March 19th, 2018
When administering funding is about dreams
Administering Angela’s funding is so much more than dollars and cents
I first met Angela’s family two years ago. The hope was that we could continue to assist them with administering their Special Services At Home funding.
Special Services At Home funding benefits each family in a unique way. Whether its respite or camps, exploring social programs or ways to keep active, each person uses their SSAH funding in a way that enhances their life.
In Angela’s case, her funding was being used to help cover the cost of her swimming registration. Not only was this a way for Angela to stay active, it was also an opportunity for her to increase her self-confidence and work towards her goals.
I had no idea where this would lead.
Angela’s mom emailed, letting us know that she had done so well in her provincial competition. So well, in fact, that she would be participating in the Olympic Trials as a Para Swimmer.
I knew that Angela had been dedicated to swimming, and was excited to read about her successes in the pool and how that had helped in other areas of her life. Excited to send along updates about their adventure at the Olympic Trials, Angela and her mom proudly wrote about Angela placing first in her classification, and receiving a gold medal for her 200 Freestyle. Her mom said:
“I can’t express how thankful I am for your support. Angela continues to work hard in and out of the pool. Your agency has given Angela the opportunity to follow her dreams and believe in herself.”
It is truly remarkable to be invited into such amazing moments, through the support we offer in administering Special Services At Home funding. Angela continues to use her funding to cover the costs of her swimming and I cannot wait to see where her dreams and accomplishments lead her next.
Individualized Support
With programs that are individualized to children, adults and community participation, each person is supported based on their needs, goals and dreams. Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region uses an individualized approach in all the work that we do, including in programs like Special Services at Home, Passport and Working Adults Learning Empowering Skills.
