Bridges To Belonging Waterloo Region, Author at Bridges To Belonging Waterloo Region

Toronto Star Article: Provincial cuts leave adults with disabilities ‘hanging on a ledge’

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/01/18/provincial-cuts-leave-adults-with-disabilities-hanging-on-a-ledge.html

I could show her what I can do. How I shine.”

Christina is a warm, creative and playful 28 year old living in Cambridge. “I make friends really easily. People are naturally drawn to me,” Christina notes. Her love for travel, cooking, and words is shared by her family. Travel plans keep people coming and going in the house she shares with her mom, two brothers, […]

MENSA Games, Miso Soup, and International Presentations: Tim’s Story with Independent Facilitation

Tim is a charismatic, positive, friendly man who lives in Waterloo Region. He has two college diplomas, from Seneca & Conestoga College in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering and is currently working on his third. In late 2015, Tim became involved with Bridges to Belonging, and was paired with Chaitali, his Independent Facilitator, to help […]

Towards a Scale of Belonging

The APGAR scale is a test administered by doctors and nurses at birth that rates the health of an infant based on five factors: appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration. In this edition of the New Story Group Newsletter, guest editor Isaiah Ritzmann asks: what would an APGAR scale for belonging look like? Here is […]

Sharing Our Impact: 2016-17 Annual Report

Embracing Possibility, Enriching Community Friends and Supporters, We are pleased to share with you a summary of the impact we have collectively made this past year. It has been a year of learning, of growth, and a year of successes, and none of it would have been possible without the support of the families we […]

The Business of Curating Dreams

The following story introduces us to Barb, an individual we have the honour of serving. This story was written for the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, and is included in their 2016/17 Annual Report. You can read their full report here. How Independent Facilitation is Making an Impact, one person at a time Bridges to […]

“I like doing my job, I’m really proud of the work I do there. But I wasn’t feeling connected to my community. With the help of my facilitator, now I’m doing more things in my community.” Greg is a charming young man who participated in the Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project. Dedicated and hard-working, he has […]

Weaving a Story of Change

We are now on the other side of the original 2 years of the Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project. What have we learned? David Hasbury with the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network, has published “Weaving a Story of Change,” an in-depth look at the history of Independent Facilitation, the stories and challenges shared by people and families, […]

Arohas

Our thanks to Elizabeth Bloomfield for joining us on Tuesday evening to teach families and Independent Facilitators about Arohas. We learned about what an Aroha (microboard) is and how it can support people to sustain a good life in the community. Thanks also to our graphic facilitator, Tanya Williams, for this helpful record of what […]

Mackenzie’s Talent Reel

“You make me, a SUPERSTAR!” MacKenzie dreams of performing for a living. She has been a dancer since she was three years old! MacKenzie attends St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School and will be graduating in June, 2018. She hopes to attend Conestoga College’s CICE Program. In the meantime MacKenzie is connecting with talent agencies and […]

Connect

"My family is so fortunate to have found such an organization as Bridges to Belonging. The individuals who are responsive to our daughter's needs are caring, selfless, conscientious and dedicated. They are committed to making sure our family member is included within the community. I can't thank them enough."Kathleen and Margaret, Bridges to Belonging family members

“Our independent facilitator has brought people into my daughter’s life that she would never have met in a traditional program and now there are special relationships developing which we could never have imagined before.”Roslyn Vincent-Haven, Bridges to Belonging family member

"Having a facilitator in our lives has made a world of difference. All of a sudden I don't have to do everything myself, I'm not the one always asking for help, and I'm discovering every day things my son can succeed at that he might not have had the opportunity to try before."Clare Hitchens, Bridges to Belonging family member

"I have been working with my Facilitator for a while. We have tried quite a few things and slowly I am starting to put some passion back into my life."Graham, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

"Cristin [my facilitator] is a special person in my life."Evie, Bridges to Belonging Self-Advocate

"We are grateful to Cristin [Evie's facilitator] for how well she has connected with Evie. She brings so many gifts to her relationship with Evie and to our family. She sees possibilities and potential in Evie and her community that we have not identified. We have an ally in Cristin and that is a great feeling."Doug and Wendy, Bridges to Belonging family members

"We sincerely appreciated meeting you today, Chaitali. Your attitude towards our son and his future development, especially supporting him to develop a personalized healthy way of cooking meals and team work with other supporters such as his social worker, job facilitator, etc. is most appreciated. Chaitali, you seem to understand a wholistic approach for our son."Marcy, Bridges to Belonging family member

“As Steph would say, ‘I like small steps.’ In this way, Steph’s independent housing journey is a work in progress, taking time and thoughtful planning.”Barb Prysnuk, Bridges to Belonging family member

“Please pass along my heartfelt thank to Bridges to Belonging. It's been a year with his facilitator and we are starting to see huge break-throughs! I know that where we are at is a direct result of having Danielle there to rely on, to encourage and to hear him, that we've gotten to this place. I'm feeling full of gratitude to your organization, for Wendy suggesting it, and for Danielle for being there so solidly for both my son and I every week for the past year.”Bridges to Belonging family member

"Both Cristin and Laura have treated Cailyn more as a friend than as a client, continue to instill trust and confidence in her, and in doing so have touched our hearts deeply. After 30 years in the system, we have seen a lot of workers come and go and after awhile, you become a little weary and disillusioned and start to lose faith in the process. A big thank you to Cristin, Laura and Bridges to Belonging for all you do!"Cara and Cailyn, Bridges to Belonging family members

"Many thanks for starting "Bridges to Belonging", and for all the good work you do daily in the community. You are making change one person at a time with your solutions to problems in a way that literally changes lives."Nina De Shane-Gill, community supporter

"So far, this has been the best, most useful program that Christina has participated in. Christina has experienced the largest strides toward independence, confidence and acceptance toward independent living ever. Independent Facilitation has been the most crucial program that Christina has been a part of and the most helpful to me, as the caregiver. Thank you for everything so far. I honestly don’t know what our lives would be like without you in them anymore!"Cathy, Bridges to Belonging Family Member

News

Beats for Belonging 2024 Public Statement from Bridges to Belonging Denouncing Hate Crimes and Supporting the 2SLGBQTIA+ Community Building Bridges ~ Eradicating Barriers

Events

Beats for Belonging 2024 Bracelets for Belonging 2020 Bowling for Belonging FUNdRaising Event

Author Archive

Toronto Star Article: Provincial cuts leave adults with disabilities ‘hanging on a ledge’

Read More

I could show her what I can do. How I shine.”

Read More

MENSA Games, Miso Soup, and International Presentations: Tim’s Story with Independent Facilitation

Read More

Towards a Scale of Belonging

Read More

Sharing Our Impact: 2016-17 Annual Report

Read More

The Business of Curating Dreams

Read More

Read More

Weaving a Story of Change

Read More

Arohas

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Mackenzie’s Talent Reel

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