Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter to inform our community of the decision CLGW (Community Living Guelph Wellington) has made – that the Harriston Day Program will not be opening their doors.
A call was made to all the families, that an email would be sent and to complete a survey – Aug. 21. While we all were completing this survey, it was not mentioned that the doors were being closed at the day program. People completed this survey thinking this was a temporary option while COVID was still looming over our heads – questions were would you like weekends, evenings, mornings, and afternoons etc.
CLGW has a new vision and mission for our loved ones and it is called “Peron centred”; with each individual they help them achieve their goals and dreams, which is not realistic for my son and others as their verbal communication is limited.
Again all is well for the higher functioning verbal individual, but this is not so for my son and others at the day program; I believe one person lives independently and the remainder either live at home or with host families. And please do not try to brainwash me that a worker is going to know the individual goals and dreams from working with them for many years; a parent is going to know what the dreams are for their developmentally challenged child.
What support is going to be given to these individuals – looking at the big picture: strengths, weakness, social, quality of life – what is being is done for them once the program doors are closed – questionable a worker 1:1 for what, one, two, three hours a week. We live in north
Wellington with limited options; how many times can one go to Tim Hortons? I can’t stress enough – we are in rural north Wellington.
What plans are there for friends and gatherings – the base has been my son’s connections for 18 years, where his circle of friends are, a big part of his life outside of his home. At the day program was social interaction and the feeling of self worth, there was structure that helped to sustain growth with ongoing activity of daily living, but our fear is there will be regression and depression for many in the long run.
I am sure our community can remember when the Community of Living building was being built; it was assisted with donations from the community, the land, the architect, the people involved all worked hard to make this successful for the individuals in our community to attend.
The gold bricks that lined the wall with donations, what do you think they will have to say about this matter?
What has happened to the rights of these individuals; Greg’s rights to make choices to go to the day program, rights to be treated with dignity, rights to be treated with respect? I can only feel a domino effect of failure for the individuals and the families/caregivers with limited outings, limited stimulation and being home bound, eventually invisible to the community.
The Harriston day program has come a long way from the bottom of the United Church to this beautiful building, a place they felt safe, full of laughter, a place that gave them meaning to their lives and accomplishments – social interaction which is now empty and hollow.
I am feeling angry and betrayed that the board members have not taken into consideration the huge impact long term this will have on the individuals, the parents, and the community.
I had a neighbour one day stop me and say “you must be so proud of Greg, that he walks every day to the day program by himself.” Of course he does; the Harriston Day Program is his life, this is Greg’s dream.
Gregory Blagdon, Victoria Kingsley and family,
Harriston