"Support for weary families" by The Dawdy's

Independent Facilitation offers planning support for weary families.

It should be recognized that families containing disabled individuals face challenges far exceeding those families who do not support members with disabilities. The result is that these families face tremendous energy drains and any goals that they may have had for themselves and their disabled family member get lost in the requirement for day-to-day survival. This was evident with our family where we would surface from survival mode and make short term goals for Brad only to be lost again as our energy dwindled resulting in the return to survival mode. It is tremendously difficult to make any headway to achieving both disabled family member goals and family goals in these cases.

Enter Citizen Advocacy and due to their help and active facilitation, these goals become more structured and focused with documented plans including timelines. Their (your) continued involvement assures families will achieve greater success resulting ultimately in more energy for both family members including the disabled member. In this regard, Citizen Advocacy has facilitated a number of learning forums for family members that was greatly appreciated.

Net effect may not readily quantifiable , but certainly exists in more productive family members and less burden on government provided facilities (e.g. hospitals, long term institutional living facilities, etc.).

With regard specifically to our family, we are much more focused and knowledgeable (although still tired) thanks to the efforts of Citizen Advocacy.

We certainly support the continuation and expansion of this Ontario government program.

Clay, Lorna and Brad Dawdy