THE FORUMAUGUST 2011

“Together, Freedom Through Access and Choice”

WINTER 2012

SPECIAL 30th

Anniversary Edition

Inside...A Message from the Executive Director.......................3

Dear Photograph: The Homes of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region............................4-5

“Around Here:” A Poem by James Stuart....................5

30th Anniversary Wishes from Our Youth in Transition!....................................................6

Spotlight On...Paul & Darlene!....................................7

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“ILCWR is a wonderful organization which strives

to promote justice, dignity

and equal opportunities

for all and make Waterloo a more

inclusive, warm and accepting

community.

It is truly an honour to have you making a difference

in Waterloo Region.”

-Brenda Halloran, Mayor of Waterloo & Former

ILCWR Staff Member

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Follow us on Twitter! @ILCWR

Watch us on YouTube!www.youtube.com/ilcwr

Keep in Touch!www.ilcwr.org

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See us about... We’re in your Community!

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The Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region has been helping people achieve independence in

our community for 30 years! Started as a project of the Mennonite Central Committee in 1982 to provide supportive housing, ILCWR became an independent registered charity 5 years later. This was the birth of the independent living movement in Canada and over the next several years, Centres sprang up around the country and the Canadian Association of ILC’s was formed. The common goal of these Centres is to promote a new perspective on disability – one that sees welcoming and inclusive communities where people with disabilities have the full rights of citizenship to participate and thrive in their communities. From these humble beginnings ILCWR has grown to become a vital and integral part of our community. Last year alone we made presentations to 4,000 members of our community, educating them on everything from making their business accessible to transitioning into adulthood. Through our attendant service program, we assisted almost 250 people every day with practical, self-directed personal

supports so that they could live active and engaged lives. And with our peer support and advocacy programs, we worked with over 400 individuals to help them set and achieve their goals. There is hardly a part of the community that we haven’t touched.

What’s in store for the future? ILCWR is well situated to play a key role in the community as the greater health system is transformed. Funders are making sweeping changes in an attempt to control the growing costs in the health care system and a part of the strategy is to support people at home so that they can live fuller, richer lives. This is our core business and we will share our expertise to the benefit of the whole system. Another key element of the transformation is integration, and over the coming years we will be called on to work ever more closely with our partners to collaborate, network and integrate to ensure the system is working as efficiently as possible. Throughout this special “Pearl Anniversary” publication, you will read many testimonials from people whose lives we have touched as they speak of what the Centre has meant to them. Our programs operate with the generous support of our donors. I invite you to think back on your connection to ILCWR and how our programs and services have impacted you and your community and to consider making an investment in our future. Every dollar we raise goes directly into helping people live their dreams and achieve their goals. Together, we can make a difference.

A Message from the Executive Director

“Where ILC has excelled is in actually helping the

public to see things quite differently

when it comes to people with

disabilities.

I remember sitting in a Board

meeting, and by the end of the meeting I had a eureka moment: I no

longer saw the wheelchairs.

I saw my colleagues on the Board, and the job we had

to do.”

-Carl Zehr, Mayor of

Kitchener & Former ILCWR Board Member

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Bil Smith, Executive Director

“From these humble beginnings ILCWR has grown to become a vital and integral part of our community.”

When he was 21 years old, Kitchener’s Taylor Jones had an idea to take a picture of an old photograph, held in exactly the same place where the photo had originally been taken, and provide it with a caption that began,

“Dear Photograph...”. Now, Jones’ innovative idea has given rise to the internationally acclaimed website, www.dearphotograph.com, which allows users throughout the world to share their personal histories through photos...within photos. Inspired by this local innovator, and the spirit of nostalgia that has accompanied our 30th Anniversary, the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region is proud to unveil its own “Dear Photograph” retrospective. After three decades of providing services to consumers in their homes, we thought it was time to show off some of our homes from the past 30 years.

“My attendant

really helped me

see that asking for help wasn’t

admitting defeat.

We had a great

time—we really did.”

-Ric

ILCWR Consumer

and Former Board

Member

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Dear Photograph: The Homes of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region

Erb Street Mennonite ChurchWaterloo, Ontario

1982 - 1983

235 King Street East Kitchener, Ontario

1983 - 1989

266A Marsland DriveWaterloo, Ontario

1989 - 1995

3400 King Street EastKitchener

1995 - 2002

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“I like the compas-sion and

intimacy of this work, working with one

person at a time.

As an organiza-tion, we must not lose our sense of

self.”

-Shawn

ILCWR Attendant

1987-Present

The people around here are rather nice folkThey welcome everyone into the little familyThe little family that they have establishedEveryone is so friendly to everyone else.

They welcome you into the familyLike you have always been a part of the unitAs you have just returned from a long tripSoon you feel like you have never been

away.

It seems like it’s no time at all and you fall into

Into a regular routine with all of the others everyday

You soon learn just what’s expected of youAnd just what you can get away with.

Everyone knows just who to ask for helpEveryone knows when they can ask for a

little help

And just when they should try to do it themselves

But they should always try to do it themselves once.

Because how will they ever know if they can do it themselves

If they always ask they will never know if they could ever

Stop being dependent and start contributing to the unit

Contributing to the big picture, making the unit whole again.

“Around Here:” A Poem by James Stuart

James Stuart is a poet and ILCWR consumer from Cambridge, Ontario.

Dear Photograph: The Homes of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region

Pioneer Terrace Freeport HospitalKitchener, Ontario

2002 - 2004

127 Victoria Street SouthKitchener, Ontario

2004 - Present

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Youth in Transition

is...

Fun!

Hilarious hilarity!

Helpful

Kind ofa family

A cool thing

“Whenever I’m having a bad week, coming to youth group makes me feel better.”

“I was waiting to turn 15 so I could join YIT with my friends who were already old enough to go.”

“I would definitely recommend YIT to other teens with disabilities.”

“I feel accepted here.”

“I keep coming back every session because I learn steps to take in the future...

...and the meals are yummy.”

Supportive

“I have so much fun at youth group.”

“I always come back because my friends are here and I want to learn more.”

“I’ve learned to really love the people

that I’ve worked with and

for.

For me, it’s a

pleasure.”

-Sylvia

ILCWR Attendant

1987-Present

When our Youth Group members found out that ILCWR is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, they took the opportunity to tell us what they love about their favourite ILCWR program!

30th Anniversary Wishes from our Youth in Transition!

It is hard to celebrate a 30th Anniversary without thinking, at least a little bit, about love. And

one of the most inspiring love stories in the history of the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region, is that of Paul and Darlene. “ILC has had a life-long effect, into our home and into Paul’s life,” Darlene reflects. “All he needed was a little bit of help, and he could do the rest. But we could not have done it on our own.” In 2010, Darlene was the first attendant to celebrate 25 years working for ILCWR. Now, after 27 years, she and her husband Paul are among the longest-standing affiliates of the agency. “We are delighted to be part of an organization that has adapted so well,” Paul says. “There has been lots of growth and change, but it has all been positive. Not a lot of organizations that have been around 30 years can say that.” Paul and Darlene met in their hometown of Peterborough, Ontario, and reconnected later in their lives in Waterloo, while Paul was studying Social Development at Renison College. He had already connected with the Independent Living Centre, but as fate would have it, Darlene moved to Waterloo shortly after, and was hired by ILCWR to work as Paul’s attendant. Since Darlene had a background in nursing, and the two were very good friends, it was obviously a good fit. At least it was obvious to Paul and Darlene. One year later, in 1986, they got married. Amidst the joy of being newlyweds, the couple also had concerns about how their marital status would impact

Paul’s services, and Darlene’s employment with ILCWR. But the leaders of the organization made an effort to thoroughly understand their situation, knowing that the agency’s decision would affect the rest of Paul and Darlene’s lives. “They allowed me to stay on as his caregiver, which was absolutely the most wonderful thing that happened,” recalls Darlene. “It put Paul in a position to be the man of the house. He provided financially for the family, he was a husband and a dad, and that meant so much for him. And it never would have happened without the Independent Living Centre.”

Nowadays, Paul and Darlene have found their calling together, and started His Place Ministries, a Christian Ministry that offers Bible study courses, one-on-one counselling, youth conferences and seminars to help people in their spiritual lives. They have truly lived happily ever after.“ILC has been such a blessing to us over the years,” Paul says. “It has enabled me to provide for my family and live a normal life. It has been a perfect arrangement.”

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“Whenever I’m having a bad week, coming to youth group makes me feel better.”

“I was waiting to turn 15 so I could join YIT with my friends who were already old enough to go.”

“I keep coming back every session because I learn steps to take in the future...

...and the meals are yummy.”

“I think we’re

going in a great

direction. The

programs are

amazing. We had no idea how

wonderfully it would

evolve, and how far the programs

would go in responding

to the needs of

consumers.”

-KarenILCWR

Consumer and Initial Planning

Committee Member

“We are delighted to be part of an organization that has adapted so well.”

Spotlight On... Paul & Darlene!

AUGUST 2011

ILCWR PROGRAMS AND STAFF

Executive Director - Bil SmithDirector of Business Services - Angela KornDirector of Human Resources - Laura SparksEmployee Health Coordinator - Christina ChurchillFinance Coordinator - Tracy SpencerExecutive Assistant/Community Relations - Andrew PosenReception, Information & Referral - Jim Ducharme

Director of Access and Awareness - Paula SaundersPublic Awareness and Education Coordinator - Andrena Lockley-BrownPeer Resource & Advocacy Coordinator - Dan LajoieDirect Funding Coordinator - Lorene Collingwood

Director of Service - Daryl NancekivellOutreach & In-Home Respite Supervisor - Cindy GuyOutreach Supervisor - Lise HancockOutreach Supervisor - Sandy StaufferProgram Support - Leanne Schade Scheduling Coordinator - Jennifer Davies

SHAMROCK - WATERLOO - (519) 746-1312 Cathy Doerbecker - Project Supervisor

MOOREGATE - KITCHENER - (519) 745-5949 Allan Russell - Project Supervisor

KIWANIS VILLAGE CAMBRIDGE - (519) 650-0843 Jacqueline Doummar - Project Supervisor

Justice • Dignity • Respect • Teamwork • Welcoming

Special Thanks To Our Major

Funders

Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region127 Victoria St. S., Suite 201

Kitchener, ON N2G 2B4

Telephone: (519)571-6788Fax: (519)571-6788TTY: (519)571-7590

Charitable # 10750-5356-RR0001

Visit Us Online!www.ilcwr.org

Proud Participant

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