8 minute read
We are Skills Society
WHO WE SERVE
We are one of the largest disability service organizations in the Edmonton area. For 40 years we have provided individualized support services to people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live. Our work is complex but our goal is simple: help people with disabilities live safe, dignified and meaningful lives.
Our organization was started in the 1980s by parents who wanted more for their sons and daughters - to reduce their sense of isolation by removing them from “institutions” and placing them back into the arms of society. Today, we remain connected to those roots by keeping our services person-centred and focused on the unique needs of every individual. In doing so, we reduce their isolation and improve their mental health, reduce their healthcare and justice costs, and help them set and achieve personal goals they (and their families) never thought possible.
We provide support services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, survivors of brain injuries, and their families. Support varies depending on the level of need and qualifications for government funding. For some, we may provide a few hours of outreach support each week. For others, it involves 24/7 supported community living. We also work with those who are defined by PDD as having complex service needs.
50 children 30 people
who are brain injury survivors
375 people served by Skills Society
102 people
with complex behavioural needs
PDD Funded Residential Community Living
PDD Funded Supported Independent Living Decision making and advocacy
159 people funded 47 with complex needs
295 people
with developmental disabilities (PDD)
136 people funded 55 with complex needs
66 people
with complex medical needs
175 people have family to help 120 do not
VISION
A community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity and rights.
MISSION
We support individuals with disabilities and their families in their right to learn and grow in the community. Our services strengthen belonging and encourage and support individual choice and opportunity.
CITIZENSHIP IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO
For many of us, citizenship is something we take for granted. It can be defined in many ways, but at its core citizenship is our sense of value and belonging. This sense of citizenship doesn’t always extend to people with disabilities. That’s why Skills Society was formed - to provide people with disabilities with the same opportunities and choices, the same ability to share their gifts and talents, and the same sense of belonging that we all enjoy. Citizenship is what we strive for every day - and it encompasses the following:
Relationships Surrounded by people who love and care for you, sharing your life with others
Rights Equal access to opportunities, freedom to choose, independence
CITIZENSHIP
Participation
Meaningful things to do and places to go, the opportunity to share gifts and talents with others
Belonging
Feeling valued, respected, and an important part of society
OUR CORE VALUES
PRACTICE IN PERSON-CENTRED WAYS
We never forget to keep the voices of those we serve at the centre of our planning and practices.
Why it Matters
In the past, people with disabilities were left out of important conversations that affected their lives. We believe that our planning, policies, procedures, and pathways are more effective when they are informed by and responsive to the needs of the people whose lives they impact.
Operating Principles
• We focus our services around the lived experiences of the people we support • We plan our services in creative and engaging ways in order to make them meaningful and relevant • We ensure our solutions are the most empowering, least intrusive and safest for the people affected • We build and strengthen healthy relationships in everything we do • We work equally to solve big picture problems and onthe-ground needs
SEEK CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS
By working with others, we build a stronger community of neighbours, leaders and advocates.
Why it Matters
We believe that real social change comes from collective effort. By sharing resources and working closely with other like-minded organizations, we raise the voice of the disability community and take a leading role in building more inclusive communities.
Operating Principles
• We treat invitations to collaborate as opportunities to help achieve our vision and mission • We use the Action Lab and other initiatives to open up relationships and spur innovative ideas • We look beyond our organization for new and different ways to achieve our vision • We place trust at the centre of any relationship because that’s what enables collaboration • We embrace the sometimes slower nature of collaborative work when it is necessary BUILD AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE
In order to continually improve the support we provide, we’re not afraid to learn from others and try new ideas.
Why it Matters
In order to become better problem solvers, we work hard to learn through our actions and study excellence in others. We are committed to trying new ideas, seeking input on our work, and building a learning organization each and every day.
Operating Principles
• We actively seek out new knowledge and view continuous learning as essential to our role as leaders • We learn through reflecting on our actions and studying the work of others • We strive to mix solutions that are old, new and sometimes surprising • We generously share what we build and learn with others
EMBRACE COMPLEXITY ADAPT & EVOLVE
We know that supporting people’s citizenship is complex. Through creativity, determination and collaboration we can tackle any challenge.
Why it Matters
Helping people with disabilities live fulfilling lives is not an easy, straightforward road. It is complex work - from the needs of the people we serve to the interconnected policies that shape their world. Rather than shy away from these challenges, we meet them head-on with creativity, determination and collective effort.
Operating Principles
• We experiment with multiple ways to address tough issues in order to improve the chances we find a solution • We embrace ambiguity, difficulty and tension as opportunities for creative thinking and innovative responses • We are comfortable knowing that measuring success in our work is not an exact science with clear answers • We are relentless but patient in our efforts to navigate and make progress on tough issues
We build our supports to adapt to the unique needs of each person. At the same time, we strive to shift our services and priorities to meet changing times.
Why it Matters
Life is full of change. We know that if our strategies and systems are too rigid and static, we risk our services becoming less useful or relevant. Instead, we are stronger when we are more agile in responding to changing contexts and uncertain times.
Operating Principles
• We stay razor focused on our vision and mission yet flexible in how we pursue them • We constantly scan our world - inside and out - to identify opportunities and barriers for our work • We boldly seek out new insights - even failures - and adapt our work to reflect our learning • We promote clear and constant communication to enable us to pivot quickly if required • We adjust and revisit decisions when new information is presented or as political, social, and environmental contexts shift • We remain open to new solutions in the face of changing times • We listen deeply to understand what is really going on and what is needed
Joan and Kathy cooking and planting tomatoes with others during Virtual CommuniTEA Connection Events
Leaning Into What Really Matters: Spending time outdoors in our neighbourhoods and in nature!
Leaning Into What Really Matters: Fitness, recreation and wellness
We build each of our services to help people with disabilities thrive in five pillars of everyday life.
Supporting the Citizenship of People with Disabilities
What this looks like:
• Making a house feel like a home • Building and strengthening connections with roommates, neighbours, friends and family • Establishing healthy and meaningful routines together • Completing day-to-day tasks like budgeting and grocery shopping
What this looks like:
• Making and sustaining friendships along with healthy, romantic relationships • Establishing social networks with friends, neighbors and colleagues • Nurturing family relationships
What this looks like:
• Finding and maintaining paid employment • Developing new skills through volunteering • Pursuing education or jobrelated training
Aqnaf and Charlie share a hopeful message to others in their neighbourhood
What this looks like:
• Setting and attending medical appointments • Establishing healthy eating habits and exercise routines • Assisting with personal hygiene • Supporting medication management • Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing
What this looks like:
• Participating in neighbourhood activities • Sharing talents with the community • Discovering fun and meaningful things to do
