Adults with Disabilities Learn to Succeed
20 September 2011 - Marisa’s father marvels at the changes his daughter has made during her time at the Connect Learning Centre. “She has a vision, she has a path, and finally…the right people to help her. Everyone in her life notices the difference. Miracle may be too strong a word…or maybe not. Without this school not only my daughter would miss out, so many others would also”. Since the opening of the Centre in Mississauga in June, 2010, many adults with disabilities age 18+ have learnt independent living techniques to assist with their daily lives. Life skills such as: managing personal finances, safety awareness, preparing and consuming food, buying and caring for clothing, transportation and problem solving are just some of the daily subjects of this unique integrated learning classroom. Qualified teachers and community care workers work in a multi-use setting to teach hands-on skills such as cooking, laundry, verbal and non-verbal communication to individuals with MS, ALS, and other disabilities. The Centre is unique in that it has recently received approval from the Ministry of Education to be designated as a school to teach students with disabilities.
The story of the founder, Melanie Cooper, is also one of overcoming disabilities. Melanie, 37, was a 21-year-old York University study when she suffered a severe stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side and legally blind. But Melanie did not give up. She was able to draw on a basic life skills program offered by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), encouraging her to share her independence with other adults with disabilities. Melanie returned to York University to become the first legally blind teacher in Ontario to graduate. “I never lost hope that one day I would make a difference in my own students’ lives,” says Cooper. The slogan for the Centre, “A dream, a need and a passion to make a difference” is Melanie’s story, and the story of all the disabled adults attending the Centre.
As is the case for many non-profit organisations in this difficult economy, Melanie has many trying days just keeping her doors open. She spends much of her time trying to contact funding agencies and applying for grants to help the Centre continue. “Fund raising is now in my daily concern”, muses Melanie, who has put her life savings into the Centre. But then again, conquering life’s adversities is nothing new to Melanie and the students of her Centre. For Melanie, “Failure is not an option. I have too many people relying on me to make the Centre a success.”
The Connect Learning Centre
1585 Britannia Rd. E., Unit F1, Mississauga, ON, L4W 2M4
Phone: (905)670-1252
Fax: (905)670-3252
www.connectlearningcentre.com