Fall - Reena

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Reena Annual Report Reena Annual Report Day Programs at the Battle Centre By Mohamed Lalji, Resource Manager Day & Residential Services Visitors to the Toby and Henry Battle Developmental Centre are surprised to find a hub of activity taking place in all levels of the building. Day programs are well attended by some of our residential clients as well as young and older people with developmental disabilities in the community. 16 new individuals joined our Day Programs this year. They participate in volunteering for Meals On Wheels, learning work and social skills, gardening in our greenhouse (a very popular and calming program), arts and crafts, Family Involvement Committee Co-Chairs: Elaine Norris and Meredith Perry The Family Involvement Committee ran two successful programs this year. 8 • Kolreena • September 2008 making music and other entertainments. In addition, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language students completed their placements at the Battle Centre. Connections is a new document that was created as 1st a transition guide for parents for future planning for their child as he/she leaves the school system. Reena, Surrey Place and YSSN were part of a pilot project to offer the document to families and these groups were to be cochaired by a staff and parent. In November 2007 Reena offered four weekly discussion/facilitation group meetings to parents of transitional age youth ages 17 to 21. This program was co-led by Carolynn Morrison, past Chair of Reena and a staff member, Elaine Goldbach. About 15 interested parents of youth aged 17 to 21 attended each meeting and reported that they all found them interesting and enlightening and suggested that they be offered again. Elaine Norris presented an excellent seminar on 2nd Special Education in the Public School System to a small group of staff and parents on the morning of March 18, 2008. It was most successful and we will offer it again this fall in the evening. The small seminar allowed for participation and individual interests. Connections is available on the Reena website at: www.reena.org Hard copies of the book can be purchased at the Battle Centre. Family Reena clients have fun VIP visitors to the Battle Centre this year included The Hon. Madeleine Meilleur, MPP, Minister of Community and Social Services, and Deputy Minister Lucille Roch. In August 2007 Reena hosted a group of social workers from Israel who were most impressed with our facilities at the Battle Centre and programs. And, just one month later, Deloitte & Touche brought 100 members of their staff to the Battle Centre for Impact Day which was enjoyed by over 200 Reena clients throughout the day. By far the most exciting vacation enjoyed by Reena clients was the week-long cruise to the Bahamas in November 2007. 19 residents and staff from two Reena locations had a fantastic time visiting Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Turks/Caicos. Although some of the clients had high medical and physical needs, it didn’t deter them and they were received with kindness and support from the other passengers. It took careful planning and hard work, but the group Las Vegas was the vacation choice for Alan Liss, Sari Justein, David Taub and Howard Zimmerman. They posed for the camera at Caesar’s Palace. are already making plans and saving their dollars for 2009.
Reena Annual Report Reena Annual Report Outreach and Respite, 10 Years in the Making By: Ann Szabo, Resource Manager Outreach and Respite Services Everyone who has ever tried to reach the summit and succeeded has had to rest along the way. Reena helps people with developmental disabilities attain their goals by providing them and their caregivers, with the safe and stimulating respite care they need to recharge and get ready for the next step, no matter how high. Ten years ago, outreach and respite were just words to describe what we hoped to achieve for our community families. It was a small department with a supervisor and occasional staff and programs were offered to adults. We had no After School program, March Break, Winter Retreats or Northland Experience. In fact we did not have many programs for children and youth, except a Summer Respite program with three to seven kids per week and two staff. Ontario Special Olympics was just a dream and the Sunday Friends Club was far off in the distance. Some of our original programs included Café Reena (Café Lundi), Teen Scene (Mod Squad) and a Wednesday evening bowling program for anyone who wanted to join. The Kids Club at Bathurst Jewish Community Centre was our first partnership program. Like any new purveyor of services, we struggled to bring in the participants and find the funds to provide quality options. Reena has always enjoyed a good challenge. So, we asked our families what they needed and wanted to help them get through the day and prevent family crisis. First and foremost they wanted quality programming for their family members, not a babysitting service. They wanted a variety of options with social and life skills, a good chunk of time, but most important fun, fun, fun for their family member with a developmental disability. So we began to offer programs that met the criteria of our families and their children and other family members. We have never looked back except in retrospect to see how we are doing. Today we serve close to 800 families at some time during the year through our variety of Respite Enrichment/day programs that include: After School Club, Autism and Aspergers support groups, Café Lundi, Camp Northland Experience inclusive residential camp, Creative Arts, March Break, Mod Squad, Music Makers (choir), Residential Respite for children, youth and adults year round, Ontario Special Olympics Bowling and Basketball teams, Summer Recreation North and South, Sunday in the Sun at Camp Arrowhead, Sunday Friends North and South, Reel Fun for the thespian, Winter Retreat and Pathways to the Community (Mesilot L’ Kehila)a community based day program for transitioning youth and adults. Today, children from seven years old to adults 50 + participate in one or more of our options. Priority is given to those who live in the community with their families to ensure that families do get a break. Last month at the Ontario Special Olympics provincial games our bowling team had seven of the eight spots for our region. They garnered eight gold, three silver and four bronze medals. We may have athletes who will qualify for the World Games in China. We would not be able to provide such a variety of quality programs for our participants and their families without the continued support of our generous donors to Reena through the Reena Foundation and volunteers. A big Reena THANKS goes out to all our Donors, Volunteers and Staff for their years of dedication, generosity and continued support. Kolreena • September 2008 • 9
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Fall - Reena

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