August 2016
C HECK OUT WHAT ’ S
HAPPENING ON THE
RESPITESERVICES . COM
FRONT……. 6
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
FOR ANYONE WHO LIVED IN
A SCHEDULE 1
INSTITUATION……2
PETER
MARKS JOINS US
FOR A HALF DAY, ALL
ARE WELCOME ........ 5
SO
DAFRS
F AMILYfocus
THAT ALL PEOPLE ENJOY A FULL AND MEANINGFUL LIFE WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY .
Making the Most of Your Passport Dollars: Join the new series to
reimagine opportunities and develop practical supports!
Sign up now for the next learning series Making the Most of Your Passport Dollars. Many
Durham Region families appreciated the series over the last year and limited spaces are available in
the newest installment. The series, led by mentoring parents, flourished with energy as families
learned from one another to move beyond traditional uses for funding. Due to the success of the
series, DAFRS will continue to host another four installments of the series over the next year.
The six week focused learning event will continue to give families an opportunity to explore
possibilities and ideas for their sons and daughters to become involved in their community in
meaningful ways. There will be a focus on using Passport funds to develop a life that cultivates
interests to transform dreams into possible and authentic realities in full day-to-day lives.
If you are interested in learning about opportunities for your son or daughter, would like more
information or answers to your questions please contact Josephine at (905) 436-2500 ext: 2311 or by
email: [email protected]. Hope to see you September 19th!
SERIES DATES:
September 19 th,
October 3 rd,
October 17 th,
st
October 31 ,
November 14 th,
November 28 th
TIME: 6:30-8:30PM
LOCATION: The Gathering Place,
20-850 King St. W, Oshawa
My name is Josephine Spitale and I am excited to be the
new Coordinator for the Making the Most of Your Passport Dollars
Series.
My background is in teaching and most recently I have
worked (and will continue to work) in interest based recruitment
right here at DAFRS. I look forward to listening to and learning
from the experiences parents bring to the series.
Schedule 1 Class Action - Filing a Claim
Did you live at a Schedule 1 institution?
You may be eligible to receive money from the Schedule 1 class action
settlement if you send in a claim form by February 28, 2017. The list of institutions
is at the end of this announcement.
Lawyers from ARCH Disability Law Centre can help with your claim for no cost.
You need an appointment if you want their help.
ARCH Lawyers will be at Durham Association for Family Respite Services, on August 22,
2016. The first appointment is at 10am. The last is at 3pm.
Please contact Alicia at (905)436-2500 ext:2304, or by email at
[email protected].
Please bring to the appointment:
•
•
Your photo ID. If you do not have photo ID, bring any of your other ID.
You might have received papers about Schedule 1 in the mail. Please bring those
papers to the appointment.
If you are not interested in an private appointment, but would like a general information
session, please contact Alicia and let her know.
If you cannot come on that day, please call ARCH for an appointment:
Phone: 1-866-482-2724
TTY: 1-866-482-2728
If you are not sure if you lived at a Schedule 1 institution, call ARCH for help.
Also available is a webinar for those supporting someone with a claim, that will be online
throughout the claims period:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/can-your-client-make-claim-compensation-underschedule-1-class-action-settlement
Here are the 12 Schedule 1 institutions that are in the settlement:

•
•


St.Lawrence Regional
Centre in Brockville
D’Arcy Place in Cobourg
Adult Occupational Centre
in Edgar
Pine Ridge in Aurora
Muskoka Centre in
Gravenhurst
• Oxford Regional Centre in
Woodstock, or in the
“Mental Retardation Unit”
or “MR Unit” of the Oxford
Mental Health Centre
• Midwestern Regional
Centre in Palmerston
• L.S. Penrose Centre in
Kingston
• Bluewater Centre in
Goderich
• Durham Centre for
Developmentally
Handicapped in Whitby
• Prince Edward Heights in
Picton
• Northwestern Regional
Centre in Thunder Bay
Summer-Student Meetings
- Learning for Everyone
Each Friday afternoon, starting in July, DAFRS has been hosting a series of guided
conversations with a small group of summer students we host. Each week features some
media (video, podcast, etc.) and some reading accompanied by thoughtful discussion.
Families and interested members of the community are welcome to come-out and
participate in the conversation. Fridays, through August 5 starting at 2:00pm. For more
information, contact Stephanie at [email protected].
Friday, August 5, 2016
»
Language as a Window Into Human Nature (Animation) - RSA Animate, Steven Pinker
»
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Animation) - Stephen Covey, Animated Book Review
»
Almost, But Not Quite There: Failing to Fully Develop Culturally Valued Analogues (Article) - Emma Barken
Also Coming Up:
Group of parents sharing both learning and questions in the Biomedical
Approaches Study Group
The Biomedical Approaches Study Group will next meet on Friday, August 12th 9:30 – 11:30 to
talk about Sensory Integration and how paying attention to these kinds of issues in simple and practical
ways can help a person feel more calm, focused and able to participate in the opportunities at hand.
Rosemary Oxenham, an experienced and wise Occupational Therapist who has long helped with
sensory integration assessments and interventions will be on hand to discuss how to best think about
the ideas and practical application of sensory integration methods. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE
IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION on this day. Sue and Joel
McLellan have offered to host us in their home for this
Study Group
hands on demonstration. Sue has implemented and Joel
has engaged in and benefitted from many of Rosemary’s
Info
sensory integration suggestions over the years. Come and
check this out with your own eyes and ears!
August 12, 2016
9:30am
10 Rothean Dr.,
Whitby
Once again, all are invited to this interactive
discussion session, HOWEVER, since we will meet in
Sue’s home, an RSVP regarding numbers would be most
appreciated.
For more information, or a list of book titles, call
Janet at 905-436-2500x 2324.
Upcoming Online Events on the
Introduction to the RDSP - General Information — August 16th at 3:00 pm
“Think Different” -Planning a Meaningful Life for Your Loved One - Susan Beayni and Anna
Bruno — September 22nd at 2:00 pm
Introduction to the RDSP - General Information — September 27 at 11:00 am
Tell Me More About Mindfulness!
With an ever increasing interest in therapeutic practices that can assist people to
deal with stress and anxiety, the board of directors at DAFRS has given the “go ahead”
to a small project to see how families can benefit from the practice of Mindfulness.
Cara Southwood is a mindfulness coach and teacher at Durham College and the
University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
For the next few months Cara will be working with a few families, support
teams, and Family Groups to provide information and learning opportunities about
this practice to those interested people who we are involved with. If you are
interested in learning more about mindfulness, contact Heather Minors for more
information.
I am very excited to be working with DAFRS on the mindfulness project.
When people find out what I do I am often asked about the practices of meditation and
mindful living. What is it? Why do it?
The practice of meditation is the gentle focus of attention upon an anchor in spite of
the constant flow of the river of thoughts. Out of this practice, a mindful thought process
begins to occur. The relationship one has within the mind to thoughts begins to alter, this is
called mindfulness. One can choose to watch thoughts flow by, or jump into the river again and
swim upstream: but to where? And why give so much effort and attention to a thought anyway?
During your Meditation you can sit quietly in a comfortable position, and focus on something that
resonates with you on a personal level. For example, many draw their attention to their breathing and
how the breath enters and leaves the body. Others may use sound, guided meditation talks, even types
of yoga movement as their anchor to focus gently upon.
By focusing attention on an anchor such as breath, instead of thoughts, and the emotions they
create, the brain gets a chance to be still, more peaceful. This is why people meditate, to find a break
from the strident constant thought process that is part of being human. The thoughts are still there but in
fact you are training the brain to focus attention on the anchor instead. Slowly the thoughts are not the
only focus one has, the brain can leave the thoughts alone, not judge them, make sense of them, or
attach emotion to them. Instead there is a peacefulness of just letting it all be for a while.
Curious noticing without judgement on how one attaches to
thoughts, and perceives emotions is a very fruitful reason to practice
Interested in learning
meditation. However, as recent science is proving in many studies
more about practicing
conducted on mindfulness and the practice of meditation, there are
mindfulness?
several brain benefits, as well as anxiety reduction by practicing
meditation, and these are just a few of the proven outcomes
Contact Heather at
physically and emotionally. Here is a link to a great article outlining
[email protected]
what has been found in regards to changes in the brain due to regular
meditative practice.
I invite you to give meditation a try. I will be available at some
scheduled DAFRS meetings over the next couple of months to
answer questions and teach some skills and tools for meditation and
mindful thought processing. I am also available privately, just send
me an email and schedule a meeting. I am looking forward to meeting
many of you.
Cara Southwood
Mindfulness Coach
Pearl Mindfulness Education
Join Us for a Morning with Peter Marks
From A Centre for Conscious Care
With great experience and skill, Peter will guide us through an
understanding of first responses and inquiry.
Using a set of clear and effective strategies and approaches to
help the people you care about and support to be all that they can be
by:

Becoming more self-aware and stress free

Learning self-regulating skills to get what they need

Becoming more physically fit and socially engaged

Better managing their anxiety, anger, and possible aggression
This will be a half-day overview session to remind us of, or introduce us to, some practical, evidencebased approaches and strategies that START with brain balance and health, nutrition, sensory
integration issues, our need for cardio involvement, and more.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
9am to 12pm
The Gathering Place 20-850 King St W, Oshawa
RSVP with Heather—
[email protected]
or (905)436-2500 ext:2314
Community Living Ontario’s AGM and conference hosting a free family dayConnecting Families and Community: A Day of Practical Resources to
Exploring Possibilities
Join us on Wednesday September 21st, 2016 at
the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and Suites from 1pm
- 9pm. Participate in informative sessions related to strategies in
developing connections, fostering friendships and accessing
individualized support, working and ODSP and estate planning
for your loved one. Connect with other families and people with
shared experiences. Provide valuable feedback to Community
Living Ontario.
Staff and families of DAFRS will be presenting a wonderful session entitled “Sharing a Map in
Unchartered Territory” which will revolve around ideas and strategies for a practical approach to helping
families learn and experience flexible, individualized support. This session will also outline our path and
learning together with families through the family-to-family learning event we piloted over the past year.
These free preconference sessions are open to families and conference attendees. A light dinner
will be provided. There is limited space and registration for individual sessions is required. For
more information about this day, including the program schedule, click here to visit the website!
Contact Keith Dee for any further information or questions.
Date: Wednesday September 21, 2016
Location: Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and
Suites 9005 Leslie St, Richmond Hill, Ontario
“Imagining Home”
A Housing Group Focused on Creative Options for Home
The next housing meeting will take place on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 6:30
pm. This meeting will be at The Gathering Place, here at the DAFRS office located at
20-850 King St W.
Contact Kim for more information at
905-436-2500 ext. 2289 or
[email protected]
respiteservices.com
Important Notice for Families Using RespiteServices.com!
If you wish to receive e-broadcasts, which contain information about upcoming
Meet&Greets and other respiteservices.com events and news, make sure you
“opt-in”! Within your profile, you must select “opt-in” in order to receive emails.
This is a new feature since the roll-out of the newly designed website. If you
have any questions or need help, contact Jeanne.
Meet & Greet
Connecting families and support
workers!
Want more
information?
Respite Worker Orientation
Thursday, August 25 2016
9am to 4p m
Check our website for the Saturday, September 24, 2016
next Meet & Greet date!
9am to 4p m
respiteservices.com/durham and its
Parent Advisory are hosting a meet & greet
to bring together families and support
workers currently registered with
respiteservices.com/durham.
For more information
on our organization or
any of our events,
please visit our
website at
www.dafrs.com
Parent Voice Meetings
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Meetings begin at 6:30pm
To attend you must be registered
with respiteservices.com/durham and you
will need to RSVP due to limited space.
Contact Jeanne at (905)436-2500 ext. 2313
or [email protected]
Or
contact Heather by
phone:
(905)436-2500
ext. 2314
or email:
[email protected]
For more information please visit our website at www.dafrs.com and see the
“What’s Happening Now” tab
Durham Association for Family Respite Services
850 King St. W, Unit 20, Oshawa, ON L1J 8N5
(905)436-2500
www.dafrs.com