|
|
|
|
|
As we head into the holiday season, I am very happy to announce we were able to beat our 2009 United Way goal of 10,000.00. This year because of your generosity, we will be donating $11,255.26 to the United Way. I really want to thank all the programs, who together with the people we support were able to fundraise so we can give back to our community.
Whether you participated in a special event or through payroll deduction – Thank you!! As we all know - A community is not truly great until it is great for everyone.
The committee:
- Kelly Hancox, Charlton
- Gloria Petitti, Taking Aim
- Valarie Gibbons, Taking Aim
- Kathi Soules, ARC
- Terri Beattie, Drop N Shop
- Mimma Musitano, Main Office
- Susanne Craig, SSAH
- Tanya Sweers, Main Office
- Andrea Lewis, HSR - Barton
- Linda Davies, Valley Park
- MaryCatherine Beltrano, CAP Central
GOAL $10,000.00
Raised $11,255.26
Program events:
Kickoff BBQ (September 25th)
CAP – Central Thanksgiving donation
CAC – James Stone Soup lunch"Stone Soup"
CAC – Mountain Bake Sale
Employment Access Snack box
Taking Aim Dress down day
Barton Sub Day
CAP – W Halloween
Drop N Shop Bake Sale
Valley Park Selling candy
Leland Bottle drive and Agency 50/50
ARC Piñata - Bang for Your Buck
LAP Mugs
Non-Voc Penny Sale
Christine Smith and
Don Lucus Wresting
Cafeteria Cookies/apple square Sales
Susanne Craig Scary Okie
Emily Ricker Cookies
|
|
|
|
|
FREE FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR
For Families & Relatives
Hosted By : Community
Living Hamilton
Down
Syndrome Association &
Hamilton Family
Network
Presenters : Mike Soluk & Alex Binko
Date : Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Time : 7:00
P.M.
Where : 191 York Blvd., Hamilton
RSVP : To reserve your seat, please call Mimma
at 905 528-0281, Ext.
233 or mmusitano@clham.com
before November 19th
This seminar will focus on promoting a fundamental
understanding of financial planning and the related taxes, tax deductions,
supplements, and credits throughout the life cycle of a person with special
needs, whether a child or adult, and his or her family. It will provide a framework for developing
life plans that maximize benefit access and management with the goal of
providing peace of mind for individuals and families. A well-constructed life plan allows families
to focus on creating a supportive and rewarding environment for all family
members.
A solid financial plan is an integral component of life
plans and ensures persons with special needs have the necessary financial
support throughout their life cycles. But
creating a life plan can be a challenge when trying to navigate the complex
system of taxes, supplements, grants, credits, and more recently, the RDSP. This seminar will provide essential
information to families about the processes that exist to navigate this
challenging system within the context of their own personal situations.
While the circumstances of each person with special needs
are different, there is a need to ensure each person will have the maximum
financial support available to live a full and comfortable life. This seminar will provide families with the
opportunity to ensure each person with special needs is able to achieve this
goal. Families will be encouraged to
maximize the use of tax credits, deductions and grants to achieve life long
financial support for their person with special needs. In addition, the use of insurance to finance
unexpected events will be discussed. We
will examine the RSDP and the importance of determining the contributions that
maximize the available grant or bond. Since
ODSP is not affected by RSDP, families will learn how to develop a plan to fund
RDSP that will help maximize the supplement received by the person with special
needs.
It is a well-known fact that sixty percent of families with
persons with special needs do not take advantage of all the benefits that are
available. This seminar will provide
families with an understanding of the available benefits. Equally important, it will demonstrate ways
to ensure that benefits such as ODSP are not compromised, that RDSP funding is
arranged to support financial growth and that plans minimize taxation while
promoting financial stability.
Peace of mind comes from planning. This seminar will contribute to that peace of
mind.
We hope you are able to join us. Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
This year, our goal is to raise $10,000 in support of the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton. As an organization, we are blessed to receive funding from the United Way to support the Dragonfly Lodge.
Please join us in our efforts to support the great work of the United Way and the 71 agencies they support.
Call Patti Harvey for details: 905-528-0281 ext 258
|
|
|
|
Cool Ride Motorcycle Fundraiser |
|
|
 A “Cool Ride” for Community Living
Generously sponsored by the Meridian Credit Union of Ancaster
The words “Community Living” reflect the growing understanding that the right to live a full life within the community – to live, to go to school, to work, to enjoy leisure and recreation, and to enjoy retirement belongs to everyone.
Community Living Hamilton is an organization which works on behalf of individuals who have an intellectual disability by assisting them to actively participate in all aspects of their community.
While some people need very little support to participate in the daily activities of life, others require more assistance, often relying a great deal on their immediate family.
One of the many ways that Community Living Hamilton is able to support the entire family, is by providing a short period of time for families to take a rest from these responsibilities while their son or daughter enjoys a supported cottage vacation with us at the Dragonfly Lodge.
Parents take this opportunity for their own time off. They take time to rest, rejuvenate, spend time with other family members and friends and simply give attention to some of their own needs. Families report feeling strengthened because of this opportunity - often times returning to pick up their loved one, feeling refreshed and ready to resume their role of care provider.
 As families reunite after a week of being apart, there are open arms, smiles and stories of how they’ve missed one another. The cottagers share experiences of their vacation at the Dragonfly Lodge through photos, a vacation journal, and stories ranging from singing around the campfire and eating s’mores to swimming, canoeing, shopping trips and feeding horses at a local farm.
The families who take part are charged a fee, however not all families have the resources to participate. As an organization, we do our best to address all of the possible barriers that people with disabilities face. Physical accessibility is one issue, but financial accessibility is another. This is why we fundraise.
Our annual fundraiser in support of the Dragonfly Lodge is a motorcycle event called “Cool Ride”. This year, we received generous sponsorship through the Good Neighbour Program at the Meridian Credit Union in Ancaster.
With Meridian’s financial help we are able to make this event bigger and better than ever and make it a real family affair. The ride will take place from Merrit Hall at the new Ancaster Fairgounds on Sunday August 30th with lots of fun for everyone, even if you don’t ride motorcycle!
Cool Ride
Sunday August 30th
11am to 1pm - Pancake Breakfast and Rider Registration
1pm - Ride Departs for a Beautiful Drive to Dunnville
4pm - The Ride Returns to a Cheering Crowd
5pm to 8pm - BBQ Dinner, Live Band, Games, Balloon Animals, Silent Auction and Prizes
Location: Merrit Hall, new Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Road (Corner of Hwy 52 and Hwy 53)
This event has been generously supported by the men and women of the Black Hawks Motorcycle Club for the past four years. Their hard work and dedication to the families at Community Living Hamilton is immeasurable.
For information contact Tanya Sweers:
905-528-0281 ext 245
tsweers@clham.com
www.communitylivinghamilton.com
|
|
|
|
Employers Reap the Benefits |
|
|
Innovative Business Solutions
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
By: Theresa Speers Job Developer Employment Access
During a recent conversation with an employer, our talk turned to the down economy, as many conversations do these days. This employer who is very empathetic commented that it must be very difficult to find employment for persons who have a disability right now due to the unemployment rate. My answer to him was, the economy goes up and down. That is a fact of life. The employment rate follows suit. That is another fact of life. What does not change is what we offer employers, motivated, reliable and dependable employees. The employer thought for a moment and said “you know you do have something there. As an employer I have had employees who are more than capable of doing the work but lack the motivation to do so.”
How important is motivation, reliability and dependability to an employer?
Each employer must answer this question for him or herself.
For those employers who deem these qualities most important, you may want to look into one of the employment services that support people who have a disability. Services such as Employment Access have a long history of supplying employers with employees who are motivated reliable and dependable.
If you would like to learn more do not hesitate to contact me at tspeers@clham.com
|
|
|
|
|
Sign the Declaration of Support for Community Living - Click Here
Canadians who believe people who have an intellectual disability should live in the community and not in institutions can express their support by adding their names to a petition.
As of Feb. 23, 5,408 people had signed the Declaration of Support for Community Living, calling for the country's remaining institutions to be closed.
"We're trying nationally to get 10,000 signatures," says Rick Tutt, chair of Community Living Ontario's deinstitutionalization working group.
"To make this declaration a success it is estimated that we will need a minimum of 10,000 names, so that provincial, territorial associations and People First groups from across Canada can take the declaration to their respective governments in the quest to close all institutions."
Launched in August 2007, the Institution Watch website is an initiative of a joint task force created by the Canadian Association of Community Living (CACL) and People First of Canada designed to bring deinstitutionalization back to the national agenda and develop a plan to make the issue a national priority.
While Ontario's remaining large institutions will close by March 31, facilities operate elsewhere in Canada.
"The real push here is for the rest of the country," Tutt says.
"Many provinces are teetering on the verge of abandoning plans to maintain or expand these archaic forms of housing and are ready to move on to community alternatives. They need every encouragement that we can offer."
Tutt sent out a message to local Community Living associations recently soliciting members' support.
He suggests associations can spread the word further by including a message about the campaign and a link to the petition in their newsletters. Tutt encourages members to forward the request to families, employees and people who advocate for themselves.
To reach a broader audience, Tutt proposes contacting local media as smaller papers may run a small blurb at no cost, and/or posting a 'sign-up' list in local grocery stores or community centres and then adding those names to the petition.
"Encourage service clubs, business associations and town councils to get on board," he adds.
Don Gallant, national co-ordinator of the community inclusion initiative with CACL, earlier told Community Living Leaders this is a first for Canada and it has the chance to make a big impact.
“I’m not sure that we’ve ever had, as a country, a declaration that spoke specifically to this demand — the request to close institutions,” he said.
“I think it’s a very powerful declaration.”
— with files from Jason Thompson
|
|
|
|
|
| | Title | Owner | Category | Last Updated | Size (Kb) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|