COMMUNITY L INK WINTER 2011

SUPPORT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

Theresa and John Suart
This time four years ago, we knew nothing about
the Child Care Resource Consultant Services at
Community Living Kingston. We were vaguely
aware of the Community Living organization, but
had little knowledge of what they actually do in
Kingston or elsewhere.
We had just learned our two-and-a-half-year-old
son Michael had autism. He was non-verbal and,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE along with diving into intensive speech therapy,
the Child Development Centre suggested we
find a pre-school program for him where he
FROM THE could interact with other children his age. They
CORNER OFFICE also suggested we contact Community Living
Transformation: Kingston. We had moved to Kingston from New
Quality, Access and Funding 2 Brunswick a mere five months earlier; we had
no close friends here, virtually no local support
NEWS AND VIEWS network. We knew little of the services available
Inspiring Possibilities Holiday Sale 3 in the city, so we welcomed the suggestion.
THE STAFF CORNER The ease by which we were able to set up our
Recent Staffing Changes 4 initial meeting was a pleasant surprise amidst the
Years of Service Announcements 4 bureaucracy of waitlists and referrals we were
dealing with for other agencies and support.
QUALITY During a meeting at our home, Maria Victoria
IMPROVEMENT
UPDATE 5
was able to explain the service and support
the Child Care Resource Consultant Services
could provide. Once we had Michael enrolled at
Complex Cooperative Nursery School, we met
his consultant, Paula Alger.
After an initial difficult transition – he cried
through his first morning visit – Michael settled
in well at the school. As we navigated what was,
for us, uncharted, scary territory, it was a comfort
to know the terrific staff at the school had
additional support they could call on for resources
and suggestions.
“Our” resource consultant, Paula, was a
welcomed addition to the growing team we were
building for Michael.
Some of her support has been very concrete.
When Michael’s occupational therapist suggested
special seating cushion, Paula was able to provide
one for use at the school. She could also access
toys to focus on particular skill development.
She was also able to organize college student
placements so Michael had some one-on-one
continued on page 5

THE VOLUNTEER
SIDE
Volunteers Abound 6
From Teacher to Pupil 7

MORE NEWS AND

VIEWS
Union Supports Local Charities 8
People First 8

Michael (pictured above when he was still attending Complex Cooperative Nursery School), has made a
successful transition to public school with the ongoing assistance of our Childcare Resource Consulting
Services.
 FROM THE CORNER O FFICE
TRANSFORMATION:
QUALITY, ACCESS AND FUNDING
Alan McWhorter
Executive Director

The Minister’s Quality Assurance Measures (QAM) are in n

effect as of January 1, 2011. The QAM are Regulations “Almost ever yone agrees that the
under the authority of the Minister of Community and system is overdue to be modernized.
Social Services attached to the new legislation governingg
supports and services for adults with developmental ...we are on board with transformation,
disabilities. The Regulations are unusually prescriptive but we are paying close attention ”
for a social service context and speak to a level of detail
more reminiscent of the laboratory than open society.
Staff training is mandated for all workers in the province Development of the “Funding Entity” and the
to ensure compliance with the new order. funding model is the remaining major component of
the “transformed” system” and will come later. That
Community Living Kingston is well positioned to achieve unknown factor in the future system is anticipated with
compliance with the QAM. Many of the new provisions hope, dread, and every emotion in between. Families
are similar to the CARF standards under which we including the over 19,000 on waiting lists throughout
recently received a second three-year accreditation. Ontario watch with varying degrees of hope, and lack
However, because of the prescriptive nature of the of it, as nearly all new funding is invested in new system
QAM that detail how the Minister wants us to achieve components. Advocates of individual funding are hopeful
these results, we will have to make minor adjustments in because of provisions in the Act that permit the future
practice and editorial changes in policy statements. This “Funding Entity” to direct funding to individuals without
will keep the staff busy training and the paper flowing for going through an agency. Agencies feel an element of
a few weeks. dread, especially after seeing a crippling shortfall to the
“transformed” Deafblind Intervenor Services using the
More changes will be coming in the summer when the individual funding model. That sector is small, serving
new “Application Entity” created under the new Act 308 people in Ontario, and its transformation was based
will take control of access to services and support on the same principles and similar tools as that of
for adults. We are encouraged by the Minister’s recent developmental services.
announcement that Extend-a-Family Kingston has
been awarded the contract to develop this system Almost everyone agrees that the system is overdue to
function for South East Region. EAF has performed be modernized. Almost no one believes the way we
the host role for the existing Regional Access Support did things before was good enough. There will never
Mechanism (RASM), which has a positive track record of be enough money, but maybe with hard work and
collaboration and problem-solving among agencies in the determination we can do a better job with what we have.
region. We interpret the Minister’s decision as a way to The results won’t be in for a while. Meanwhile, we are
build on the success of RASM rather than starting over on board with transformation, but we are paying close
from scratch. attention.

Inspiring Possibilities
Community Living Kingston promotes full participation for individuals who have an intellectual disability
Become a Full Time or Respite Family Home Provider and help make community living a reality!
Enrich your life by sharing you home with someone who has an intellectual disability on a
full time basis or for weekend visits and short stays.
As a provider for Community Living Kingston, you will receive reimbursement, person specific orientation and
ongoing support. For more information contact Eleonor at 613-546-6613 ext 284 or volunteer@kdacl.on.ca

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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 2
 NEWS AND VIEWS

On Sunday, November 21st, Community Living Kingston
held its 2nd annual Inspiring Possibilities Holiday Sale
from 12-4 pm. at 1412 Princess Street. There were 30
local vendors and crafters selling baked goods, Christmas
décor, all natural bath and wellness products, jewelry,
accessories and more. The kitchen was hopping, selling
hot chocolate and coffee, homemade chili and tourtiere.
There was lots of socializing, some great deals and
wonderful gift ideas. Given its success, we have decided
to do it again.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Agnew
Food Services for donating Tim Horton’s hot chocolate,
coffee and Timbits and to 3M Trim-Line for donating
the signs that many of you saw while driving past our
office. Thank you as well to Betty Spriggs, Ruth Taite
and Pat Derry who made the delicious food served in
our kitchen.

The 3rd annual Inspiring Possibilities Holiday Sale

has been scheduled for Sunday, November 20th 2011
from 11 am to 4 pm.

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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 3
 THE STAFF CORNER
Steve McKellar

RECENT STAFFING CHANGES

The Residential Services Division welcomed William
Hall to the Ringstead staff team in November. Will
recently graduated from the Personal Support Worker
program after completing a student placement in our
Community Options program. In addition, Community
Options hired Leeanne Revell to fill a Community
Assistant position with their staff team. Leeann has a
Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ryerson University.
The Options team is also pleased to confirm two
recent premium assignments involving Facilitator-level
responsibilities. Amanda Corbett will be resurrecting
her previous role with the Youth Involvement program,
while Fatima McArthur will soon assume caseload
responsibilities for a few individuals totaling 20 hours of
work per week.
In November, Amanda Pearse accepted a transfer
to an Employment Assistant position with the ODSP
Employment Supports program. Amanda brings many
years of valuable experience from her previous stint with
the Community Options staff team to this assignment.

YEARS OF SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

The following employees have recently reached a milestone in terms of their years of service with Community Living Kingston
and we are pleased to recognize their long-standing commitment and ongoing contributions to the organization.

Jessica Moore
Five Residential Assistant
Years
Ringstead Crescent

Juli Wheeler Jaime Amo

Community Assistant Community Assistant
Community Services Community Services

Steacy Kavaner Sherry Jarvis

Ten Home Facilitator Residential Facilitator
Years
Dolshire Park Street

Kevin Simpson Laurie McShane

Residential Assistant Community Facilitator
McMichael Street Community Options

Sandra Bonucchi-Bilow
Twenty-Five Coordinator
Years
Family Home Program

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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 4
 QUALITY IMPROVEMENT UPDATE
Jeff Harrison

Community Living Kingston continues to track its • A new family is registering on the respiteservices.c
respiteservices.com site
progress towards reaching performance goals. Here is a every 12.2 days, which is in line with the target.
sample of some of our progress at the year-end mark:
• Less than 3% of staff have suffered a WSIB-reportable
• More than 70% of persons served in the Community Options workplace injury.
program have met the target around the amount of time spent
involved in community activities. The goal was for 55% of This is just a sample of the organization’s progress
persons served to meet the target. around performance targets. More information can be
obtained on the organization’s website
• In the Residential Services Division, the rate of medication www.communitylivingkingston.org or by contacting
errors has been cut in half over the past year. Jeff Harrison at 613-546-6613 (extension 285) or
at jharrison@kdacl.on.ca
jharrison@kdacl.on.ca.. Data for the full 2010-
• Over 68% of new persons served in the Child Care Resource 11 reporting year will be available in the Annual
Consultant Services program have been in service within thirty Management Report in May 2011.
days
da ys
y of
of re
refe
referral.
f rr
fe rral
al.. T
The
he ggoal
oall wa
oa wass 55
55%.
%.

Support Makes the Difference continued from the front page

attention during the nursery school program. She also helped
us prepare Michael for hearing tests and flu shots (among other
things) by providing simple personal story books to help us walk
him through what would happen. We’ve learned a lot from her!

Other support Paula has provided is less concrete, but perhaps

even more important to us as parents. Especially early on, it
was wonderful to have someone to provide encouragement,
support and suggestions. And, just to listen at times.

Our involvement with the Resource Consultant Services

program also introduced us to other programs and services
available at Community Living Kingston such as presentations
and make-and-take workshops. Paula also keeps us in the loop
about other community resources and events.

Today, Michael is a sociable, talkative first grader in a

mainstream classroom with EA support. Although he has now
moved on from his nursery school, his Resource Consultant
continues to provide support to the before-and-after-school
program at his school. We have come a long way since those
early days of Michael’s diagnosis. And that way has been made
smoother thanks to Paula being a member of “Team Michael.”

As parents, the best part of working with Resource Consultant

Services has been knowing there is someone there to provide
support and resources – not only for the nursery school and
later the daycare, but for us, too.

The most important thing to us is that we have someone to

talk to, who knows what to do and can show us how to get
things done. Paula has been that person. The worst part about
being a parent of a child with autism is feeling like you’re
alone. The many services, agencies and programs can be very
confusing, and sometimes intimidating. What we found in Michael, now in the first grade, still has a connection to our
Paula and Community Living Kingston is something we can Childcare Resource Consulting Service through the before and
rely on. That speaks more to us than anything else. after school program he participates in.
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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 5
 THE VOLUNTEER SIDE
Volunteers Abound at the Community Living Kingston
Christmas Party Again This Year...
This year, as is the case in morst years, a number of our The evening was its usual success, many thanks to Steacy Powell
volunteers came out to enjoy our holiday dinner and dance with and everyone who assisted her to make this a memorable event.
the individuals with whom they have been matched. As you can see by the photos below, a good time was had by all!

Their
Smiling
Faces
Tell it all!

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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 6
FROM TEACHER TO PUPIL
Carol Zhou
Michelle Knott and I met a year and a half ago at a
weekly yoga program I was participating in. Among the
different participants, Michelle’s consistent cheerful
demeanour made her stand out. I talked to her during
lessons, and discovered she was a big music lover like me,
and wanted to learn piano, an instrument that I have been
playing since the age of four. Via Eleonor Egidio’s help, I
was able to start teaching her piano songs by visiting her
home weekly starting in September of 2009.
Among many of the volunteer experiences I have had in
the past four years of my university career, I found my
experience with Michelle to be one of the most enjoyable.
I would go to her house weekly and she would suggest to
me with great enthusiasm new songs she wanted to learn.
We listened to the song together repeatedly, sometimes
singing and dancing along, as I made the melody into a
level suitable for her expertise in piano. Then I taught
her the sequence of finger movements, and being a hard-
working student, Michelle always practiced and learned
quickly.
Because of her positive attitude, teaching Michelle felt
effortless. After the learning of a new song, we celebrate
by having one session of simply chatting, or singing to
a tape, or watching a movie. Michelle has become one
of my best friends and has brightened my life these past
one and a half years. By listening to her life story and
the hardships she has gone through as an individual with
disability, I am in awe of the strength in her character;
and by her humour and enthusiasm for everything from
learning Spanish to cooking Wontons.
Carol, pictured above with Michelle (left) and Aida (right) believes that she is gaining as much from her relationship with each of the
ladies as she has been able to give.
………………………………………………………………….…………..
WINTER 2011
I fell in love with her adorable playfulness and youthful
vitality. Her positivity is contagious, and I am glad I met
a great friend like Michelle who can spread joy into my
life. This experience has changed my view on individuals
with disabilities. I used to think that these were people
that mostly need care and help from us, but I have come
to realize that people with disabilities can in many ways
teach us about how to face the realities of life. I look
forward to spending more time with Michelle in the New
Year as both her teacher and her pupil.
Aida Arruda is another one of my favourite people
to hang out with. Even though she also participated
in the yoga program, I did not get a chance to be in
close contact with her until she recently started living
independently in an apartment. She to be spontaneous,
and someone who would be a wonderful friend to have,
so when Lisa and Eleonor approached me last summer
with the opportunity of spending some weekday time
with her, I was quite delighted and said yes immediately.
Being closer with her on a weekly basis was so much fun!
So far we have visited the library, gone swimming at the
Y, and watched a movie on her birthday. Aida is a great
person with so much potential, and she is learning to
become independent and strong. I am very glad I have
someone new in my life to inspire me, just like Michelle
did. When you believe in an individual with a disability
and give them the chance to shine, amazing things can
happen.
COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 7
 MORE NEWS AND VIEWS
OUR UNIONIZED EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
LOCAL CHARITIES
Lisa MacIntosh-President, CUPE Local 2635
The unionized employees of Community Living In the past 5 years alone we have donated $34,000 to local
Kingston, CUPE 2635, again donated $8,000 in charities. Our donations to Community Living Kingston
December to some local charities. The charities are have totaled $19,300.
chosen to support non-profit agencies that the people we
support access on a regular basis. This is very generous from a local of our size and we can
rightfully feel very proud of how we put our money where
Over half of our donation goes to our own agency (CLK): our hearts are. We also donated through these years to
to the Sunburst Fund that provides some individual the United Way, Partners in Mission Food Bank, Clothes
financial assistance for items which are not covered by for Kids, the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper Fund,
other sources, to the annual agency Christmas party In From the Cold Shelter, Ryandale Homeless Shelter and
and to assist with the Summer Camp Inclusion Program Martha’s Table. We are proud of our continuing financial
so that kids can go to camps of their choice with their support of our community partners.
peers. The Sunburst Fund accepts charitable donations
from staff on a payroll deduction basis and also accepts
community donations.

People First of Kingston

Upcoming Chapter Meeting Information:
When: Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every
month. The upcoming meeting dates are:
Tuesday February 9th Tuesday March 9th
Tuesday April 12th Tuesday May 10th
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Where: Community Living Kingston Board Room
-1412 Princess Street, Kingston
People First of Kingston are looking for New Members!
We talk about Freedom, Choice & Equality! If you are interested in learning more about volunteering
People First is an organization that was formed because
some of the people in our communities felt that they were
not considered as people first. They felt that they were talked
about, talked to, thought about, and treated according to the
disabilities that others labelled them with.
Goals:
* Promote equality for all people who have been labelled
* Speak for ourselves and make our own decisions
* Educate the community about our movement and our
issues
People First of Kingston are looking for volunteers!
Work with the group on various projects including but not
limited to: fundraising, workshops, running monthly chapter
meetings etc …
or becoming a member of People First Kingston,
please contact Erin Young at eyoung@kdacl.on.ca or
(613)546-6613 ext 282

Community Link Contributors:

Eleonor Egidio, Jeff Harrison, Lisa MacIntosh, Steve McKellar, Alan McWhorter, Theresa and John Suart, Carol Zhou
Editor: Steve McKellar Layout: Sheri Scott

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WINTER 2011 COMMUNITY LINK PAGE 8