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In April of this year I heard of Bill from another client of his. At the time I was depressed, frustrated, angry, my hope gone, a loss of confidence in myself, and starting to doubt my own sanity. I had been in a car accident eight years previous: that's when my constant pain began, the mental anxiety of dealing with legal matters, trying to cope with my own limitations and disabilities, etc.
One meeting with Bill and I felt like I got my life back. My depression is now gone, and I have hope again. Is it his understanding? Belief in what I'm saying is the truth? I'm not a criminal, but rather a victim of circumstance. is this a human rights issue?
Bill told me how he has continued on his own to successfully help over 6000 clients. I asked him, "Why do you do this Bill?" His answer was "Somebody's got to do it!" He has done this with absolutely no financial gain for himself, but instead to do what, from what I've seen, is an absolute passion for him. Has this been a purpose of Bill's life: to make a difference? My next question was "Bill, with your capabilities 7 knowledge, why aren't you employed?" His response was " one would hire me. From my own personal experience, I do not wish for other to go through what I have."
I have watched Bill first hand, at what he is doing, and I know without a doubt, this agency is needed. Now, I'm volunteering whenever I can to help. Changed attitudes and education are need for the disabled. We have the intelligence! could it be the attitude of the general public, and attitude of governments, that needs changing?
- M.J Korte, Saskatoon
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Addiction
In March of 2005, Bill was approached by a 26 year old man who was addicted to Crystal Meth and Crack Cocaine. He told Bill of his concerns about wanting to get off these drugs, not only for himself, but because of his younger brother, who had also started using drugs. He wanted to be able to set an example so that his brother would not continue following down the same road of addiction. He felt as though he was killing his brother, by leading him into the world of addiction. He also wanted his family back, which had turned away from him because of his untrustworthiness. He didn’t blame them for not wanting to associate with him. Over the course of the year and a half he approached Bill three times. He approached Bill for the fourth time in June of 2006. Bill told David that if he would make up his mind to quit, he would do what he could to help him. Bill asked a friend of his who owned a concrete business in Saskatoon if he would be willing to take a chance on this man. That same day, he jumped at the chance to help David, putting his money where his mouth was, so to speak, by having one of his men take David out to one of the sites in small town Saskatchewan where there were no drug problems, or personal connections of David’s. He has not touched drugs since.
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Abuse
In 1996 a young woman came to the William J. Olson Advocacy Corporation asking for assistance in getting out of an abusive situation that she was living in. She had been physically and psychologically abused by her common-law husband for the past two years. She had attempted to leave him on many occasions. He always hunted her down no matter where she went. The William J. Olson Advocacy Corporation made arrangements with the Department of Social Services to pay for her travel to a women's abuse centre in Ontario. The Agency set precedence by sending her out of province for treatment. It has now been ten years since she left and never went back into an abusive lifestyle.
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Medical
In 1996 the William J. Olson Advocacy Corporation was approached by Home Oxygen, which had concerns about Saskatchewan Health not paying for liquid oxygen (5 lbs.), which is a lighter alternative to gas oxygen (14lbs). The decision of Saskatchewan Health to no longer pay for liquid oxygen was a result of a committee of respiratory therapists and doctors. The William J. Olson Advocacy Corp. as well as Home Oxygen felt that the decision was detrimental to the health of individuals with COPD (Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease), and other respiratory problems. Research showed that the heavy oxygen tanks prevented people from getting the necessary exercise needed. Without this necessary exercise, it actually put more people into the hospital, costing Saskatchewan Health more money for hospital stay than it would to pay for the oxygen. Saskatchewan Health agreed with the findings from William J. Olson Advocacy, and restored payment of liquid oxygen in this province. As a result of this reversal, the first Saskatchewan Health Appeal board was set up.
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