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We did it --
now let's beat it!!
Together we have reached our goal of raising $25,000 for our new
Learning and Leadership program.
Thanks to everyone who has generously
a place of inclusive learning for all!
Would you or someone you know still like to make a contribution?
Simply click this link to access our new and improved Paypal donation page on our website!
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Giving Brendan a Boost
The Watson Family Foundation gives children
the tools they need to succeed.
Tablet computers like iPads have an array of uses, but most of us would probably assume that for kids, an iPad is just a way to play games. For Brendan Clark, a grade three student in a Calgary Montessori program, his iPad is a tool that helps him learn, communicate, and participate at home, at school, and in the community.
 | Brendan clark hard at work
with his iPad. |
Brendan received his iPad with other assistive devices through the Watson Family Foundation, an assistance program that is managed by the Calgary Foundation and distributed by the DDRC. Having a child with a developmental disability can often put an extra strain on a family's financial resources. The Watson Family Foundation provides financial assistance to families with limited means to help improve and sustain the quality of life for their special needs child.
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Brendan's iPad assists him throughout his day, from the classroom to the hockey rink. At school, Brendan uses an assortment of special apps to help him express himself, practice writing, and schedule his time. A stylus accessory helps Brendan to practice cursive writing, and thanks to the iPad, his typing is also improving. Another app allows him to use the iPad as a feelings board to help him explain to his teachers and peers how he is feeling.
The iPad is also revolutionizing Brendan's life outside of school. Focussing on the sights and sounds on his device helps him to tune out the motion and sounds that used to overwhelm him on his bus ride back from school. In the evenings, Brendan enjoys reading children's books that are available online. Brendan's hockey coaches also use the iPad to help visually explain the plays to Brendan and his team mates so that Brendan is not left feeling confused.
Brendan's mother, Nicole Clark, explains that the assistance that they received "has meant the world for our family." Brendan's iPad gives him new tools to help him reach his goals and to fully participate in the meaningful activities in his life.
Do you have a child with special needs? Or perhaps know someone who might benefit from the Watson Family Foundation?
Contact Kara Garner-Welsh, Volunteer and Development Manager, for more information.
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32 Years of Inclusive Living
Thirty-two years is a long time to be living with anyone, but for Monica Dowling, being a supportive roommate is a way of life! After 3 decades together, Dowling's roommate Sheryl recently moved to be closer to loved ones in the Calgary area. When asked how it felt to be saying goodbye after such a long period together, she explains, "after all of this time Sheryl and I are very comfortable together, and I understand that this was the right time for her to be closer to her family."
The two women were matched as roommates in 1980 when community living for people with developmental disabilities was still a new option for people in Alberta. Dowling was a single mother looking for ways to work from home, and Sheryl was a young woman looking for employment opportunities that could not be found in her home town: it was a perfect fit!
Growing up, Dowling was concerned by the limited opportunities available to the people with disabilities that she knew. One especially profound memory came from a volunteering experience when she was 16. At the nursing home where she volunteered, Dowling met and became friends with another 16 year-old girl who lived in the home because of her developmental disability. Later she went on to volunteer with the Emily Follensbee School summer programs.
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These experiences and having a child with a disability made becoming a supportive roommate "a natural choice" according to Dowling. She emphasizes that living with Sheryl was a wonderful experience for her, but perhaps even more importantly, for her children and grandchildren as well: "Sheryl feels so comfortable with children, my children, and now my grandchildren, love her." Although they are no longer living in the same community, she hopes that they will stay in touch.
As for the future, Dowling plans to keep her options open for finding a new roommate. Being a mother of someone who needs some extra support herself, she hopes that she can help another mother to rest easy knowing that their son or daughter has both the assistance and the opportunities that they need to continue to grow.
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In early December, the DDRC opened its doors to the community for two holiday events: our annual Holiday Open House, and the DDRC's first ever Christmas Tea and Bazaar!
Thanks to everyone who came out and helped us celebrate the season!
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