Resources
What We Offer
Our primary goal as advocates is to elevate the voice of families of children with disabilities. This means more than empowering them to speak out on their own behalf.
Our library resources are expanding all the time thanks the generous support of the local Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)
As a parent you likely have questions and concerns about dealing with your child’s needs as well as your own feelings. You are not alone.
FAMILY MANAGED RESOURCE CENTRE
The Family Managed Resource Centre is designed to be a tool to help people and families manage their own funding and all that may be involved. Families will receive information, resources and support to confidently manage the funding in the life of their loved one with a disability.
Advocacy + Crisis Support
What is Advocacy?
It is a process of helping families and individuals to find their own authority and power to create change. We believe in giving them the tools and the information to advocate for what they know to be right.Our primary goal as advocates is to elevate the voice of families of children with disabilities. This means more than empowering them to speak out on their own behalf. It means more than staunchly replaying their words. It is about welcoming people into the decision-making process by ensuring that their voices are heard and honoured in the decisions that are made about their lives.
As an Advocate, Inclusion Lethbridge ensures that:
- Where people have their own voice, we make sure they are heard
- Where people have difficulty speaking, we are there to support them
- Where people have no voice, we speak for them
We can advocate for you by:
- writing letters
- holding meetings
- organizing public events
- working with the media
- reminding services of their mandate
- letting you know what your rights are
- helping you exercise your rights
- doing whatever we can to raise awareness and create change
Crisis Support
Sometimes individuals or families experience a crisis which arises merely from the fact that they – or their child – have a disability. These crises can happen at any stage in life and can take on many forms too numerous to mention.Here are two possible examples of crises and how we can support you.
Scenario #1
A school tells that your child with a disability is not permitted to be included in the same neighbourhood school as her/his siblings. Sometimes individuals or families experience a crisis which arises merely from the fact that they – or their child – have a disability. These crises can happen at any stage in life and can take on many forms too numerous to mention.Here are two possible examples of crises and how we can support you.Scenario #1A school tells that your child with a disability is not permitted to be included in the same neighbourhood school as her/his siblings.How we can support:help you strategizewrite lettersfind legal councilattend meetings with you at the school
Scenario #2
You are a person with a disability and have just been told you can’t live where you want to live, even though you have the resources to do so. You know that you are being denied access simply because you have a disability.How we can support:speak with the landlord on your behalfwrite lettersfind legal councilempower you with self-advocacy tools
- help you strategize
- write letters
- find legal council
- attend meetings with you at the school
Scenario #3
You are a person with a disability and have just been told you can’t live where you want to live, even though you have the resources to do so. You know that you are being denied access simply because you have a disability.
How we can support:
- speak with the landlord on your behalf
- write letters
- find legal council
- empower you with self-advocacy tools
In all cases, we will:
- listen closely to find out what you need
- provide you with tools, resources, and information to empower you
- be a voice for change
Resource Library
There is so much to learn about providing advocacy and support for those with disabilities.The more we know, the closer we can get to the goal of living a good life as valued citizens, enjoying all rights, responsibilities, and benefits of citizenship. At Inclusion Lethbridge, we diligently add to and accept donations for our resource library, to assist and empower families and individuals with knowledge, support, and inspiration.Our library resources are expanding all the time thanks the generous support of the local Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD).
Support Groups
Learning that your child has special medical needs or a disability is a life-changing moment. As a parent, you likely have questions and concerns about dealing with your child’s needs as well as your own feelings. You are not alone.
Many of us have been right where you are. That’s why we are dedicated to helping you connect with people and services that can help you and your child. Whether it is at the early stages of your child’s diagnosis or anywhere in your journey, we are here to help you, your children and your family get connected.
We offer:
- PLAN: Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network
Learn more about how to ensure a good, safe and secure life for your loved ones with disabilities after you are no longer here to care for them.
- Parent-to-Parent
Share experiences and stories with other individuals and families on a similar journey.
- Transition Group
Inclusion Lethbridge and PLAN partner to bring together youth transitioning to adulthood and their families for workshops and information sessions
around transition and planning developing a good life.
- Upside Down in LA
- Chinook Autism
Family Managed Resource Centre
The Family Resource Centre will:
- Connect Families to other Families who are currently utilizing FMS to share information and support.
- Provide workshops and training on topics that pertain to FMS such as family leadership, staff retention and planning for the future.
- Provide access to a lending library of books, videos and brochures.
- Share information on upcoming events, workshops and training within our community.
- Provide support and advocacyHave information regarding bookkeeping and payroll including a list of local bookkeepers who are familiar with FMS and are recommended by other families.
- Have a database pool of potential staff for families to interview and possibly hire to work with their loved one with a disability. Families will be able to review this database to find who they feel may be a good match, based on a set of criteria that the potential employee indicated in the database. All potential employees must provide a criminal record check as well as a CWIS check prior to being inputted into the database.
- Have a collection of paperwork for families to adapt and change to meet their needs, such as confidentiality agreements, job offers and time sheets, interview questions and reference checks.
Inclusion Lethbridge. Made with love in Lethbridge, AB.