Dreamcatchers to be Featured in The Toastmaster Magazine

Originally published 41-4 May 2007

Submitted by Kim Forster

The Dreamcatchers have celebrated two years in Red Deer, and now they will be profiled in an upcoming edition of The Toastmaster magazine.

The Dreamcatchers Toastmasters Club is like any other Toastmaster Club with one difference. 81% of its founding members have a developmental disability like Down’s Syndrome, Autism and other conditions causing cognitive and physical impairments.

The club has added support for developing assistive aids to help individuals with their speeches and other club duties.

With these supports, the 30+ members of the club have overcome many challenges and are giving speeches in pursuit of their educational goals.

The Dreamcatchers Club is a result of a partnership with Red Deer’s Sun- rise Toastmasters Club and Cosmos Rehabilitation Society, an organization which supports people with disabilities.

Cosmos developed an initiative involving people with disabilities making presentations and needed a way to train its presenters in public speaking. Sunrise Toastmasters Club decided to support Cosmos by providing them with a Speech Craft Course. Once the course was finished, the participants decided they wanted their own club. The Dreamcatchers Club was chartered in April 2005.