Walking in My Shoes
A monthly meeting for the parents or guardians of children with all types of disabilities/special needs to meet, greet and share experiences.
Facilitators are present to guide discussions and provide links to resources. Meetings alternate monthly between informal discussion and information sharing and guest speakers on topics identified by parents. Each meeting ends with an informal social time.
Members may also opt to receive daily updates on relevant information, services and workshops.
Goals
To provide parents with:
the opportunity to plan parent/child/family group activities
access to a group of parents who have similar concerns and feelings related to their child’s special needs
information/resources from other parents, facilitator and guest speakers
the opportunity to share in a supportive and non-judgmental setting
the opportunity to develop a support network
the opportunity to collectively advocate for services/funding
Objectives
parents will feel less isolated
parents will feel empowered to support their child’s needs
parents will develop a network of support and resources
parents will increase their knowledge of the tools and support available to advocate for service
families with children with special needs will have the opportunity to plan and participate in family activities in the community.
Facilitators
Rachel Levine-Katz and Sari Musta-White are the current facilitators. Both are long-term social workers who have extensive experience working with people with diverse backgrounds. In addition to their work with WIMS, Rachel and Sari both work with people who are part of Citizen Advocacy’s Everyday Champions program.
Membership
Attendance at the meetings is free of charge. There is an optional $25 membership fee. Your membership helps to fund the program and allows Citizen Advocacy to demonstrate to funders that the program is needed and supported by the community. Members can also opt to receive regular community resource and workshop information emails. Please complete the form below.
About Us
The first WIMS meeting was held on October 20, 2009. That meeting and those that followed were all about getting to know each other and discovering the needs and goals for the group. It was decided that WIMS would be a parent-led group with Janet Robinson as the facilitator.
At first, WIMS was totally volunteer-driven and everything was free. In 2013, Robinson realized that to ensure WIMS’ continuity and long-term sustainability the support and commitment of an established agency was essential. Citizen Advocacy (CA) was approached to run WIMS as one of its programs.
Citizen Advocacy with guidance and support from Janet Robinson ran the program until June 2016. This was when Janet Robinson decided the time was right to retire. Citizen Advocacy wishes her well in her retirement and are proud to carry on her legacy by continuing to facilitate the group in accordance with its goals and objectives.
Is there any obligation when I submit my info?
There is absolutely zero obligation for you. Once you tell us a bit about your property, we’ll take a look at things, maybe set up a call with you to find out a bit more, and make you an all-cash offer that’s fair for you and fair for us. From there, it’s 100% your decision on whether or not you’d like to sell your home to us… and we won’t hassle you, won’t harass you… it’s 100% your decision and we’ll let you decide what’s right for you.
“WIMS was a foreign concept to me when I first came. I was not sure of what to expect from a group of parents and caregivers providing support to one another. After all, if you can barely keep your own head above water how would it help to submerge yourself in other people’s problems? I was also afraid of talking and making the problems real.
I went to my first meeting thinking it would be my last. I remember opening my mouth to speak and feeling overwhelmed with grief as we were asked to tell our names and our children’s (child’s) diagnosis… WIMS has helped me to become a better parent and advocate for my children. I have learned from other parents and speakers how to navigate a system which can be overwhelming. It has helped to lay a foundation for me to continue to build on. The parents have turned out to be my safe harbour in the storm.”Pamela Walsh
Parent