Not hosted by Spectrum Learning, but a great opportunity for families, people with disabilities, advocates and supporters, organized by good friends of Spectrum. To download this document, click here: [download id=”5006″]
When Families Take the Lead…
…anything is possible!
You are invited to join Janet Klees, the Coordinator of Deohaeko Support Network in Ontario, to explore what is possible when families are brave, creative and believe in their family members.
We are very pleased to offer this opportunity to learn from Janet and the experience of the Deohaeko Support Network, a family guided support network with twenty years experience providing individualized and inclusive lifestyle support.
Deohaeko Support Network supports seven adults with disabilities to lead meaningful, contributing and full lives at the heart of their communities. Janet’s presentation is based on her 19 year experience as the Coordinator of Deohaeko Support Network, along with her own beliefs which are summarized as follows:
My work and thinking focuses on each person as a unique being with gifts and contributions. Families – where present and supported – have great capacity to imagine, bring about and safeguard a good life for and with their family member. Relationship of many kinds – especially natural, typical and personally-committed and those strengthened by networks or circles – are key to a life of meaning, engagement, and belonging for people. Roles are a way of offering one’s contributions and being a true part of one’s family and community and these can be recognized, enhanced and/or built up and supported in intentional, respectful and ordinary ways. There is an abundance and richness in our communities so that, despite its imperfections, community is the preferred place to be – enjoying home, work, learning, leisure and relationships in typical and familiar roles and settings. What we can imagine in all of these elements, can be achieved.
Janet has spent the last 19 years putting this into practice and she will use some of the Deohaeko story to show what is possible when families take the lead and when planning is based on who the person is and what they have to offer their community. She will outline important principles that guide this work and which are helpful to all family situations. Her stories serve to demonstrate possibilities and invite people to think together about what could be possible for their loved ones.
This is a session primarily for families who want to make a positive difference in the lives of their children now and into the future. It is an opportunity for families to see what happens when we look at gifts and contributions rather than focus on problems; when we look for what is similar, not different; when we join in community, rather than move away from it.
Join us as we explore how we might create a future that offers greater options for people who rely on the support of others in an atmosphere of learning and creative conversation. This afternoon will appeal primarily to families and their loved ones, but advocates, friends, direct supporters and people in leadership roles within community living agencies are welcome to attend.
This session will take place Sunday, June 24th 2012 beginning at 1:00 pm with through to 5pm and refreshments will be provided. It will be held at Alexandra Neighbourhood House, Lodge Lounge, 2916 McBride Avenue, Crescent Beach, Surrey BC.
Please note that there is no charge for this event, but we will be asking that each person donate what they can, to cover the cost of expenses and contribute toward Janet’s time. The afternoon is being organized by a small group of families and friends interested in person and family governed options, and is part of a voluntary initiative called IMAGINE.
We would deeply appreciate your sharing this information with families and interested others within your network and if you are willing to offer a ride to others, please let us know.
Preregistration is required. You can register by phone by leaving your name and contact information with Cheryl Hughes at 604 542-4817 or by emailing imaginetogether@shaw.ca with the information below. We sincerely hope you can attend and look forward to seeing you there!
“When families take the lead…”
About Janet Klees:
Janet Klees has been thoughtfully involved in the lives of people with disabilities, their families, and allies in community for over 30 years. She has been coordinator with the family-governed Deohaeko Support Network almost from its beginnings, 19 years ago .She is the author of two books which are directly rooted in the Deohaeko experience, (We Come Bearing Gifts; Our Presence has Roots) and which are now sold around the world to present the unique options of this family group.
In addition to her work with Deohaeko, Janet works closely with other families in both the Scarborough and Durham Regions, on family leadership initiatives and developing leadership in family support and planning. She is a Co-trainer with Michael Kendrick, on the presentation of his “Optimal Individualized Service Design” course and has trained students in this course for the past five years, both in Canada and Ireland.
Janet’s work centres on very personalized arrangements and she is especially concerned that families are well-supported to think through practical, principled ways of ensuring that family members live meaningful, inclusive and secure lives within their communities. Her work focuses on individually-designed arrangements for one person at a time, kept rich and secure through a principled focus on members living meaningful, involved and secure lives within their welcoming communities.
Rooted in this experience, Janet presents, consults and teaches across Canada and in Holland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other countries around the world.
Janet lives with her husband, Harry and their two teenaged children, Bram and Joanna, in a small neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario.
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Registration details: (Please send this information by email or by calling the number below):
Name:
Address:
Contact numbers: Hm:…………………………Wk:……………………Cell:…………………………
E-mail:………………………………………….
- I am a parent
- Advocate
- Friend
- Service Provider/Supporter
- CLBC or funding agency representative
- Organization (if applicable)…………………………………………………………
Special dietary requirements? (refreshments will be provided)……………………………………………
(Please note that your personal information will not be shared and is only for the purpose of contacting you for future events).