In Canada the Cheshire Services span four Provinces. From east to west those Provinces include British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. These services have always been attached to Leonard Cheshire International, but have lacked a National presence. In the 1980’s, a National Office was established, but it unfortunately folded in the early 90’s due to financial reasons. In addition, the office also did not seem to represent all of Canada, primarily Ontario programs.
With the recent developments of the Global Alliance, Cheshire programs once again have a National feel and are, for the first time in the past twenty years, feeling much closer together. It is good to have brothers and sisters close at hand. We have recently sculpted a new National Constitution which was signed in May/09 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Cheshire services are certainly on the go in Canada!
CHESHIRE SERVICES IN SASKATCHEWAN
1. New Developments in the organizational structure:
In Saskatchewan, we have two Cheshire’s; Saskatoon and Regina.
2. Progress:
Cheshire Saskatoon has spent the last year modernizing all three of it's homes. The project has been a major undertaking, which has included a new roof, all new bathrooms and fixtures, wall painted and carpets replaced. Quotes are presently being obtained for consideration of all new doors, windows, furnace and another roof. In addition to modernizing the homes, we are committed to building a fourth home which will offer a greater level of independence to residents. Currently we have space for another building and are considering a “condo like” home for six residents. A building committee has been established and they are currently working in partnership with our primary government funder.
CHESHIRE SERVICES IN ONTARIO
As for our Ontario status for the International report… There are now 15 Cheshire organizations in Ontario serving approx. 1000 people (940) with approx. 1000 staff (960) and 1 affiliate (Participation House – Hamilton and District).
Most of the Cheshire organizations in Ontario continue to provide attendant services (personal support) for adults with significant physical disabilities. These services are offered through two main programs (Supportive Housing and Outreach Attendant Services).
Many of these same organizations are members of the Ontario Association of Independent Living Service Providers of Ontario http://www.oailsp.org/
Organizations also offer other services such as respite, services for children as they transition to adulthood etc. Services for people with acquired brain injury.
Some organizations offer very specialized services e.g. Rotary Cheshire Homes supports adults who are both blind and deaf; Balance offers support for adults who have vision difficulties.
Organizations have also implemented some innovative programs that have assisted people with disabilities. A few of the things that organizations are most proud of are:
- Personal Choice Independent Living in Ottawa has provided service to people who use ventilators for quite some time and Elaine McNaughton represented OAILSP on the Provincial Long Term Ventilation Strategy;
- Access Apartments in Toronto has been able to help new mothers who have disabilities through a Nurturing Assistance program that is flexible and time limited – up to the time the child reaches age 12 – more intense for the 1st year;
- Access Apartments was also involved with Abuse Training for staff which was provided for 800 staff in Toronto;
- Independent Living in Halton is proud of the # of people who have been able to stay in their own homes who were otherwise going to have to go to Nursing Homes;
- Nucleus Independent Living has implemented a 24 hour mobile service for Seniors and is helping 53 new people and hopefully an additional 90 this year;
- North Yorkers for Disabled Persons is particularly proud of their Communication Enrichment Program. They provide augmentative communication through a team of facilitators who provide facilitation support;
- Cheshire in London Ontario is proud of the success of its Right Home Project. They have successfully transitioned young people with disabilities who were in Long Term Care Homes by default (no other choice) back into the community with supports. They have included pre and post evaluation mechanisms with this project to determine success. They have also been successful in securing some new ongoing funding by providing service to people who have been designated ALC (Alternative Level of Care) and have been waiting in Acute Care Hospital Beds for community support.
- Conway Homes in Burlington has recently had a Board Renewal that will move the board from a “historic” board to a more professional/governance board.
The following list provides some additional information about the services in Ontario.
1. Access Apartments – Toronto:
62 consumers in 4 Supportive Housing locations and Outreach.
Access also provides Nurturing Assistance to parents with small children and assists people with Acquired Brain Injury.
2. Balance – Toronto:
137 clients – Balance provides training opportunities for people with visual difficulties
3. Cheshire – Hastings/Prince Edward
73 consumers
One congregate living arrangement for 10 people
One Supportive Housing program for 3 people
60 people supported through Outreach
4. Cheshire – Southwestern Ontario: Celebrating 30 years!
212 consumers
7 Supportive Housing programs – 4 in City of London (one congregated living for 8 people and three apartment buildings), one apartment building in each of Woodstock, St. Thomas and Stratford
6 Attendant Outreach Programs – counties of Middlesex, Huron, Elgin, Oxford, Perth and the city of London
International Work - Dec. 2nd – hosted a workshop on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and Justice for all of us
5. Cheshire Independent Living Services
Serving 88 consumers; 3 Supportive Housing programs
Carey House – 10 consumers; Brampton House – 12; Helen Home – 6
Outreach Services – 60 consumers
6. Clarendon Foundation (Cheshire Homes) Inc. in Toronto:
Broadway Avenue – 8, 10 and 12 Broadway Ave.; Henry Lane Terrace – 25 and 49 Henry Lane Terrance and 140 The Esplanade.
7. Conway in Hamilton:
11 consumers – one location
This is a congregate living arrangement with one apartment upstairs for one person.
8 Independent Living Halton:
35 Consumers
One Supportive Housing with 5 people and 30 in Outreach
- students requesting service who are attending community college – looking a creating a service hub to meet their needs.
9. McLeod House:
No longer provide active service, but are setting up a foundation to help support Cheshire consumers.
10. North Yorkers for Disabled Persons:
One congregate living arrangement for 8 people and 2 apartments attached to the house.
Have stated a Communication Enrichment Program for 12 people.
Provides housing and attendant services and augmentative and alternative communication facilitation services to persons with a physical disability as well as a complex communication need. The majority of the consumers are severely speech impaired or non speaking. They also provide service to AAC users who live independently in the community but require facilitation service. NYDP runs a literacy and vocabulary levels so they are able to direct their services. Their housing program is congregate with 2 additional apartments attached to the home.
11. Nucleus Independent Living in Toronto: 25 years in 2007
Two Supportive Housing Programs supporting 29 people and Outreach Program supporting 87 people.
They have implemented a 24 hour mobile service for seniors and are supporting 53 people and hope to help 90 more this year.
They have divided their services into two divisions – one for seniors and one for younger people with disabilities.
12. Personal Choice Independent Living in Ottawa:
One congregate setting for 6 people; One apartment location for 11 people and
One townhouse location for 10 people;
3 sites – Supportive Housing – 26 consumers;
13. Rotary Cheshire Homes in Toronto:
Rotary Cheshire Homes provides residential, intervenor and emergency intervenor services to persons who have acquired the dual disability of deaf-blindness. Rotary Cheshire Apartments is home for 16 residents and 18 are served in the community.
14. Three Trilliums in Toronto:
45 consumers – 26 in Supportive Housing and 19 on Outreach
CHESHIRE SERVICES IN QUEBEC
Cheshire services in Quebec are focussed in Montreal where one home for complex challenged adults has been operating for many years. Just recently, Cheshire Quebec purchased a secondary home about two blocks from the original home. This home is currently undergoing renovations so it will be completely wheelchair accessible. When the renovation is complete the existing residents will be moved there temporarily, while the original house is completely renovated. Once the two homes are up and running, one home will continue to provide permanent placement for residents between the ages of 18-50, and the other home will continue to provide transitional placement with an adapted program for living autonomously.
On another front, Cheshire Quebec is in the process of challenging the Ministry of Health in regards to providing ongoing funding, as well as recognition that services are necessary for people with physical disabilities. Cheshire Quebec has rallied 13 organizations together in their fight with the Government.