BROCKVILLE AND district association for community living

Goal: That communities offer all people equal opportunity, full participation, respect and value as individuals.

Objectives: To promote and to protect the rights of individuals. To encourage and support parent to parent involvement. To support and to provide opportunities for community involvement in valued roles. To promote and to stand with individuals and families in obtaining appropriate services and supports. To encourage and support community awareness, through public education of the issues facing people who have been devalued.

Philosophy: We believe that…. All human life has equal value and should therefore be accorded equal treatment. All people, regardless of degree of disability, should live in and be part of their community. Each individual is capable of growth, development and meaningful participation in the community. Individuals should have a wide range of life choices. Each individual should be supported according to their specific needs. Control over the lives of individuals should rest largely with themselves. Individuals should be supported and served in the most integrative (least restrictive) environment. People who have been devalued in our society should be accorded a valued standard of living. Communities share in the responsibility of including and supporting all their citizens.

Currently, BDACI supports approximately 250 individuals who have an intellectual disability and their families throughout Leeds and Grenville.

We provide individualized support which enables people who have a disability to join in typical community life in valued roles, such as a YMCA member, an employee at a local restaurant, or your neighbour. One important aspect of our work is helping families plan for the future In addition to the 10-core staff who anchor the office, assist families to navigate complex systems, support families in their advocacy efforts and organize family respite, BDACI employs approximately eighty support workers. These support workers are one of the important links into community life for people with intellectual disabilities.

Much of the organized formal support BDACI provides families is funded by the provincial government. Accompaniment and direct support for people with a disability is funded (never quite enough- but it is funded). However, where families often find it challenging and cost prohibitive is being able to tap into the “softer less formal support” for example: being able to attend learning opportunities, or disability specific conferences and educational events with other families who share a similar experience of navigating the world with a family member who has a disability. These opportunities are often just what a family need. Being with others who can challenge you – inspire you and celebrate and sometimes to cry with you, is what strengthens people in their journey. Whether it is to enhance the respite they might need in order to attend, or to cover the travel costs and registration fees, these opportunities are often not eligible expenses within the funding provided by government, often minimal, but just out of reach for many but are most beneficial to families. At times families will also approach BDACI for some assistance with costs related to accommodations for disability. Whether it is a piece of equipment that they aren’t able to purchase, or minor renovations necessary to homes in order to be able to remain with family or even venture out into a home of ones own, a new sling – a ramp- or even a communication tool as small as a piece of software that allows for someone to be able to join in, these costs fall to the family and at times make full participation in community difficult. Flexible funding makes a world of difference to families who are already taxed with the burden of proof, prove you need it, prove you can’t afford it, prove it will make a difference, sometimes it’s easier to not ask. But that’s not fair either. So a small fund that allows us to be able to respond to this sort of ask, for families would give hop, give opportunity and build their resiliency in order to stay present and participating as active contributing members of our community.