It's October, which means across British Columbia, communities are recognizing Community Living Month, celebrating the gifts and talents people with developmental disabilities bring to society.
"[The goal of the month] is mainly to highlight the success, because there's been huge success for people, even those who were raised, for lack of a better word, in institutions have made great advances in their skill development and giving back to their community and just being better citizens," said Jill O'Reilly, community awareness and supports co-ordinator at AimHi.
According to the British Columbia Association for Community Living (BCACL), individuals with developmental disabilities were often labelled as mentally retarded or mentally handicapped, and placed in institutions, segregated schools or workplaces with little to no pay. Following the closure of these B.C. institutions in the mid-1980s, the Community Living moment has been striving to integrate and build the confidence and skill level of this marginalized segment of society.
"All the associations around B.C. - who are not connected but all belong to the [BCACL] -
they all decided to change their name... to community living associations, focusing on integrating and making sure people were successful living in their own communities and continuing to address their needs," O'Reilly said.
With more than 1,000 clients and 460 employees, AimHi contributes to a strong community by providing advocacy, supports and services to people who have special needs and their families, according to their mission statement. The programming AimHi offers ranges from motor-skill development for infants to adults who require support when finding employment.
The local association will be promoting Community Living month through their annual newspaper, distributed in The Citizen Oct. 6, which will be filled with success stories and pictures. The Truffles and Travel black-tie fundraising event, held Oct. 15 at the Ramada Hotel, includes a dinner, live and silent auctions and dance. The $100 tickets are available at AimHi or the Ramada Hotel. The month will be capped off with the annual pancake breakfast, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at AimHi.
These events serve to raise the community's awareness about how their neighbours with developmental disabilities contribute to their community and encourages residents to involve themselves in the lives of people facing unique challenges.
"When people come to our pancake breakfast, for instance, they get to meet people and they might hear a testimonial that day of someone who's changed their life because they have employment now and it's just made such a difference to their confidence and well being to be working and feeling like they're a valued citizen," O'Reilly said. "Having community members sit and hear that is really moving for them."
