Our Petition by Nancy & Marvin McDougall

To all that should read this post, this is about a very valuable support to people with disabilities and their families, which is on the chopping block of cuts. We can't let this happen so please like and share and voice your concerns. These are our thoughts.

What does independant facilitation mean to us?

We are parents of a 37 year old son. In 2016 our family went into crisis, but as frightening and terrifying as that period was, our son Scott emerged with a new life. One that we couldn't have imagined had it not been for the faciltator from Families For a Secure Future standing beside us.

Every family supporting a family member with special needs experiences a crisis at some time. Whether the family spirals downward into dispair or rises up through the dark times, depends upon the support surrounding the individual and family. In our case a facilitator supported & encouraged us throughout, and gradually we formulated a life plan which arose from the courage to dream about what it meant to live a good life.

Our facilatator helped us to explore options, real options, not the cookie cutter traditional options. And they listened to the quietest voice in the room, because Scott is non verbal and slowly we began to rebuild his life. Today he is so happy. He is out and about in his community. He enjoys life abd his eyes are bright again.

He mmets people. He does activities he likes. His choices are respected abd he is seen as a citizen of the world, not "just a client". We are an older family and we have lived throught the isolated times, where facilitators did not exist. We have experienced the well meaning people who thought they were helping with their lists of cookie cutter programs. At long last a system has been created that works!! It makes financial sense when one facilatator can support so many, and prevent a crisis which would cost the health care system so much more.

​Let's take the time to review the benefits and show some fiscal responsibility to the tax payers of Ontario. Don't leave families who are aging and already stuggling without this support.