June 8^th, 2020

Working Adults Learning Empowering Skills (WALES)

Ottneil’s Story

Ottneil, or Otty as he prefers, started attending WALES only a few years ago, back in 2017. He is very outgoing, kind and has a love of travel. Otty has a great sense of humour, a love of nature and a very artistic side. He has made many friends within WALES and is missed when he is not around. When he came to WALES, he had little community involvement outside of his family. He had graduated highschool and started working small amounts of construction with his Dad.  

For the past two years Otty has become more and more involved in the Kitchener community and his confidence is ever growing.  When he first began attending WALES, Otty was nervous about finding his way around the city on the bus.  With some bus training and help from his peers, Otty is now comfortable heading out with a group to engage in his many interests. To make his life a little bit easier and even more independent; Otty now uses Mobility Plus to get around town and has become proficient and very confident about doing so independently.

Otty is a volunteer artist with a charitable organization called Sadie’s Place, where he works weekly with other artists to create buttons and other art pieces promoting inclusion and belonging. He has been committed to his work at Sadie’s Place since 2018. He is also a weekly volunteer with the Hacienda Garden and greenhouse; one of the community tools run by the Working Centre providing fresh produce to local residents, a cafe as well as community kitchens. Otty has been working there since 2017, bringing people joy, hard work, and yummy food.

Aside from his work, Otty has created a great work/life balance. Otty attends the Crescendo Choir in Kitchener weekly, as well as exercise programs run by the City of Kitchener when he has time.  To further apply his green thumb abilities, Otty tends the WALES plot seasonally at the local Guelph Street Garden. He also likes to attend the Kitchener Public Library in his spare time and has become a regular at the Tim Hortons on King Street – they know exactly what to get him when he walks in!  

Even though we have only known Otty a short time, he has already accomplished so much! His family has told WALES staff that even at home, he seems a much happier and more confident person, and that he really values his weekly routine. Because he is so busy, Otty is not often at WALES anymore. We miss having his prankster humor around the building all of the time; but we are happy that he is engaged, thriving and found his people!