MS Society, Greater Kingston Area-Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Chapter

Breaking News! The deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and determine eligibility for the one-time payment to persons with disabilities, has... been extended to December 31, 2020. This extension will ensure that more Canadians with disabilities have access to the one-time payment, which will help with additional expenses incurred during COVID-19. Also, being eligible for the DTC can help one access other federal, provincial, or territorial programs such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Canada Workers Benefit, and the Child Disability Benefit. https://bit.ly/2HsKZqh Image description : Graphic displaying accessible symbols and the following text: "New DTC application deadline for the one-time payment: December 31, 2020"

The Battle of the Blades is back, and we're thrilled to announce that former Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes left winger Bryan Bickell and his skatin...g partner Kaitlyn Weaver will be competing this year. Bryan, who was diagnosed with MS in 2016, has chosen the Bickell Foundation as his charity of choice in support of the MS Society of Canada. This means that if Bryan and Kaitlyn take home the top prize of $100,000, 10% will be donated to the MS Society of Canada in support of our enhance well-being initiatives. Stay tuned on our social channels for more information on how to vote and support them this season, starting on October 22!

Most teachers remember their first year in the classroom. Spencer Davis, a first-year teacher who was diagnosed with MS last year, is starting his career teachi...ng in the cyber school program as a result of the pandemic. On his first day of school, he wasn’t in front of his computer in his make-shift home classroom. Instead, he was in a hospital chair at the MS Clinic in Saskatoon, receiving another round of his infusion treatment for his MS. He was back to welcome his students to their new virtual classroom the very next day. There’s kind of a buzz around the students that you don’t usually see because they went so long without school. Now they’re back and they’re excited! I think there’s that deeper appreciation now for education. But I would also say just in general that there’s a deep appreciation for a lot of things that we took for granted before COVID-19 hit. Spencer is navigating a new world not only as a newly diagnosed person living with MS, but as a brand new teacher. Read more about his MS journey in our latest blog post Lessons From Cyber School: A First-Year Teacher during COVID-19: https://bit.ly/35fzKJK.

Are you having trouble making sense of a new diagnosis? Do you wonder what the future might hold? This month, we’re hosting a three-part webinar series for peop...le who are just beginning their MS journey or close loved ones who want to learn more. We understand that being diagnosed with MS can be an overwhelming and confusing time, and we want to support anyone newly diagnosed in managing the emotional, physical, and psychological impact of their diagnosis. Our next two sessions will take place on October 17 and October 24 at 12:30 PM ET / 9:30 AM PT on a variety of topics. Registration is free for all attendees. Register today: bit.ly/2T7ywe1

Let’s talk about mental health. I’ve always had struggles with anxiety and depression, but it was really impacted when I was diagnosed with MS two years ago. I... went to sleep one night and woke up numb on both sides from my chest down. Within four days, I was admitted to the hospital and needed a walker and a wheelchair. I had an MRI right away and was diagnosed within a week of those first symptoms. Being told you have a progressive chronic disease with no cure hurts. It screws with your head and your heart. Feeling like you’re a burden to your family, even when they lovingly assure you through their actions that you aren’t, messes with your mental health in indescribable ways. This #WorldMentalHealthDay arrives at a time when our entire lives have changed in ways that none of us could have anticipated. There are new challenges we’re still trying to balance: our work lives, home lives, school, kids, aging parents, and of course, our health and safety amidst the pandemic. These issues have brought a plethora of emotions that are running high with many, and for people with mental health conditions, the depth of those emotions has increased substantially. My advice? Talk about it, cry about it, scream about it. And when you get it all out, look for positive ways to manage it. For me, pet therapy has been key. My spouse adopted a dog for us shortly after my diagnosis and my fur baby has helped make every difficult moment so much better. For anyone living with MS, know that it’s okay to not always feel okay. Living with MS and dealing with mental health challenges doesn’t need to be a barrier to living a full life. It just means we need to adjust our path. Amelia, diagnosed in 2018. In our newest blog, Amelia talks about her experiences with depression and anxiety, and shares her insight as to how she personally copes with these challenges: https://bit.ly/2GTlg9D