For St. Michael Catholic Secondary School student Luc, and his family, taking part in the Building Bright Futures initiative has offered a new perspective of what is possible for Luc’s future.
One of the biggest changes for Luc has been exploring opportunities to work through co-op placements. Luc had the opportunity to volunteer at the local community centre and he has been volunteering at the local food bank with the support of Community Living St. Marys and Area.
As his mother, Lucie, notes, he really seems to enjoy his volunteer roles. “He’s giving back to his community, finding purpose and gaining skills,” she says.
Lucie says it was having a facilitator to advocate for Luc that made these meaningful roles possible. As she explains, she simply didn’t know what was possible for Luc before working with his facilitator, so she didn’t know what to advocate for.
“We were able to get more support from Community Living, not just summer support, but also for work and volunteer placements, which has been great,” Lucie shares. “It’s really helped him grow as an individual and be more involved in the community…He’s giving back to his community, finding purpose and gaining skills.”
And, as Luc has taken on these roles within the community, Lucie says, “It’s been really heartwarming to see how the community has been embracing him.”
During the two years that Luc and his family have been working with his facilitator, they have also worked to ensure services are in place to support Luc and prepare for the transition to life after high school.
Lucie says that having the facilitator’s support for the process of accessing resources, such as Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Passport funding, has been “tremendously helpful” for their family.
“I didn’t know about all of the services that were available,” Lucie shares. “Having someone to facilitate that process is essential.”
Through facilitation Luc’s family has also gained hope and a fresh perspective on what is possible for Luc’s future. “It helps families like ours feel like we’re not alone in this great abyss,” says Lucie. “I feel supported. I feel seen and heard, and I’m learning to ask for support where I need it.”
Part of this new perspective is discovering new opportunities to give Luc independence. Working with Luc’s facilitator, Luc’s family has connected with a local family that also has a son with a disability, and, together, they have begun making plans that could see the two young men living together with their combined supports in the future. For Luc and his family, the future seems more positive and secure as a result of their intentional planning and the variety of relationships they’ve been pursuing!
