Community Living Ontario

Grace King appreciates more than 35 years of mutual support
Friday December 9, 2011 -- Deb Bartlett

Grace King likens Community Living to a walking stick — a companion for more than 35 years on her journey through life with her daughter, Rochelle.

Ignoring her doctor’s advice to institutionalize Rochelle and forget she ever had her, King says Rochelle has been “my greatest teacher in life.”

“The best lesson my daughter taught me is that she’s worth it. And every single person who’s facing the challenges that she has to face everyday has got such strength and conviction and power. They have to communicate in a different way and they require us to take the time to listen,” says King.

Her involvement with Community Living Kawartha Lakes (prior to its many name changes) began when she was told about the organization by a teacher at Rochelle’s segregated school.

She became a member of the board and so began the advocacy that continues today. She was a staff member for 10 years, and is now on her fourth term as a board member.

Though King lobbied for Rochelle, she says the work was about “making life better not only for our daughter, but for the children who followed.”

Trails that King blazed include Rochelle being the first little girl who had a disability integrated into nursery school and one of the first people in the community that received individualized funding dollars.

King says Rochelle needed 24-hour support when she left school and there was no support for her.

Community Living worked with King and helped develop her strategy and plan to move forward with the government.

“I believe in equality for all people and that everybody should live in respect and dignity, and we’re all members of the community. We all require different types of supports.”

Rochelle attended some day support groups that interested her, but went from school to activities in the community.

“I believe that people should be treated as individual. She was involved in all kinds of things within the community,” says King.

She believes the community is richer because of people like Rochelle. “People are not problems to be solved,” she says.

“I think the secret of building strong communities is acceptance and belonging,” says King.

Though she has seen many changes over the years she’s been involved with Community Living, there need to be more. King feels families need to work with Community Living to build plans for people’s futures, she says.

“Community Living can’t be all things to all people,” she says. “People cannot assume that someone is going to look after their son or daughter, they have to be a partner in the process.”

Her advice to families not yet involved with the association is to get involved, don’t give up and don’t be afraid.

“You’re not alone,” says King. “The association was instrumental in supporting us in our journey with Rochelle and finding the support that we needed.”

To comment on this story, or to share your family’s involvement with Community Living, contact Deb at 800-294-0051, ext. 30, or e-mail deb(at)axiomnews.ca.