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Access Equity

Students living with identified disabilities (including physical, sensory, learning, or mental health), may find it necessary to request some adaptation to reduce barriers in learning or living situations at College. The Student Care & Career Centre includes Access Equity Services, designed to assist you as an effective self-advocate in the pursuit of equity and reasonable access & accommodation. Access Equity also assists the wider CBC community to develop appropriate responses toward issues of ability, disability & access on our campus.

Students pursuing special sources of funding for disability services (i.e. Canada Study Grants) are encouraged to consult with the Director for Access Equity as soon as possible after Admission to CBC.

Here are some general, but important, details to keep in mind:

• Access Equity Services must be initiated by self-identification; without it, the College will not implement any accommodation plan. Students who believe their specific circumstances require accommodation will be required to supply appropriate documentation in a timely manner, and to participate fully in the access development process.

• Students are not required to use Access Equity support while at Columbia. Students who live with limitations imposed by disability, but who do not choose College-supported assistance, will be assumed by the College not to be in need of accommodations for equitable access.

• Appropriate (reasonable) accommodations in structures or procedures within Academic, Community Life (Residence or Commuter), Registration, Food Service or other departments will be recommended by AE Services as necessary. Students should be aware that accommodation solutions are developed on an individual basis, and will be designed in keeping with the best interests of the individual student, the College community, and CBC’s academic standards

• It is important to be aware of the differences between the terms “equity” and “equal” as applied at Columbia Bible College. Where the concept “equal” concerns the state of being identical in number, size, amount, position, status or treatment, the concept of “equity” pursues justice, fairness, and a reasonable equivalency of treatment or position across differing situations. CBC’s Access Equity Services are designed to promote equitable, not equal, circumstances.

If you would like to explore Access Equity Services for your Columbia experience, please contact the Director: Karin.Gregory@columbiabc.edu

Wellness Services

Wellness Services at CBC are part of the Student Care & Career Centre. We're still developing our programming and resources for 2008 - 2009, so check this page a little later for information on services, referrals and events.

In the meantime..........it won't hurt to be prepared for virus, cold & flu season when College begins again in September, so read on!!

HEALTH ALERT FOR CBC STUDENTS:

INFECTIOUS MUMPS ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN THE FRASER VALLEY

As the new academic year begins, Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health Regions are advising parents of young children, youth, & young adults of a serious outbreak of Mumps in the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland & Metro Vancouver area. While the outbreak was first identified in February 2008, it has continued to expand in both the numbers of confirmed cases, and the geographical areas involved. Public Health authorities express significant concern over the potential for this outbreak to gather even greater momentum with upcoming September school openings.

Even though people often think of mumps as "just one of those things kids get", it can be a really big deal, especially the older you are!!!

Symptoms & effects of the mumps can range from the common & simple, (fever, painful swallowing due to swollen salivary glands), to rare & extreme (arthritis, testicular damage, sterility, pregancy complications, encephalitis, meningitis, and other serious, even life-threatening illnesses).

The College will continue to track and follow the recommendations of Fraser Health concerning the current mumps outbreak. Updated information and advisories will be posted here as available.

For more information about mumps, symptoms, and prevention measures (including innoculations), check out the Fraser Health Authority website: www.fraserhealth.ca/HealthTopics/CommunicableDiseases/mumps. The Abbotsford Health Unit Mumps Information Line provides information on who qualifies for vaccinations and dates of the up coming public clinics. Call 604-864-3486.

(August 31, 2008)

It’s that season again…coughs, chills, headaches, drips and all the other icky stuff that adds up to THE FLU !

Your friendly and helpful staff of the Student Care and Career Centre have done some investigating to provide you with some handy tips on staying healthy this flu season! For more information, come by and see us!

What is influenza?

Influenza, often called the 'flu', is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by a virus.

Symptoms of influenza that occur throughout the body are due to the immune response to infection, but the virus usually stays in the airways. Influenza symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, extreme tiredness, and cough. Although colds and other viruses may cause similar symptoms, symptoms due to the influenza virus tend to be worse.

How is influenza spread?

Influenza spreads easily from person to person through breathing, coughing and sneezing. The virus can also be spread when a person touches tiny droplets from coughs or sneezes on another person or on an object, and then touches their own mouth or nose before washing their hands.

Symptoms can begin about one to four days, with an average of two days, after a person is first exposed to the influenza virus. Fever and other body symptoms can usually last seven to 10 days, with the cough and weakness possibly lasting up to one to two weeks more.

An infected person can spread the influenza virus to others even before feeling sick. An infected adult can spread the virus from about one day before and up to five days after symptoms start. Children can spread the virus for a longer time - up to 21 days after symptoms start.

How can influenza be prevented?

An influenza shot, also known as a flu shot, can help prevent you from getting sick with influenza or from spreading it to others. That's why it's important for children, adults, and seniors, especially those with ongoing health concerns, to protect themselves against this winter illness.

In BC the vaccine will be available starting in early November. It is best to get the influenza vaccine by the end of November to give the body enough time - about two weeks - to build up immunity before the influenza season starts. Influenza season is usually between December and March. The vaccine can however offer protection if given at any time during the influenza season.

How dangerous is influenza?

The greatest concern from influenza is that it lowers the body's ability to fight other infections. A person with influenza is at risk of developing other infections, including viral or bacterial pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs). The risk of developing severe symptoms and complications is higher for adults 65 years and older, very young children, and people who have lung or heart diseases, certain chronic health problems, or weakened immune systems.

How can influenza be treated at home?

If you do get sick with influenza, home treatment can help to ease symptoms. Home treatment may include:

• Get plenty of rest. Bed rest will help you avoid spreading the virus to others.
• Drink plenty of extra fluids to replace those lost from fever.
• Avoid smoking and breathing other people's smoke.
• Breathe moist air from a hot shower or from a sink filled with hot water to help clear a stuffy nose.
• Over the counter medications can help relieve symptoms such as pain and fever. Non-prescription influenza remedies are available in the drug store, similar to cold remedies.
• Anti-influenza drugs (antivirals) are available by prescription from your doctor but must be started early. They will shorten symptoms by about 1.5 days if given within 2 days of symptoms starting and by 3 days if given within 12 hours of the start of symptoms.

Source: BC Health Guide: BC Health File #12b, September 2006)

Flu Prevention Checklist

• Get an annual flu shot
• Wash your hands frequently! Twenty seconds of hand washing with warm water and soap helps remove bacteria and viruses. Remember to wash before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching other surfaces that may have been contaminated by other people.
• Cover up when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue, or raise your arm to your face t cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands immediately.
• Keep shared surfaces clean. Doorknobs, light switches, telephones, keyboards and other surfaces can become contaminated with all kinds of bacteria and viruses. Regular cleaning and disinfecting will help keep things clean.
• If you get sick, stay at home! If you go out when you are sick, you may spread your illness to co-workers, classmates, neighbors or others. It may take longer to get better if you are not well rested. Wait until you no longer have a fever and your cough is improving before venturing out.

(Source - Public Health Agency of Canada)

It's true...........Flu Shots Work!!!

• Information Line -604-864-3486
• BC Nurses Line 1-866-215-4700
• Abbotsford Health Unit 604-864-3400

For more information check out:

Canada Coalition for Immunization and Awareness: http://www.immunize.cpha.ca/english/consumer/adults/adltflu/fluyou.html

Hand Washing

Is it important to wash your hands?

Simply put, yes. Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. You can spread certain "germs" (a general term for microbes like viruses and bacteria) casually by touching another person. You can also catch germs when you touch contaminated objects or surfaces and then you touch your face (mouth, eyes, and nose).

"Good" hand washing techniques include using an adequate amount of soap, rubbing the hands together to create friction, and rinsing under running water. The use of gloves is not a substitute for hand washing.

When should I wash my hands?

Different situations where people can pick up "germs" include:

• when hands are visibly soiled
• after using the washroom (includes changing diapers)
• after blowing your nose or after sneezing in your hands
• before and after eating, handling food, drinking or smoking
• after touching raw meat, poultry, or fish
• after handling garbage
• visiting or caring for sick people
• handling pets, animals or animal waste.

Ensuring that you wash your hands properly after using the washroom is very important in reducing disease transmission of stomach "flus" (which really is not a "flu" or influenza) and other gastrointestinal infections. Using soap and lathering up is very important (rinsing hands in water only is not as effective). Use comfortably warm, running water. Hands should be washed for a minimum of 10 seconds - longer if the hands are visibly soiled. To help people (especially children) wash long enough, one option may be to sing a short song such as "Happy Birthday". The idea of surgeons scrubbing for an operation (as on TV) is very similar.

How do I properly wash my hands?

For effective hand washing, follow these steps:

• remove any rings or other jewelry
• use warm water and wet your hands thoroughly
• use soap (1-3 mL) and lather very well
• scrub your hands, between your fingers, wrists, and forearms with soap for 10 seconds (remember......that's about the same time as one chorus of "Happy Birthday" or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"!!)
• scrub under your nails
• rinse thoroughly
• turn off the taps/faucets with a paper towel
• dry your hands with a single use towel or air dryer
• protect your hands from touching dirty surfaces as you leave the bathroom

Published by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety - http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/washing_hands.html

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