May is Community Living Month
Community Living Month is a time set aside to highlight the contributions to our communities that are made by individuals with intellectual challenges and their families. Community Living Month also offers an opportunity for us to tell stories about inclusiveness and to help communities looking for ways to become more inclusive.
What's in a name?
Across the country, provincial and territorial members of the Canadian Association for Community Living have adopted the name Community Living. In Ontario, 90% of all local members of Community Living Ontario - including our own Community Living Kawartha Lakes - use the Community Living name. The words Community Living reflect the growing understanding that all people have the right to live a fully involved life within the community.
Why Community Living?
In the mid-1980s, the national group that represented people who have an intellectual disability was called the Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded. However, people who have an intellectual challenge, their families and friends did not like being identified as mentally retarded. The words, although used as medical terminology, were closely linked to offensive stereotypes that could be hurtful.
Many people approached the group and asked them to change their name. The name was changed to Canadian Association for Community Living to reflect the association's goals rather than the people it represents.
Community Living organizations have a vision of a society where people who have an intellectual challenge belong and feel respected. This means that people who have an intellectual challenge:
- Live in neighbourhoods of choice.
- Go to neighbourhood schools.
- Work at real jobs for real pay.
- Participate and contribute through volunteer, recreation and leisure activities.
- Are valued citizens.
What is the Community Living logo?
The logo is made up of several different parts:
- The symbol (the arrow-shaped image at the left of the logo)
- The name of the association (in either or both official languages)
- The address (where appropriate)
Many people have described the logo using many different symbolic images, such as a sunburst representing different aspects of living in the community-home, friends, work, school, recreation and so on.
In fact, the symbol is an abstract design. Its shape and "flow" are intended to convey a sense of vibrancy, movement and progression, in the same way that the organization and its people strive for progress toward community living for all.
To learn more about Community Living
To learn more about Community Living, visit these websites:
Community Living Kawartha Lakes
Community Living Ontario
Canadian Association for Community Living
Thank you to Community Living Ontario for the information about the Community Living name and logo used in this story.
Another Bob at Jobs
Besides our famous volunteer, there was another Bob at Jobs 'R' Us recently.
Thanks to the generosity of Community Living Kawartha Lakes staff person, Leslie McMillan, the Jobs 'R' Us folks were treated to breakfast with BOB FM on April 18th. Leslie won the Breakfast with BOB and decided to donate it to the employees at Jobs 'R' Us - five of whom live at the William Street residence where Leslie works.
The BOB Team usually delivers breakfast for ten but they made a special delivery of 16 meals to Jobs 'R' Us so that the whole crew could enjoy the morning treat - Egg McMuffins, hash browns, orange juice and coffee.
While at Jobs 'R' Us for the delivery, the BOB team asked a lot of questions about Jobs 'R' Us and interviewed the staff. Barb Stokes explained what they do at Jobs 'R' Us and Community Living Kawartha Lakes. She also shared concerns that revenues are being affected because wine bottles can now be taken back to the Liquor Store for refund.
The BOB FM team generously offered to help encourage wine bottle donations. They put together a promotional piece for Jobs 'R' Us and then played the ad on the radio several times throughout the day.
Says Community Living Kawartha Lakes staff person, Barb Stokes, "A special thank you to Leslie McMillan. Not only was it a nice thing to do [to donate the breakfast] but it was also a great public relations opportunity for Jobs 'R' Us and Community Living Kawartha Lakes."
Barb continues, "A great big thank you as well to BOB FM for an awesome breakfast, for taking the time to learn more about us and for helping to promote Jobs 'R' Us. We can't thank them enough for all they did."
To view the Jobs 'R' Us photo in the BOB FM winners' gallery, click here.
Thank you for Barb Stokes for providing the details for this story.
Community Living Ontario launches new look
Community Living Ontario has just launched its new and improved website as part of a 7-month re-branding initiative.
According to Community Living Ontario's April update: "We have re-organized and enhanced the website menu bars and content so that visitors - like local associations, media, educators, employers, and families - can find relevant and timely information when they need it.
A website is very much a dynamic, 'living document' and it's important to remember that Community Living Kawartha Lakes are still in the early stages of the launch. We will continue to roll out enhancements and added features over the next few months, and we encourage your feedback as we do so. Check out the survey button on the homepage - survey questions will be updated every couple weeks. We want to hear from you! Share this feature with your members, families, volunteers, and other contacts."
Source: Community Living Ontario
Grief Resource
The loss of a loved one or close friend is a profound emotional experience for all of us, including individuals with intellectual challenges. Click here to access a very helpful article, Supporting a Grieving Person who has a Developmental Disability, from the Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Centre.
Thank you to Bruce Rutherford for sharing this resource.
Support Community Living on the Links
RBC is hosting its 5th Annual Charity Golf Classic on June 24th in support of Community Living Kawartha Lakes. Dollars raised in the tournament will go towards our Family Respite Services, so be sure to mark your calendar and get your registration in today. Details follow.
5TH ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC
Tuesday June 24th, 2008
Baxter Creek Golf Club
1702 Cedar Valley Road, Fraserville ON K0L 1V0
$200.00 per person
Includes 18 Holes / Cart / Lunch / Dinner
Awards Presentation and Silent Auction
Registration and Lunch 11:30 a.m.
Shot Gun Start at 1:00 p.m.
Limit of 88 Golfers
REGISTER EARLY!
R.S.V.P. May 26th, 2008
Corporate & Individual Sponsorship Opportunities Available
For more information or to register:
Contact Melissa Doyle at (705) 876-3535 or melissa.doyle@rbc.com. You can also access more information and download our registration form by clicking here.
