June 25
Jason is a guy who loves sports, hanging with his bud, and connecting with people through music. Jason has been wanting to get back into the workforce post-pandemic and he has been working alongside Agilec employment coaches to get more paid work. While working with Agilec, the opportunity came up to get reconnected to the […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
By: Christina Koenig, Community Ambassador I had to learn to enjoy sports. Growing up, I can remember a few sports that were quite difficult for me, like skating and swimming. My parents will share stories of family camping trips when I would complain about the distance of any hike, and the giant insects that always […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
By: Danny Chirlenco, Rebecca Fowlie, Aduraleke Ogunsakin, Danielle Paquette and Erick Yamaguchi, 2RL Team In September 2024, we developed a new team at EAFWR called 2RL (Respite, Recreation and Leisure) with five staff. Our team’s goal is to develop meaningful, low cost programs for people with disabilities that all are welcome to attend. When 2RL […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
By: Mimi Mahmud, Equity Strategist As I consider my first year as Equity Strategist at Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR), I’m reflecting on what it means to embed equity into a sector that has historically excluded many of the people and communities it now seeks to serve. The developmental services (DS) sector — like many care-based […]
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June 25
By: Community Participation Supports and the WALES Group Team Within the WALES Group: While the commitment to community participation has always been a cornerstone of the WALES mission, it has flourished in the aftermath of COVID, with members and staff creatively working from libraries, community centres, and cafes all across the region, as an additional […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
Yancy is a lady filled with artistic talents and love of baking, horror movies, and adventure. This past year, Yancy has used her gifts and interests to connect to the community. Yancy has joined a craft group where she is noticed, known, and she is missed when she is absent. She started doing her drawings […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
By: Kerry Cressman, Avishka Juta and Lisa Stanley, Community Engagement Team It’s been another exciting year for the Community Engagement Team! We’ve enjoyed engaging with people & families connected with EAFWR, direct support people, volunteers, sponsors, donors and the wider community. After two successful online auctions in 2021 and 2022, we were thrilled to bring […]
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June 25
By: Jayme Pembleton, Employable Skills Development Program Coordinator I believe that everyone who has been involved with the Employable Skills Development Program (ESDP) has done some learning, growing, and evolving. The program itself is brand new and is therefore morphing with each new thing that we discover. As the program coordinator, I have the pleasure […]
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June 25
By: Katie Hagedorn, Program Manager, Residential Services The FamilyHome (FH) Program has been one of EAFWR’s anchors since the beginning. It holds a deep, important tradition, and has served as a constant for some, and a springboard to more independent living for others. It is this flexibility, and willingness to learn and grow, that has […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story
June 25
Michael loves video games, the KPL, buddies, and his girlfriend. Through SEEDS, this past year he and his buddy, Jason, went to Niagara Falls around his birthday and hit up the casinos and waterparks. They had a good guy’s weekend and are planning their next adventure. Michael recently reconnected with former co-workers of a prior […]
Read morePosted by Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region, in Story