Community Living Ontario

‘Every year I walk away with new things that I didn’t know before’
Friday August 27, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Community Living Campbellford Brighton’s upcoming Passport to Citizenship conference will largely focus on transition planning to assist young people who will soon be accessing adult services.

Topics to be discussed at the conference, now in its sixth year, include best practices and practical tools to implement individualized funding, inclusive education, sexual issues and employment supports, says Donna Desjardins, manager of supports and services at Community Living Campbellford Brighton.

Desjardins says she hopes people come away from the conference with “some really good, practical tools to be able to use in their day-to-day work in supporting people with intellectual disabilities, whether they are people that work for Community Living (or) educators.”

From her experience, Desjardins says the most exciting part of the conference is the networking opportunities it provides.

Through interaction, attendees can expect to walk away with new ideas for creative solutions to problem solving and hear about what other agencies and organizations are doing to help ease transitions for people who will soon be accessing adult services, she adds.

“We ask every person that comes to bring something to share about their organization and I think that’s the best part — the buzz that’s created amongst people,” says Desjardins.

“Every year I walk away with new things that I didn’t know before. If I learn that an agency is doing something that works, then I can bring that home and implement it in my area.”

The conference is targeted at Community Living agency executive directors, managers, front-line staff, people accessing services, families, educators and people working in the social service sector.

“Basically anyone working with youth” can benefit from the conference, notes Desjardins.

The Passport to Citizenship conference is being held Nov. 16-18 at the Blue Mountain Inn in Collingwood.

For more information, including registration, click here, or call 705-653-1821.

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