Danika

I have learned so much about patience and how to adapt to specific needs of different individuals in a group setting,

says Danika Milne, a volunteer at CPABC’s Surrey Dance Without Limits program. She feels that one of the best things to do when working with people with cerebral palsy or any other disability is to encourage them. That is certainly the case with Danika who, according to Lindsay Macleod, Programs Coordinator at CPABC, “really gets to know the participants individually by talking with and engaging them in the different movements they are doing.”

Another asset that Danika brings to the dance program is the plethora of knowledge of having been in the sport for 15 years. “The easiest way to keep yourself active without making it feel like a chore is to find something you really love to do,” says the Surrey resident. Her favourite aspect of CPABC is that the Association teaches those with cerebral palsy and other disabilities to live a life without limits. Danika embodies the same type of philosophy in life through her dedication to her goals and putting 100 percent into anything she does.

Opportunities to grow and learn

She believes that the programs that the Association runs provide an opportunity for participants to grow and learn in an accepting environment. Danika, who is also studying Sport Science at Douglas College, comments, “from instructors to volunteers, there is always more than enough encouragement to go around, allowing everyone to strive to reach their full potential.”

Danika has confidence that society is starting to understand people with disabilities better through interacting with them and believes that there should be less segregation. Moreover, she feels that everyone would benefit from learning from each other about how to live life, due to the fact that each person is unique and different. She is thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the participants’ lives in a physical and social way and the CPABC is grateful in return for her contribution.