Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-08-18, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2005. Community living works says exec, director Living in community JoAnne Davis, executive director of Wingham and District Community Living, watches as Rob Kuegler of Lucknow creates art during a visit to the Jack Reavie Centre. WDCL is hosting an information night on Aug. 18 at the Centre. (Bonnie Gropp photo) MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST BRUSSELS WARD SEAFORTH WARD TUCKERSMITH WARD By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Tonight (Aug. 18) Wingham and District Community Living is hosting an information night at the .lack Reavie Centre in Wingham. And with many families facing the move for their developmentally- challenged loved ones from an institutional-based facility into community living, executive director JoAnne Davis hopes the night might alleviate some concerns. The notion of community living actually began as a grassroots organization in 1958. Davis said that not everyone wanted their child placed in a facility. “These people wanted to keep their children home. They started with day schools and vocational schools. As people aged they looked at residential homes.” Government became involved along the way and by the time Davis started in the field in the early 1980s the push was on for community living. “They wanted them to be more involved in the community. The philosphopy is very much imbedded in community? in supportive employment, a drop-in centre in getting people out there working, recreating, doing things just as you and I would.” Davis, who came on as executive director a year ago. said she is very excited about the Wingham and District Community Living Association because it is “small town". “People are more accepting. There is much more opportunity to be more integrated here than in a larger community.” Davis places gieat emphasis on Community Living clients giving back “We like to see them roll up Teeswater’s Welcome Home project a ‘Cadillac service9 says Davis their sleeves, to participate as full citizens.” That said. Davis knows that such integration can be a sensitive issue, particularly with people who are not always comfortable around the developmentally disabled. “As a staff, we need to be more aware if one of our members is making anyone uneasy or is disruptive.” Also she encourages the community to contact them and tell them any issues they might have. “We need their support in this area. It is not okay for someone to be disruptive. Our hope is to develop a better profile in the community. If someone is a problem that is not integration. They become an object, not part of the community.” In response to concerned people who feel that there are some whose problems are too many or severe to live outside a facility. Davis strongly disagrees. “My background for the past 12 years is acquired brain injury. In Vineland we worked on a project for the States where we repatriated people who were deemed the hardest to serve behaviourly. They also had extreme physical challenges. We did it. But you don’t do it without appropriate supports. The resources that are promised from the government must come with the residents when they are moved from the facility.” Davis says that she has seen such transitions work extremely well and the people have gone on to be very productive. She tells of the Welcome Home project in Teeswater as another example. The people residing there have profound multiple challenges, both.physically and cognitively. All but one are in wheelchairs. “One parent has told us how their son used to have bed sores. Now he is bathed and moved daily He is mobile, out and about, doing things he had never done before.” The house has three staff to five individuals. "The families are thrilled with the quality of care and the individuals are integrated into (he community to the best of their abilities. Families have been very laudatory about that." Though resources are stretched for community living associations, Davis said that "allegedly residents are to come with the finances the} need. The program supervisor needs to hang tough and make sure they do. We don't take anyone unless those supports come with them." However. Davis said they do offer what support they can. "We are happy to talk to people, to explain things. We don't have huge resources, but we are more than happy to try and share what we do have.” But not to the extent of cutting themselves short. “If I feel something is underfunded I won't NOTICE OF PASSING OF ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Huron East passed By-law No. 57-2005 on the 9th day of August, 20Q5 under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended. AND TAKE NOTICE that any person or agency may appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board in respect of the by-law by filing with the Clerk of the Municipality of Huron East, not later than the 4th day of September, 2005, a notice of appeal setting out the objection to the by­ law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by payment of the fee prescribed under the Ontario Municipal Board Act. AMOUNT OF FEE payable on appeal is $125.00. Only individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a zoning by-law to the Ontario Municipal Board. A notice of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, a notice of appeal may be filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf. AN EXPLANATION of the purpose and effect of the by-law, describing the lands to which the by-law applies is provided below. The complete by-law is available for inspection at the Clerk’s office during regular business hours. If a person or public body that files an appeal of a decision of the Corporation of the Municipality of Huron East in respect of the proposed zoning by-law does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Corporation of the Municipality of Huron East before the proposed zoning by-law is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. DATED AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF HURON EAST THIS 17th DAY OF August, 2005. J. R. McLachlan, Clerk, Municipality of Huron East 72 Main Street South, Box 610 Seaforth, Ontario NOK 1W0 (519) 527-0160; 1-888-868-7513 (toll free from Brussels and Grey) PURPOSE AND EFFECT As a text amendment, this Zoning By-law affects the Brussels Zoning By-law, the Seaforth Zoning By-law and the Tuckersmith Zoning By-law and affects all of the Ward of Brussels, the Ward of Seaforth and the Ward of Tuckersmith in the Municipality of Huron East. The By-law: 1. Adds definitions for ‘Condominium Act’, ‘Planning Act’, ‘Terms’. 2. Deletes the existing Definition of ‘lot’ and replaces it with a new Definition for ‘lot’ to include: • a lot in a plan of subdivision; • a whole of a unit in a Vacant Land Condominium; • a parcel of common elements within a Vacant Land Condominium or within a Common Elements Condominium Plan; • the whole of the lands within a Standard Condominium Plan; • a conveyable parcel. 3. Deletes the existing General Provisions for ‘Lots to Front on a Public Road’ and replaces it with new General Provisions for ‘Lots to Front on a Public Road’: • require lots to abut or front on a public road and that such public road is of satisfactory construction and maintenance; • to allow structures to be built on lots in a Vacant Land Condominium Plan or on a Common Element Condominium on a private road provided that access to the Plan is by a public road; • to allow a condominium plan access to a public road through lands entirely within one or more other condominium plans. have anything to do with it. It puts the person al risk, the organization at risk and the community at risk." Currently two of the Community I iving residences have lour individuals to one staff person With resources pulled in different directions. Davis said they have “more than begun talks with the Ministry. With our aging population we have to rclook at binding. Many of those we support arc aging more rapidly too so we're also dealing with that. It's like walking a balance beam.” She stresses that she feels tor the families who will soon have to move their family member from a regional centre. “Their loved ones have been in these facilities for a number of years with people they have come to consider family. They have to be adamant that the resources are in place. Il is the responsibility of the organization doing the planning. If they don't they are failing these people.” There are many agencies available to assist families with loved ones in regional centres set for closure. However. Davis stresses that planning begin early. Research is required and a plan should be very personalized for each resident. “It needs to meet the specific needs of the individual." Davis suggest that one of the first steps should be establishing a rapport with new staff. Next see that the resources are in place to meet the individual's needs for such things as medical, behavioural and environmental. “And if there hasn't been enough time to feel comfortable, then we have to say that it hasn't been enough time. They are not able to be moved yet. sorry." “Get appropriate documentation and begin to develop a plan. Get staff hired and trained to work with the individual. Have them become familiar to the person. It keeps consistency." One thing that has been learned since the facilities first began closing is that not everything about them was bad. “And we have tried to incorporate those into community living. You don't throw' the baby out with the bathwater."