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Community Living York South
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Serving the communities of Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham
CHARITABLE REGISTRATION# 10822 6556 RR0001

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Event | March Break Camp

Posted: January 2010

MONDAY, MARCH 15 - FRIDAY, MARCH 19
9:30-3:30 P.M. DAILY
Ages 16-21
Locations in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan

To register:
In Markham: Anita, 905-884-9110, voicemail 267
In Richmond Hill: Cheri, 905-884-9110, voicemail 640
In Vaughan: Ritu, 905-884-9110, voicemail 523

social & life skills | trips | music | art | sports | games | and more!

[»] INFO FLYER (PDF 228K)

Event | General Meeting

Posted: January 2010

TUESDAY, MARCH 16
7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M..
101 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill

Please join us for our 56th General Meeting!

Guest speaker: Brendon Pooran, LLB
Topic: Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Plan now for the financial future of your son/daughter or family member who has an intellectual disability.

Our guest speaker will provide you with the knowledge, how to get started and will be available to answer your questions.

[»] INFO FLYER (PDF 138K)

Event | Festival of Creative Crafts

Posted: November 2009

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
101 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill

"We offer unique, one of a kind, hand crafted items, a food table of home made baking, items packaged for gift giving and as an added feature this year, we are offering beautiful, fully decorated Christmas trees."

All proceeds to benefit the people we support.

[»] INFO FLYER (PDF 82K)

Event | "Raising Responsible Sons and Daughters"

Posted: October 2009

NOVEMBER 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2009
6:30 A.M.-8:30 P.M.
Cost: $10.00 early bird before October 28; $15.00 after October 28
101 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill

Community Living York South and Family Services York Region present: A series of 4 workshops for parents who have a child aged 18 to 30 years of age who have an intellectual disability.

Topics include:

  • Relationships and interpersonal skills.
  • Exploring issues with your adult child.
  • Advocacy: helping your child become more independent.
  • Problem solving: discovering the boundary between protection and taking appropriate risks.
  • Future Planning: Next steps for your son/daughter.

[»] CLICK HERE FOR WORKSHOP FLYER (PDF 550 KB)

Event | Brunch to benefit the United Way of York Region

Posted: October 2009

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.
$7.00 per person
101 Edward Ave, Richmond Hill

As a member agency of the United Way of York Region, Community Living York South is one of over 40 community organizations that assist people and families in York Region to receive much-needed support.

This year, our fundraising and donation campaign will kick off with lots of yummy things to eat - bagels and cream cheeses, bread, muffins, croissants, fruit trays, waffles, peameal bacon, quiche and frittata, sausages, veggie bacon, coffee ... and more.

Please show your support by coming out. All proceeds to benefit the United Way of York Region.

[»] CLICK HERE FOR EVENT INFO IMAGE (JPEG 143 KB)

Event | The "Cruise Along With Us" Dinner with Councilor David Cohen

Posted: September 2009

November 1st, 2009
Reception: 6:00 P.M., Dinner: 7:00 P.M.
Diamond Banquet Hall (First Markham Place)
3225 Highway 7 East, Markham
Dinner Ticket: $80
Inquiries: 905-508-5931

"Quality of Life is very important to all of us. Families who take care of those with developmental disabilities such as autism, live demanding days ensuring that their loved one is safe and well cared for at home.

One option for relief is respite care. A qualified agency provides program or overnight care, so the disabled person gets an interesting change and the family gets some relief.

My Community Outreach Committee has decided to put on a dinner to raise money to encourage affordable respite service.

The proceeds will go for respite programs including Reena and Community Living York South. The recipients will be from our diverse community."

- Councillor David Cohen

[»] DOWNLOAD: "CRUISE ALONG WITH US" FLYER (PDF, 1.3MB)

About The Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008

Posted: April 2009
Source: Ministry of Community and Social Services

The government wants to improve services and supports for adults who have developmental disabilities and their families. It wants services and supports to:

  • be fair, so that everyone gets treated the same way
  • be flexible, so that people’s needs are addressed
  • be here for the future.

To make these changes, the government has created the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. It will replace the Developmental Services Act, which is 35 years old and is out of date.

Adults who have a developmental disability want more choice and control over their lives. They can live independently with the right supports.

The new Act will give adults with a developmental disability more independence and choice. The new Act is not in effect yet. Before the new Act can become law, the ministry must develop policy directives and rules that are enforceable by law. Policy directives are the instructions that organizations have to follow in the work they do.

[»] VISIT: MCSS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES > DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES > WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
[»] READ: THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSIONS OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACT, 2008

[»] DOWNLOAD:

News | Tax Tips for Families for the 2008 Tax Year
From The Special Needs Planning Group

Posted: February 2009
Source: http://www.specialneedsplanning.ca/tax.html

Income Tax Time has arrived once again. At this time of the year, many of people with disabilities and their families hear stories about all the tax deductions that they are entitled to but of which they are unaware. Graeme Treeby of The Special Needs Planning Group has teamed up with Doug Cronin C.G.A., Community Living York South and The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy to prepare and distribute a free tax information guide for people with disabilities and their families.

[»] VISIT THE SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING GROUP WEB SITE
[»] DOWNLOAD THE 2008 TAX TIPS GUIDE (PDF, 80K)

News | Georgina Advocate: Intellectually disabled battle bus fares
By Simone Joseph
Source: The Georgina Advocate

Posted: January 2009

EXCERPT:

Lloyd Chafe has gone without a York Region Transit bus pass for more a year.

But this is not by choice.

"The price has gone up and up," he said.

The 35-year-old Markham man has an intellectual disability and cannot afford the $105 monthly fee coming out of his meagre Ontario Disability Support Program allowance.

"There are people who want to go places that cannot go because they have to pay $3.25," said Mr. Chafe, chairman of the board of directors for Comnunity Living York South's Self Advocates Council, a group of people with intellectual disabilities who advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.

"The government should help us out," he said. (Read More ...)

[»] MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES: DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION STANDARD: WHERE WE ARE NOW

News | Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Posted: December 2008

Community Living Ontario Press Release

December 1, 2008 – TORONTO – Community Living Ontario, an advocacy organization for people who have an intellectual disability, welcomes the Ontario Government’s decision to allow investments in the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) without it affecting people’s disability income.

The RDSP was announced in the 2007 federal budget and is similar to a Registered Education Savings Plan. The RDSP allows people who have a disability, their families, and friends to invest in a savings plan over time to save for their future. (Read more; PDF 76K)

[»] PRESS RELEASE > RDSP OVERVIEW > COMMUNITY LIVING ONTARIO

News | Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Posted: October 2008

"A representative from the Premier’s office has agreed to meet with a group of disability advocates from various organizations in the near future to discuss the province’s response to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).The government has not yet made clear whether or not an investment in an RDSP will result in a claw-back of benefits paid to an individual through other government programs such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). There are indications that the government is preparing soon to announce publicly its position regarding RDSP."

Please take the time to review the letter template to Premier Dalton McGuinty outlining concerns regarding the issue, and share with other concerned individuals and families.

[»] LETTER TO PREMIER McGUINTY, RE: RDSP (DOC 35K)
[»] DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE CANADA: Canada’s New Government Introduces Draft Legislative Proposals to Implement the Registered Disability Savings Plan (October 2, 2007) (PDF 76K)

Recreation | Special Needs Advisory Committee

Posted: August 2008

More info @ http://www.rhkids.ca/en

Located within the Town of Markham. The Special Needs Advisory Committee is a group of dedicated residents partnering with the Town of Markham Parks and Recreation staff to offer advice on much needed recreation programs targeting all Markham residents with special needs.

Programs will be implemented beginning with the Fall 2008 Parks and Recreation schedule. There will be a fitness class and dance class geared to youth with cognitive and physical disabilities. The goal of these programs is to encourage the participants to move and have fun doing it. A weekly Family Wheelchair Skate has been scheduled where all family members of every ability are welcome to skate together at Angus Glen arena. There will also be a Tai Chi class for adults with neurological conditions as well as a program called Building Blocks, run by RH Kids (http://www.rhkids.ca/en), for children 3-8 helping them develop/improve fine and gross motor skills. Focus will be on pre-printing skills, in-hand skills and coordination skills.

 The committee is actively recruiting new members of all ages to provide input. The next meeting will be held Tuesday September 9, 2008 7-8:30pm at Angus Glen Community Centre. If you are interested in joining, please contact Marsha Mariani (mmariani[at]markham[dot]ca), to be added to the mailing list.

News | Youth Philanthropy Initiative

Posted: July 2008

More info @ http://youtube.com/watch?v=IMUsCDk35PU

The Toskan Casale Foundation launched the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative in 2002 to help young people in our communities harness their creative and philanthropic energies.

This year, on their own initative Community Living York South youth volunteers prepared a funding request proposal and YouTube video which they presented to the Foundation and an independent judging panel.

We are pleased that they were among the finalist teams and our agency received $5,000 from the Toskan Casale Foundation as a result of their efforts. A big thank you to our volunteers.


To view the YouTube video click here.

News | "Connections"

A guide to transition planning for parents of children with developental disabilities in Toronto and York Region

Posted: April 2007
Source: http://reena.org/publications.html


This resource has been developed to help you - the parents of a child with a developmental disability in Toronto and York Regions - as your child makes the transition from school life to adulthood.

This guide has been written to provide you with information on transition planning and to identify some of the issues you need to think about. It will also provide you with information on accessing services in each of Toronto and York Region that may be useful to you as you begin to plan for your child's life beyond school. (... more)




Community Living York South is generously supported by

Ontario Trillium Foundation Logo
United Way York Region logo
 


Community Living York South
101 Edward Avenue, Richmond Hill ON L4C 5E5
Phone: 905-884-9110 • Fax: 905-737-3284 (fax) • Privacy Statement