June 10
By Kim Sproul, Community Development Manager I like to think of engagement in Community Development as a Venn diagram. In one overlapping circle is the connecting of EAFWR to those we serve. This year, that included Special Sibs (in partnership with Kerry’s Place Autism Services and KidsAbility), On the House (in partnership with Bridges to […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 9
By Kimberly Little, MFTD and LHIN Program Manager I have had more reflective moments around the kind of support I provide to families, specifically to those who have a child with medically complex needs or who are Medically Fragile Technologically Dependent (MFTD) –considering changes in early 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Having to shift the […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 9
By: Theresa and Doug Harrison Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region has been my go-to help for much of my son Will’s life. In August 2019, we learned that my son Will was eligible for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding. When I looked at the forms, my anxiety level turned to panic. I immediately contacted EAFWR and […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 9
There have been so many changes over the past few months due to COVID-19, and families receiving Special Services at Home (SSAH) have felt this impact. Families who previously used their funds for swimming lessons, YMCA memberships and one-on-one time with Direct Support People found themselves at a loss for how to use their SSAH […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 8
The Community Engagement Team engaged in a transformative process as we participated in the development of a team vision. Our newly found vision has guided our work over the last year and we have committed to work in tandem with EAFWR teams to equip and educate while responding and supporting both the organization and the […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 8
By Erin Toner, FamilyHome Coordinator When the FamilyHome Team was asked to share a story, it was a natural choice to write about Shirley Seale. Shirley was a fixture around Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region for many years. Sadly, she lost her battle with cancer in December. I knew Shirley for 8 years, but her time with […]
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June 8
By Cheryl Fuller, Training and Organizational Development Coordinator Did you know that EAFWR offers many trainings that are open to Direct Support People, the people we serve, families and community members? Inclusion doesn’t have to be a big production. A simple hello is a start. Our Inclusion Workshop is not only for new Direct Support […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 8
Joe’s Story After taking a couple of months to get settled in as a newly arrived graduate student at the University of Waterloo from Winnipeg, I started looking for ways to get involved in the community. Being new to the area and having few connections in the community, I figured volunteering would be a great […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 8
EAFWR’s Summer Program is made possible with the support, funding and generosity of Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation and the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation. By Evan Hoffmann, On-Site Director/Coordinator Summer Program 2019 was definitely one to remember. We had a number of changes take place. We welcomed Ron Trajano as the new Director of Programs, who did a […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 8
By Kim Sproul, Community Development Manager What an exciting year it has been for Kitchener-Waterloo Library of Things! This time last year, we were just starting on our supported employment project, made possible with a Seed grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation. It went on to become a HUGE success! We employed 5 people with disabilities as […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story