A Hanover company that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is working to expand to serve the broader region.
Office Manager Sara-Lynne Leask says Supported Choices helps clients live a full life with day programs, supports clients who live independently, and organizes outings.
"The primary branch is our day program that runs Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.," Leask explained. "It basically creates a social space and a care space for those that need extra support while their family members are busy or get them away from their group home or wherever they're living and provides some support and activities during the day."
Supported Choices was created in 2015 by Tamara Carrier to help people with disabilities access their self-directed funding from the Passport Ontario program.
"One of the things she wanted was more choice and more opportunity for people to choose the things they wanted, to choose the life that they wanted, and create support around that. And that really is the heart of supported services. It is all about the choice of the individual that we're supporting," explained Leask. "It was a really pivotal time, when it switched from government-directed funding to personally-directed funding, when Passport was created, that allowed Supported Choices to become and to grow."
The company provides the services to hundreds of clients, and bills Passport on their behalf. She pointed out that many of their clients are low-income.
"When you're trying to pay your rent and eat, sometimes you only have money to to cover those things, and don't necessarily have money for the extra support that you need," she added. "One of the things that we do is intermediary, and we pay for the supports, provide them, and we bill Passport directly for them.
Leask revealed the company was established at a time when she needed it most, as her son, who needs full support, was just graduating from school.
"[It was] A way for me to continue to be a productive employed member of society. I would have had to quit my job and stay home and look after him without the services that supported choices offers," she noted. "And it gives him the independence that he's got somewhere to go, activities he feels useful. He can participate in life, he has a community that he belongs to."
Leask said Passport funding pays for the services they offer, but makes it difficult to expand. She added many more people could use the support, but are not aware that the service exists.
Supported Choices is working to buy a new lift, a new wheelchair-van, and finish a sensory room to provide more support to more clients.
A fundraising golf tournament will be held at Homestead Golf Course on June 21. Teams, volunteers and donors are needed.