Karis Disability Services

Karis Disability Services is delighted to announce the appointment of Sayo Tola-Adenaike as the new Chief Financial Officer.   Sayo brings to this role a breadth of experiences in financial leadership, having previously served as our Director of Finance. Her track record includes successfully steering financial strategy, overseeing fiscal management, and guiding teams throughout her professional career both in Canada and internationally.   We are eager to see Sayo's expertise and strategic direction in action, advancing our commitment to providing excellent support to people with developmental disabilities.   Welcome to this new role, Sayo T.!

Samantha's journey to Host Family was not an easy one. After a long hospital stay and some time spent in a shelter, Samantha needed a stable home. Through Host Family, Samantha was matched with Cathy and her two daughters. Cathy said, "Samantha is an amazing fit to our home. It's amazing to see her experience new things and we can see that she has a much better quality of life."   With more stability and support, Samantha can spend time doing what she loves like gardening, artwork, school, and music. She said, "I feel like all my dreams are coming true."    For more information about Host Family, you can check out: https://lnkd.in/e7xGqzM7

We love celebrating #NDEAM because we love celebrating the great work people do in their communities! Wayne is an active community member. He has worked at his local Metro for 27 years! Wayne says he likes his job: “Everybody talks to me there. I’m doing good there and I’m going to work there for as long as I can.”  Wayne has also volunteered with the Stouffville Spirit Hockey Team for 26 years. Here, he helps the equipment manager and fills water bottles to ensure the players stay hydrated! His favourite part is celebrating with the team after a game. Wayne also volunteers at many other local events throughout the year. His employers and fellow community members notice Wayne’s hard work. He has received many awards for his active role in building up his local community. Some of these include a Sportsperson award and his town’s Diamond Jubilee Award for volunteering. 

Liz and Dean use employment supports in Niagara. They both work on teams cleaning local businesses. Liz and Dean also give back to their communities as Our Voices Matter (OVM) council members! When Dean puts his mind to something, he sticks with it! Dean has been at his current job for 17 years and has volunteered with OVM for 5 years. He says his attitude toward working has changed since he started in 2007. At first, cleaning washrooms was his least favourite part of his job. Now, he finds it enjoyable. Dean says he likes cleaning washrooms because he knows the public appreciates it. Through all of his cleaning, he wants to create spaces for the public to enjoy. Liz is proud of her 10 years working with her team. She says it’s a big accomplishment. She had never been on a team that long before. Liz is a great worker and appreciates that her spot on the team is saved even when she can’t work. When she was sick for many months last year, she knew she had a job to return to. Liz wants to tell people: “Work is awesome! If you can get one even if it’s volunteer, get one!” #NDEAM #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth

Daniel travelled to Alberta to compete in the 2024 Special Olympics! His passion, hard work, and personal plan paid off. Daniel won silver in bowling! Find Daniel's full story alongside more highlights in this year's Annual Report: https://lnkd.in/eG3Eu4CU

The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) advances research and innovation in the area of brain health. OBI's GEEK grant helped Karis and Humber College's Pathway to Employment program. Kerri-Jean Winteler is a Karis Community Development Manager. Watch the video below to hear her describe how OBI is equipping organizations like ours to support brain health!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Susan, Christin, and Lisa work with Waterloo Wayside. They volunteer every week to sort clothing and shoes for Wayside's outreach program. Thanks for building up your community! #NDEAM #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth

Happy Thanksgiving! We have been celebrating Thanksgiving all week around here. Quinton hosted a "Friendsgiving" meal at his home. Sylvia learned how to make turkey tea-light place settings on a Cricut. Friends even enjoyed apple-picking and a Thanksgiving celebration at Community Participation Supports!

David works at a local cat cafe, where people can enjoy their coffee and spend time with cats from the local shelter. That's where David comes in! David takes care of the cats during their stay at the cafe. He provides excellent support and care for the cats. He helps them become more socialized and familiar with people. #NationalDisabilityEmploymentAwarenessMonth

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay! Today is a reminder to pay attention to our mental health. Nick and Bryon care for their mental health with an annual camping trip! This time away in nature is a great way to relax and take a break from routine. ⛺️ Sometimes a self-guided adventure is just what you need for a mental health break! Roy loves to watch sports with friends, but this summer he attended a few games on his own. He liked setting the schedule and enjoying these events the way he wanted to! 🥎 Like Nick, Bryon, and Roy, let's do things that make us mentally healthy throughout the year! Sometimes this means camping and attending sports games. Sometimes this means getting the support we need to thrive.