December 4, 2024
Hi everyone! Welcome to December. Here is my monthly message:
December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD): a day to renew our commitment to a Manitoba where everybody belongs. Across the world, this year’s theme is ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’. As much as possible, our job is to listen to the people we support, follow their lead, and honour each person’s choices about their own life.
So, when it comes to amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities, how are we doing here at St.Amant? We aren’t perfect and we will always challenge ourselves to do better. But there are some very good examples that I would like to share.
Several people that we support have formed a Self-Advocates Committee to help influence St.Amant’s services. They describe their work as being focused on inclusion and human rights. The Self-Advocates Committee will be a resource to inform policy development and a forum where staff can get advice and input on decisions about service delivery. The Health and Transition Services Resident’s Council is another group, led by people we support, who make decisions about events and services in their community.
Recently, I joined leaders from the Community Residential Program and Community Services for an accreditation planning day. In the spirit of ‘nothing about us without us’, people we support played an important role in the day. For more than an hour, people we support spoke about their priorities and what matters to them. One person spoke about their many roles in the community – as a leader, fundraiser, and expert on Terry Fox. Another spoke about the work of the Self-Advocates Committee. Both speakers reminded the audience that providing excellent services means supporting people to choose their own path towards meaning and purpose in their own lives.
I often visit Autism Programs early-learning classrooms and am always inspired by the student-led learning I see. While there are clear goals for every student, it is just as clear that students play a lead role in their own learning. Whether a student loves planets, water, or building blocks, staff use those passions as the starting place for teaching. In that way, the students learn that they have some control over their days and are celebrated in their community for their own unique identities.
Having colleagues who inspire each other with their kindness and commitment to quality is a sign of a healthy team. Healthy Team is also the final Focus Area from St.Amant’s 2024 – 2029 Strategic Plan. We are focused on attracting, retaining and developing a talented, engaged and diverse team that fully commits to our mission, vision and values. A healthy, engaged and stable workforce is critical to delivering high-quality services for the people we support. We will strive to be an employer of choice, attracting talented staff and building an excellent work environment and healthy culture.
Ben
