Community Living Atikokan strives to build inclusive citizenship through individualized supports, and is guided by the principles of respect, dignity, equality and the inherent rights of all people.
We facilitate and nurture family, natural community connections, and personal relationships by utilizing creativity, embracing, welcoming, and responding to ongoing changes in the field of support services, and are recognized in the sector as a leading agency for developing individualized support systems, which includes successful independent living.
We are consistently following the trends in the developmental services field and are currently focusing our efforts on ensuring individuals are not segregated in congregated areas that identify people as members of any particular support network, but rather recognized as individuals who each have core gifts and are valued members of our community.
People Homes
CLA is well into this mission and have been providing supports out of people homes for many years. These homes are settings for self-care, relationship-building skills, life-skills training, meal preparation, personal care and access to community resources, activities and services. A model of person-centered planning is utilized and developed in partnership with the Member, his/her family or others closest to them, along with support staff to ensure that the persons’ expressed desires and choices are supported and realized.
Upholding the values of the organization, trained staff members provide a positive approach to support, focusing on a sense of belonging, personal power, choice, and control over one’s life. A typical day for a person supported may include work, recreational participation, general household duties, and/or visits with friends or family; however, whatever the choice may be, a typical day is always directed by the individuals themselves.
Development can focus on budgeting, apartment maintenance, grocery shopping, social and relationship building, community networking, advocacy and rights, healthy living choices and other aspects of daily living. Since we recognize that preferences and skill levels vary, supports must be multi-faceted.
Supports offered
Supports offered to the people in our community include, but are not limited to the following:
- Budgeting (E.g. Picking up mail, reading, comprehension, preparing budget, making purchases, shopping, trusteeship, monitoring, dispensing petting cash)
- Personal Care needs (E.g. Dressing, bathing, assistance, monitoring, teaching skills, ensuring proper hygiene practices, providing needed supplies/toiletries, verbal instruction, encouragement, foot care, hair care)
- Home maintenance (E.g. home cleaning, repairs, addressing safety issues, H&S inspections, ensuring appliances are in working order, yard maintenance, storage)
- Relationships building (E.g. Introductions, hosting events, participating in the community and offered events, modelling social skills)
- Medication administration (E.g. Administering medications, preparing and ordering medications, weekly inventory of medications, documentation, monitoring self-administering)
- Physical Supports (E.g. Lifting, helping people maneuver environment, transfers)
- Emotional Supports (E.g. Direction to other community resources, ear-to-hear, providing a safety net in a safe and trusting environment)
- Advocacy (E.g. Physicians, ODSP, creditors, officials, voting, legal professionals, families)
- Transportation (E.g. Out-of-town medical, inclement weather within the community, arranging Handi-van services)
- Meal preparation (E.g. Healthy choices, Canada Food guide, portion sizes, groceries, recipe, menus, social gatherings)
- Employment (E.g. preparing for work, volunteer opportunities, time management, work etiquette, employer liaison, training)