to be technology geek,” says Shayne De Wildt, who lives with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia which affects his mobility. He is on the right path towards a career in information technology and loves what he is doing. “I’m always into the latest tech and I enjoy working with people. Some would say I talk too much.”

 

Giant leap forward

Shayne received early support in academics from his high school Support Education Assistant (SEA). Following high school, he decided to attend Capilano University in order to experience school with all its possibilities and challenges. Being in a power wheelchair posed some difficulties, as there were times when the elevator was out of order and he had to be carried upstairs. He also struggled to write essays as he has memory issues.

“Last year was when I decided to listen to [my mom] and switch to a more practical school and I am doing really well in it so far,” he says. He recently completed the A+ Hardware Technician course which taught him valuable skills to help prepare for a career in IT. He hopes to enter an IT program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in September. “If I was giving advice, I would recommend really thinking about what you’re good at and go for it. I chose this path because I love technology and helping people solve their issues. I am a people person and I love giving back to society.”

 

The disability community

De Wildt has been on the North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues for nearly six years. He also gives back by helping out at preteen dances at his local community centre once a month for many years, and recently he started volunteering at a senior iPad class once a week. In addition, he is active in sports including international-level power soccer.

Through the adapted yoga program offered by the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC, he learned about other CPABC programs and services such as the Tanabe Bursary which is a $1,000 scholarship to assist students with cerebral palsy wishing to pursue a post-secondary education. Eleven students received the award in 2015. Shayne received the bursary in both 2014 and 2015.

The 24-year-old is excited about pursuing a career in IT, although he acknowledges that the field still comes with challenges for those living with cerebral palsy. “I sometimes find that people can’t understand me so I have to repeat myself or say it differently. I also happen to be in a power wheelchair which is an issue within itself.”  But he says that you need to be prepared to fight for what you want and to keep going even if someone tells you that you can’t.

 

Pursuing his dreams

“I’ve found out the harder way that education is important, especially for those with disabilities as society has a misconception that people with disabilities don’t lead a normal life. I live on my own in a wonderful city, but it’s hard sometimes to think that someone with a disability needs to work doubly as hard as an able-bodied person to be somebody and to be accepted in to society.”

Shayne is embarking an exciting journey to a new career in IT. “The Tanabe bursary is helping me to get one step closer to that goal,” he says.

“The bursary enables me to go back to study to get in the field that I love and want to get in to”.

 

The CPABC is happy to assist him in living his Life Without Limits!


Live Life Without Limits!
Apply for Bursary Now


Related Posts

  • laptop screen and notebook imageLuke Boyko’s Journey in University World with the Help of the Tanabe Bursary
  • Portrait of MatthewMatthew’s Campership Story
  • Letter blocksParenting Out Of The Abyss
  • Dear members: “Straw ban” stigma and response

Filed Under: News Blog Tagged With: Cerebral Palsy, education, impact story, tanabe, Tanabe bursary

Previous Post: « Seeing the strengths – Renaud Law Group and the CPABC
Next Post: We Regret to Inform you… –Interview with the directors: Dr. Heidi Janz & Eva Colmers »

Primary Sidebar

CPABC Brochure
Download our CPABC Brochure 2015

Categories

  • Adapted Recreation (3)
  • Aging (2)
  • Blog (33)
  • Child Care and Development (6)
  • Events (10)
  • Financial Supports (2)
  • Health (5)
  • Home Features (6)
  • Impact Stories (27)
  • In the Media (30)
  • News Blog (277)
  • Seniors (2)
  • Trust & Estate Planning (2)
  • Youth Blog (34)
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Footer

About CPABC

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia is a non-profit organization. Our vision is to create a Life Without Limits for people with disabilities.

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC An affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy

Support Us

Find a Clothing Bin Near You
Become a Member
Volunteer
Donate

Charitable Registration
BN 10690 4204 RR0001

Contact Us

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia
330 – 409 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada  V6C 1T2

Telephone: 604.408.9484
Toll-free: 1.800.663.0004
info@bccerebralpalsy.com

Join Our Mailing List →

© 2023 Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia, an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy · Website by TM · Site Map