Page 10 - CLH DSS 2022 Annual Report

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORT

SUCCESS STORY | MY DAY MY WAY

During the Pandemic we (CPS) faced some challenges and had to come up with
new ideas to keep everyone connected. CLH, as well as other associations, landed
on virtual calendars that offered activities that everyone could participate in. CLH
DSS came together with other associations across Simcoe County: Empower
Simcoe, CLASS, E3 and Camphill, and created a virtual activity calendar called
“My Day My Way”. This virtual calendar allowed everyone supported within these
associations to come together to enjoy activities. CLH DSS took on the task of
creating, organizing and ensuring it was available to each location so that the
people we support could participate in some extra opportunities. Through these
virtual activities, individuals started to recognize faces and thus began to build
friendships.

CLH DSS also opened up our Self Advocates Council (SAC) meetings to the
other associations to come together as a larger group. Once a month CLH DSS
hosts larger SAC meetings with the groups from CLASS and Empower Simcoe.
During these meetings each association selects a topic, presents, and provides
an educational opportunity about a specific topic. These meetings have provided
another opportunity to come together, make new friends, expand our understanding
of one another, and what self-advocating means. In our last meeting, it was put to
a vote and the name of our combined group is “Simcoe County Power Council”.

These programs have been extremely successful and everyone looks forward to
seeing and conversing with their new friends. It is nice to see everyone with these
new-found friendships, and we are looking forward to the day we can meet up in
person!

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