ABLE2

ABLE2 Director of Programs, Thony Jean-Baptiste will be a part of the Human Library at the Red Shoes Rock Ottawa event this Sunday! Come and listen to stories, connect, and join in raising FASD Awareness in the community!

See you this Sunday, September 8, at the Ron Kolbus Centre, Britannia Beach from 10 to 1:30!

If you love playing sports, video games, or are interested in watching the Special Olympics, we may have a good fit for you! This person with a disability is looking for a volunteer to spend one-on-one time with him, and simply doing what friends do!

ABLE2's Matching Program is looking for volunteers who can give a little bit of time, energy, fun, and effort to a person with a disability who needs it. You will gain a wonderful new friendship - someone to share activities that you love.

Learn more here: https://www.able2.org/volunteer/

Joey recalls, “We knew something was up with their various early childhood milestones. They were slow to start talking and they had low reasoning skills. But they were hyper-accelerated at walking and running. At first it just seemed to be ADHD, but eventually we started thinking it could be a fetal alcohol disorder.”

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is often mistaken for ADHD. So, when the children did not respond to typical treatment for ADHD, CHEO referred the Desormeaux family to ABLE2’s Fetal Alcohol Resource Program (FARP) and within a month received support from a social worker to help them bring order to their household.

Read more about Joey's "Zoo Crew" here: https://www.able2.org/caring-for-joeys-zoo-crew-able2-brings-families-hope-through-its-fetal-alcohol-program/

ABLE2 wishes everyone a wonderful Labour Day!

Take a moment to be proud of all your hard work, and enjoy a well-deserved break today!

ABLE2 is closed today, and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday Sept 3 at 9am. Have a great day!

September is FASD Awareness Month!

Did you know that alcohol can cause life-long problems for a developing baby even before you know you are pregnant? There is no safe time or safe amount of alcohol to drink as the baby is constantly developing. Symptoms are also often not present at birth and often show up later in life.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects an estimated 4 in 100 children in Canada. This lifelong condition, caused by prenatal alcohol exposure, can lead to physical, behavioral, and learning difficulties.

Throughout the month, we will be sharing information about FASD, resources, and stories of program users of ABLE2’s Fetal Alcohol Resource Program (FARP), to promote understanding, reduce stigma, and empower children living with FASD and their families to thrive and live fulfilling lives.

Learn more about FASD here: https://www.able2.org/programs/fetal-alcohol-resource-program/

For , we found this old photo from an ABLE2 (formerly Citizen Advocacy) picnic from 1989!

And here's our photo from this year's Annual Picnic! Can you tell we love cake! 🍰

ABLE2 has served over 250,000 people with disabilities and their families in the community for the last 50 years. Here's to empowering lives for 50 more years! 🥳🎉🥂

As we gear up for the new school year, we want to hear from you! How can schools be more inclusive and accessible for all students?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. Let’s work together to create a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone!

Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program helps people with long-term physical disabilities pay for customized equipment, like wheelchairs and hearing aids.
This program also helps cover the cost of specialized supplies, such as those used with ostomies.
Find out if you qualify: www.ontario.ca/page/assistive-devices-program



Ontario Government

Make Trick or Treating accessible and inclusive! Learn more in the post below.

Help us spread the Treat Accessibly movement! We're connecting families with disabilities to accessible trick-or-treating options in their neighborhoods 🏠
Here's how you can help:

1️⃣ Are you willing to display a Treat Accessibly sign? Let us know your postal code on our website and we'll work with nearby families to create an inclusive Halloween experience!
2️⃣ Do you know a family with a child who uses a wheelchair? Share this post with them and tell them to reach out to us! We'll be happy to help them with accessible trick-or-treating options.

Together, we can make Halloween a fun and inclusive experience for all! 🙌

Check out our website to learn more about Treat Accessibly and to let us know your postal code : https://www.treataccessibly.com/nominate-your-neighbourhood

Canadian Tire RE/MAX Canada Kinder

ABLE2 will be closed on Monday, September 2 for Labour Day. See you when we return on September 3, Tuesday!

Enjoy your long weekend everyone! 💙

It's National Dog Appreciation Day! Show your appreciation to your service dogs, emotional companion pups, and BFFs (Best Fur Friends) by sharing a photo of them in the comments below! 💙

When you play BINGO at Bingoland South, you also empower people with disabilities to pursue their passions, find employment, and develop meaningful friendships.

Bingoland Gaming Centre is located at 9 Slack Road, Nepean On.

Learn more about charitable gaming here: https://charitablegaming.ca/

Bingoland Gaming Charities Association

ABLE2 is always proud to call The Artery Community Roasters an ally in helping people living with disabilities.

This social enterprise helps to support the employment of people with disabilities. All the employees who are roasting and packaging their coffee, are people living with disabilities with their main mission to provide stable employment, work experience, paid at a living wage, for people living with disabilities.

Visit The Artery's website at the link below to order online or pick up in-store.
https://buff.ly/43lu7qj

Photo from The Artery Community Roasters Website

What an incredible day we had last Saturday at the Annual Picnic! We hope you enjoyed the delicious food, games and dancing, and the amazing company! It was a remarkable event to celebrate ABLE2's 50th Anniversary with all of you. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it so special.

Check out the photos from our volunteer photographer, Solafa Jabali-Photography

Thank you to our event volunteers and planning committee for making this year's Annual Picnic a success! Thank you to our funders The City of Ottawa and Maker House Co., and our event partner B Media Shop for making this event possible!

Through our Matching Program, we have seen profound differences in the lives, not just of the people with disabilities or "friends," but also in the experiences of the volunteers or "allies."

Volunteering goes beyond altruism; you are making a positive impact in the community while creating a deep connection with your friend, and finding personal growth and fulfillment.

Become an ally today: https://www.able2.org/volunteer/

Did you know about ABLE2's Funding Brokerage program?

Through personalized assistance, our dedicated team navigates and manages your funding for you, so you can devote your time to what matters the most.

Learn more by visiting our website able2.org or get in touch with us at [email protected]

Join the ABLE2 team!

ABLE2 is seeking a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Worker.

The successful candidate will deliver services to support children/youth and their support network. The FASD Worker will deliver FASD education training to various community partners to contribute to the awareness of FASD and
how it impacts the community.

View the full job description and send an application here:
https://charityvillage.com/jobs/fasd-worker-in-ottawa-ontario-ca/

Tomorrow is National Non-Profit Day! 💙

We invite you to get involved with ABLE2 in empowering people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives!

You, too, can make an impact, and contribute to a more inclusive community where all people are seen as able, important and valued.

Do you want to learn more? Email us at [email protected]

For , we found this photo from an ABLE2 picnic in 1989!!!

This year, ABLE2 celebrates 50 years of empowering people with disabilities to build lives of meaning and joy. Thank you for our wonderful supporters for believing inclusivity matters!

See you this Saturday at ABLE2's Annual Picnic! We can't wait!

4% of Canadians have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). That's more than 1.5 million people. FASD is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leading to the possibility that this number may be higher than reported.

Individuals with FASD can achieve positive outcomes if their needs and challenges are addressed early on in life and they have access to supports that carry into adulthood. (Source: Can FASD)

Follow along to learn more about FASD, and share to bring more awareness in the community.

Today is International Youth Day! 🌟

On this , ABLE2 is one with the UN in celebrating the youth and their contributions that shape our world.

UN's theme for this year is "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development."

Through digital platforms, they amplify voices, innovate for sustainability, and connect globally. Join us in celebrating their energy and vision, and in supporting their empowerment! 💙🌐

We're one week away from ABLE2's Annual Picnic! Are you as excited as we are? 😎🌞⛱️

We would like to express our gratitude to our funders and supporters for making this event possible: City of Ottawa, Maker House Co., B Media Shop and all our individual donors.

We appreciate your gift in making this summer a memorable one for the people with disabilities and their families in the community. 💙

Caption this! 😁📸💙

Halfway done through the summer! How are you enjoying it so far? 🌞

For our followers using screen readers, we've got a special message for you in the alt text! 😁

"In the vast expanse of an arena, amidst the roar of over 17,000 hockey fans, Michael experienced something extraordinary. For someone who had spent much of his life confined within his home due to agoraphobia or fear of open and crowded spaces, attending a live Sens game was a monumental step towards recovery. Michael attributes his renewed confidence and trust to his dedicated Ally, Mike, and the support from ABLE2’s Matching Program."

Read more about Michael's story here: https://www.able2.org/michael-overcomes-agoraphobia-with-his-ally-mike/

The biggest wish of people on our waiting list is to have someone to meet for a coffee!

As a friend to someone with a disability you can have a profound effect on their life by reducing loneliness and isolation, and improving their self-confidence, mental and physical health. You will gain a wonderful new friendship – someone to share activities that you love.

Learn more about ABLE2's Matching Program here: https://www.able2.org/volunteer/

These are the top legal issues that people with disabilities have requested support on from ABLE2's Reach Legal Services in 2023.

ABLE2 mobilizes a network of more than 200 lawyers, mediators and paralegals in the Ottawa region, to provide up to 3 hours of free, confidential and personal legal services.

Learn more about ABLE2's Reach Legal Services here
https://www.able2.org/programs/reach-legal-services/

Enjoy the Civic Holiday friends!

ABLE2 is closed today, Monday, August 5. See you when we reopen on Tuesday, Aug 6 at 9am!