ISAAC Canada is excited to announce a new scholarship acknowledging Anne Warrick’s hard work, dedication, and many contributions to AAC and to ISAAC in Canada and globally. Anne devoted more than 50 years of her life to helping physically disabled children overcome speech and language difficulties. This scholarship was officially announced at the 2014 ISAAC Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, during our ISAAC Canada meeting. ISAAC Canada has committed $1500 to start the scholarship fund and others are able to donate to the scholarship fund if they wish. Members are able to donate to the scholarship fund when at any time by visiting the donation page.
What is the Anne Warrick Breaking the ICE Scholarship?
The Anne Warrick Breaking the ICE Conference Scholarship will be awarded when a Breaking the ICE conference is held anywhere in Canada. The number of scholarships awarded at each conference will depend on the number of applications received and the current funds available.
Who can apply?
Any individual who uses AAC and is a new or returning participant at a Breaking the ICE Conference can apply.
How do you apply?
To apply, please complete the application form.
Who was Anne Warrick?
Anne was born in Harrold, England, and immigrated to Canada in 1957 with her husband. They initially lived in Vancouver where she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a centre for children with cerebral palsy. They soon moved to Ottawa when her husband, who worked in the federal government’s Department of Transport, was transferred. Anne dedicated her life’s work to helping physically disabled children lead a more rewarding and fulfilling life. These efforts included her employment responsibilities as well as many volunteer and complementary activities such as memberships in professional associations, presentations at conferences and symposiums, and papers and articles on various aspects of speech-language pathology.
Her activities also transcended geographical boundaries, sharing her expertise and knowledge with countless associations and individuals in countries as diverse as Africa, India, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States. Anne continued to be as busy as ever after her retirement in 1993, travelling to Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Poland, Calcutta, etc.
Anne pioneered the creation of the Developing Countries Committee of ISAAC, was its first chairperson, and did much to facilitate the development of Augmentative and Alternative Communication in these countries. She was instrumental in developing a firm foundation for AAC in India through the Spastics Society of Eastern India.
Anne was always active on a number of professional associations including CASLPO – The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario; OSLA – Ontario Association of Speech- Language Pathologists and Audiologists; BCI – Blissymbolics Communication International; ISAAC – International Society for Alternative and Augmentative Communication; CSIH – Canadian Society for International health; and OFCP – Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy. She also served as the Chairperson, Developing Countries Committee, ISAAC; Research Advisor, Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, Calcutta, India; and Member, International Panel for the Development of Blissymbolics, BCI.
Anne’s accomplishments in the field of speech-language pathology are far too numerous to detail here.
The inherent caring and thoughtfulness that Anne demonstrated was intensified by a personal trauma. The detection of a neurological kind of cancer in 1967 resulted in the amputation of her right arm. While working at The Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre she was always available to talk with families about the issues of amputation and to demonstrate in an inspirational way, the way she was able to conduct her life despite this. Anne was hit again with cancer later in life and sadly lost her battle on November 17, 2014.
Fortunately Anne was informed of the scholarship being established in her name this past summer. She was thrilled with the announcement and the following is her response:
“Thank you so much. To say that I was stunned would be an understatement but now, a few hours later, I am thrilled. Thank you so much, and thanks also to the friends and colleagues who have been instrumental in awarding me the honor of this scholarship: the Anne Warrick Breaking the Ice Conference Scholarship. You caused me to reflect on the many AAC based friendships, worldwide and in Canada, that I have developed over the years; friends who worked cooperatively with me through AAC’s formative years and beyond, and who are still there for me now during my retirement. I am appreciative and thankful for them all. In addition I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a member and a volunteer for ISAAC.
In common with so many of my AAC colleagues, going to ‘work’ was never work for me but rather an exciting, challenging and welcome event. The opportunity to know so many exceptional children and adults who rely on AAC to communicate, has given me a vast number of experiences and relationships to remember. I am grateful to them all.
As you will know Breaking the ICE, with its immediate focus on individuals who rely on AAC and their families, is a very special conference. The fact that Breaking the ICE will continue to develop is significant and important. I send very best wishes to the Ice committee for their continued commitment to the expansion of Breaking the Ice across Canada. To be awarded the honor of this scholarship is beyond anything I had dreamed of.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely, Anne