for people like Liz Liz is a social butterfly. She loves the special events in her apartment building, especially the big parties like the summer barbecue and the Easter and Christmas get-togethers. Liz is one of five people who reside in one of our supported independent living apartments in Brampton. She enjoys spending time with her Mary Centre support worker and feels reassured that when her primary worker is away, there are other staff members who are also there for her. In fact, Liz has become increasingly self-sufficient since she moved to her own apartment. If she begins to feel anxious, for example, she now pulls out her 'bag of tricks.' Packed with activities that help her relax, Liz will choose something from the bag - and soon her anxiety has lifted. Two days every week, Liz answers the telephone in the administration unit at PAR, which helps to provide meaningful work and is operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association. In her leisure time, Liz enjoys rug hooking, watching her favourite TV programs, listening to music and going to the local Tim Horton's. Most of all, Liz enjoys living in her own comfortable home.

Supported independent living

Mary Centre maintains eight apartments at Our Lady of Victory in Toronto, five at St. Mary's in Brampton and three at St. Peter's in Woodbridge where we support adults with a developmental challenge. We also provide support to brothers Ted, Gord and Doug who live in their own home in East York.

Supported independent living enables adults who are developmentally challenged to live in their own apartments or homes with the part-time assistance of Mary Centre staff. Residents and their families work as a team with Mary Centre, creating a plan to enable each resident to reach the goals that will enable him or her to live successfully in the community.

This team determines how to maximize personal strengths, how much structure is needed and what supports are required in order to reach these goals. Mary Centre's support workers help each resident find a comfortable routine.

We also provide the staff support necessary for each person to interact and engage with the community. We facilitate access to employment and day programs and community-based social, volunteer and recreational activities.

Some of our residents come from family homes, others from boarding rooms. Each is involved with a variety of outside activities. And each has scheduled time with a Mary Centre support worker. This time may be spent together developing practical skills like budgeting, cooking or doing laundry. Or it could be time spent arranging social activities such as going to the local community centre to swim or signing up for a soccer team. Or it could be time together discussing a schedule to attend church.

Ultimately, each resident develops personally, socially, and spiritually - enjoying the self-reliance that supported independent living brings.

For more information about supported independent living, please contact Terry Elliott, (416) 630-5533, ext. 225.