PartnersaNew, a new organization that seeks to support individuals living with intellectual disabilities and their families within the South Eastman Region, announced the core of its targeted programming over the ensuing months including some of its upcoming family workshops.
Irene Maendel, Board Chair, indicated that “PartnersaNew is a new organization whose target is to develop flexible person centred supports for those living with intellectual disabilities by affirming the personal gifts of these individuals, encouraging the pursuit of dreams, and nurturing individual relationships and families so that all persons can achieve full citizenship and meaningful life in the community.”
Some key program initiatives under development by PartnersaNew include:
• Offering a variety of services to families in South Eastman Region, including supported living options to adults living in their family home.
• Offering respite services to families supporting children and adults living with intellectual disabilities
• Developing a comprehensive resource base including informational and educational materials as well as access to family and community workshops.
• Assisting individuals to build on existing gifts while promoting life-long learning
• Providing trained employment developers complete with job coaching
• Providing daytime support for these individuals in the community at large
• Nurturing friendships and family bonds, encouraging ongoing relationships and developing/maintaining social support networks
Families who support children with disabilities will be interested to know that PartnersAnew has arranged for a Family Support Group. They will be meeting on the last Monday of each month starting January 25, 2010, 7 pm, at the Oakridge Nursery Tea House in Steinbach.
Families, Educators, EAs, or anyone else involved with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) care, for example, will be interested in attending the following workshops in Steinbach scheduled for March 2010:
• March 2, 7pm – 9pm: FASD Basics, Part 1: Presented by Lia Braun (This session will offer basic information on FASD, including how alcohol affects the developing brain as well as the differences between the four FASD diagnoses)
• March 9, 7pm – 9pm: FASD Basics, Part 2: Presented by Lia Braun
• March 16, 7pm – 9pm: Behaviour Detective, Part 1: Presented by Lia Braun
• March 23, 7pm – 9pm: Behaviour Detective, Part 2: Presented by Lia Braun
