Susan Parker reflects back a couple of decades, thinking about the next step her son, Stuart, would take.
Stuart, who has Down’s Syndrome, had completed a two-year college program after finishing high school. By age 22 he had developed many skills. His mom saw potential for him to continue with his involvement in the community and personal development, but knew the family would need some help.
“To think that he would go to school as long as he did… but then what was he going to do? Thank goodness there was an opportunity like Community Living,” says Parker. “This turned out to be exactly what he needed.”
The Parkers turned to Community Living Central York, which supports individuals living with an intellectual disability in the area that includes Newmarket, Aurora, Stouffville and East Gwillimbury.
Soon Stuart was working at Shoppers Drug Mart. He also had the opportunity to be a greeter at Starbucks, one of the country’s very first. He then moved into doing light housekeeping for organizations, as both an occupation and as a volunteer.
“It’s not something that’s just made up for him. It’s jobs that need to be done at each of these facilities. And he loves it,” says Parker. “He will tackle anything that he’s able to… and he will just work hard with anything that he does to make sure to do the best he’s capable of.”
Stuart, she says, has a full life. He is out in the community, spending time with the friends he’s met through the organization and related activities. He also spends time with his girlfriend of 30 years, who he met on the first day of high school.
“This is his family community,” says Stuart’s mom.
Now 43, Stuart continues to be aligned with the organization as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Community Living Central York traces its origins back to a group of parents looking for education opportunities for children with a developmental disability. The resulting volunteer organization evolved and now serves more than 750 individuals and their families.
The organization has day, evening and weekend programs and respite for families. It also supports 15 community living homes, as well as 40 individuals living independently. There is an associate family program for those who reside in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Newmarket. In addition, the organization has partnered with more than 40 employers in York Region, providing employment skills training to individuals, so they are prepared for the workforce.
Everyone belongs, says Andrew Fagan, CEO of Community Living Central York.
“Our vision is to support individuals to achieve their fullest in a well-informed community,” he says. “York Region is just a fabulous community that rallies around its not-profit organizations.
“We’ve been able to continuously grow and help more families and individuals on our wait list.”
Those 70 years, he says, have been filled with resilience, growth and compassion with the participation of the community.
But there are pressures and challenges.
Limited funding from the provincial Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is further complicated by soaring inflation. Community Living Central York reports difficulties planning and covering costs, including paying for necessities like utilities, food and home repairs. Fagan looks to the community the organization supports as it strives to help more people who have been waiting for assistance.
“Every dollar counts… and it all goes directly to our most vulnerable members of the community,” he says, encouraging contributions through clcy.ca.
“The world today is in a bit of a mess, we’ll say, but if it is run by people of Community Living, we would not be in the mess we are today,” says Stuart’s mom. “I just look at him and think I wish the world had more like him.”
Community Living Central York is celebrating it’s 70th anniversary with ongoing activities, including its annual barbecue and holiday dinner. Former Newmarket mayor Tom Taylor is serving as the ambassador and there are detailed plans in the works for a signature event in September.
