Creating a full life is important for so many reasons.
All of us want to be full citizens, with a meaningful life. Planning for individuals with disabilities is a way to create a more satisfying and safer life. Having people who care about your welfare and see you on a regular basis creates a way for you to be safe. This includes being in places that people remember and look for you such as a neighbourhood coffee shop, club or church. Families may think about their son or daughter having a membership in local gyms or joining activities such as a yoga or hobby groups. Belonging to organizations such as Scouts, Girl Guides, Special Olympics or volunteering in an area of interest, or being a cheerleader or champion for a sports group also create connections. With time, these might be places where you eventually find employment or develop friendships.
People also need to plan ways to have a healthy break from one another in a family. Building on activities with others helps to strengthen those connections and opportunities. We have provided some links of places to explore, but this is just the tip of the iceberg- talk to others and we’re sure you’ll think of other places and resources in our community.
Planning means finding ways to make sure that these activities and connections happen regularly. Perhaps a relative, Direct support/respite support worker or volunteer could help you with this. Think about how you want to use this support and opportunity. “Individual activities often involve some positive elements – pleasant events, positive interactions, maybe even some skill development. But unless they are strategically focused on deepening connections, activities alone are unlikely to lead towards meaningful relationships and community contributions.” (David and Faye Wetherow)
Families may also wish to think about developing a group of trusted friends and supporters to form a “circle of support”. A circle or support network can help to foster opportunities for the individual with a disability, provide enriched connections to the community and ultimately lead to help with decision making. Support networks can be an important source of support and friendship throughout a person’s life, including in their school. Support networks help people to think of new ideas and opportunities, share information and decision making, join in celebration and have fun, be there during difficult times and help to ensure that the person is safe and secure. Over time the group may choose to become an incorporated group known as a “Microboard” which helps to ensure that the choices of the individual are protected beyond the life of the parents or caregivers. Vela Canada developed this concept and it is growing in Ontario. Microboard members spend time with the person, helping them to be active and contribute to the community and make decisions for a healthy life. Microboard and circle members are not paid and are there because they want to be. Information about Support Networks/Circles and Microboards is available through Windsor Essex Family Network, Windsor Essex Brokerage for Personal Supports, Community Living Windsor, Family Respite Services and info@microboardsontario.com.
Website: Microboards Ontario – Microboards Ontario
Website: Circles of Support | Resourcing Inclusive Communities (ric.org.au)
Helpful Links :
Ability Online
Ability Online is a free internet community. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to hang out, make friends, and feel good about yourself then Ability Online is the place for you. On Ability Online, everyone looks the same—we’re just friends meeting friends.
Access 2 Entertainment Card
The Access 2 Card program helps to ensure that entertainment, cultural and recreational opportunities are more available and accessible to all. It provides free admission (or a substantial discount) for the support person that accompanies a person with a disability at all participating entertainment venues.
c/o Easter Seals Canada
40 Holly St. Suite #401
Toronto, ON M4S 3C8
1-416-932-8382 ext. 227
Autism Ontario Windsor-Essex Chapter
One of the largest Chapters in Ontario supporting families in our community.
1168 Drouillard Road
Windsor, ON N8Y 2R1
519-250-9410
www.autismontario.com/chapters/windsor-essex
Autism Services Inc. of Windsor-Essex County
This agency services the needs of those in our community with ASD and the people who are close to them. Maryvale Campus, Cottage 2
3640 Wells Street
Windsor, ON N9C 1T9
519-966-7283
Harmony in Action
HIA provides day, evening and weekend activities for adults with physical and or developmental disabilities. 3335 Woodward Blvd.
Windsor, ON
519-252-5871
ICA
Offers a wide variety of sports and recreation programs for individuals of all ages. Membership required. www.icha.ca
JMCC Transition Planning is available for youth receiving services from JMCC and may include preparing for life transitions and the future, helping parents advocate for services for their child, helping parents and young adults’ access available resources in the adult sector and a transition clinic.
3945 Matchette Road
Windsor, ON N9C 4C2
519-252-7281
www.jmccentre.ca
LDAWE
The main purpose of LDAWE is to provide information and referral services to individuals, parents, professions, and other people interested in learning disabilities and ADHD
3640 Wells Street, Cottage 6
Windsor, ON N9C 1T9
519-252-7889
SECC – Employment and Training Services
SECC provides persons with a self-identified disability, a variety of resources and interventions, to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment.
519-326-8629
Special Olympics Ontario
Provides athletic opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities between the ages 8 to 80. Its ultimate goal is to bring athletes together for fun, friendship, and competition.
Windsor ICHA
Cindy LaBrecque
clabrecque@cogeco.ca
icha@thesoccerplace.ca
Windsor Club
Lis Sorensen
Windsor.caboto@specialolympicsontario.ca
Special Equestrians Therapeutic Riding Association (SpEqTRA)
Provides an individually focused program and a joyful space, for our clients to explore this unique, and proven from of equine therapy and recreation.
3100 McCormick Road
Harrow, ON
info@speqtra.ca
519-322-8365
CICE Regular programs and CICE Program at St. Clair College
United Way
Windsor-Essex Brokerage for Personal Supports
Provides individuals the opportunity for unencumbered planning. Through facilitation, support is provided to look at dreams, the types of supports and services needed to achieve those dreams and assistance to develop a plan to access services. Brokerage services include opportunities to review options for the use of funding and assist with form and informal arrangement of contracting services with community service providers
3357-2 Walker Road
Windsor, ON N8W 5J7
519-966-8094
Windsor Public Library
Winstars Gymnastics
Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association (WETRA)
The physical, emotional, cognitive, and social benefits of therapeutic riding are all encompassing for riders, volunteers, and family members that are involved in the specialized and meaningful programs offered at WETRA.
3323 North Malden Road
RR #2 Essex, ON N8M 2X6
519-726-7682
Career Compass – Community Living Essex County
Career Compass is the name of Community Living Essex County’s employment service providing direction to job seekers searching for meaningful employment and guiding employers in inclusive hiring. This is achieved by working with both job seekers and business employers.
519-776-6483