Family Matters Families Paths to Inclusion and Community

After Innovative Life Options Inc. (LIFE) completed a project called 'kitchen table talks', it was discovered that so many parents felt alone and frustrated navigating systems for their children with special needs. Many families felt isolated and alone trying to access information and resources, and in many cases had not had the opportunity to connect with other parents who faced the same issues and experiences. In response to that project, LIFE connected with families involved with Manitoba's independent supported living model 'In the Company of Friends' to see if any of the families involved would be willing to share their stories in order to help others. The belief was that if there were that many questions from the small number of people that we were able to connect with through the kitchen table project, there must be hundreds of other families around the world asking the same questions. The hope is that the sharing of these experiences will make navigation in this unfamiliar territory just a little bit easier for someone who is new to it all. Learning that a child has special needs can leave parents feeling alone and lost as they learn to navigate in a new world of diagnosis and systems. Family Matters shares the stories of 10 such families. These wonderful people open their hearts and worlds up to us as they share the lessons they learned, the paths they chose, and the ideas that they embraced and tried. Now that each of their own children are living full, independent adult lives, they offer this gift to others in the hopes that sharing their story will ease the journey of another family that might be just starting out. Family Matters explores the spirit of these uncelebrated heroes in forging new pathways so that their son or daughter may live a full life in the community, included and embraced by those around them, regardless of the diagnosis and challenges. The book is an exploration of 'family matters' such as inclusion, education, transition and support networks, but more importantly, it is a declaration that indeed 'family matters' in moving our world forward. Although the experiences shared here are for families who live in Manitoba, the topics explored are universal. What worked in Manitoba may not work elsewhere, but then again, maybe it might if it is something not previously tried. Most advances in the world of disabilities have come from families who have been willing to push further and ask for more for their children, and that remains true today. Maybe within the covers of this book, you will find one new idea that will help your child to thrive!