Physical therapy professor takes a seat for charity

University of Alberta professor Jaynie Yang, PhD, has decided to sit down for what?s right.

31 May 2011

University of Alberta professor Jaynie Yang, PhD, has decided to sit down for what's right. Yang, a physical therapy professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, spent the entire day in a wheelchair on Friday to raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

The fundraiser was the second Chair-Leaders 'Enabling Access' event to take place in Edmonton. By donating her time, Yang hopes to allow the Canadian Paraplegic Association to continue working towards its goal of a barrier-free society.

"The CPA has been very helpful to me over many years so I'm happy to help them," says Yang.

As a PT researcher, Yang fully understands the difficulties that individuals in wheelchairs face and the assistance that the Canadian Paraplegic Association provides them with.

"I've been studying individuals with spinal cord injury for many years, so I know first-hand that CPA does great work with victims of spinal cord injury throughout the province."

The Canadian Paraplegic Association hopes that the experience has given participants a sense of what life is like for individuals in wheelchairs. The ultimate goal is to create a movement towards a barrier-free society.

"Our goal is to help individuals with mobility disabilities achieve independence, integration and acceptance while allowing full community participation." says Aaron Tarnowski, community development coordinator with the Canadian Paraplegic Association's Alberta division.

The annual event calls for respected community leaders to spend an entire work day conducting their business from a wheelchair. This year's event saw Yang alongside 23 other Edmonton community representatives, including Mayor Stephen Mandel.

The day began at the Terwilliger Community Recreation Centre, a facility that recently won an award for innovation in accessibility. Participants maneuvered obstacle courses inside before heading off to start their day.

"I do a lot of running around normally, so being in a chair really limited things for me," says Yang. "I also had to clean my office so that the wheelchair could get to my desk!"

Yang and the Canadian Paraplegic Association will be collecting pledges until June 10, 2011. For more information on the event or how to donate, visit the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Alberta's website: www.cpa-ab.org

Photo: Dr. Jaynie Yang maneuvers an obstacle course in a wheelchair at a Canadian Paraplegic Association fundraiser.

About the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

As the only free standing faculty of rehabilitation in Canada, the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine balances its activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice). A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries and common spinal disorders (back pain), the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in our community. The three departments, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) offer professional entry programs. The Faculty offers thesis-based MSc and PhD programs in Rehabilitation Science, attracting students from a variety of disciplines including OT, PT, SLP, psychology, physical education, medicine and engineering.