Programs
Browse through our offerings to see how we can assist you or your loved one in achieving growth and connection.
Being a Citizen
Being a Citizen is an inclusive adult education program for participants with diverse abilities. It emphasizes two main areas: academic skills and social communication skills. Participants continue to develop and build upon the academic skills acquired in high school. At the same time, they learn to communicate more effectively while navigating the expectations of the adult world.
Being a Citizen allows learners to explore their strengths and challenges, develop interpersonal communication and employability skills, and build relationships with others.
Being a Citizen is a strength-based program that focuses on each participant's accomplishments and positive qualities. The development of effective social communication skills is at the Program's core and infused into all areas of the curriculum.
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
Best Buddies
The Best Buddies program matches people with disabilities with UVic students who wish to volunteer. Our program gives people with disabilities the chance to have experiences that most people take for granted—going for coffee, out to a movie, or simply enjoying the company of a good friend.
Matches are made according to interests, and Buddy Pairs meet once or twice a month to do something fun together. We also organize several group events where everyone is welcome to join in the fun, including hikes, watching sporting events like hockey or basketball, karaoke, and movie nights.
“Best Buddies is only continuing to grow, and this year was no exception. The entire group consists of 146 people with 68 buddy matches. The program follows the university school year and includes monthly group events from October – April. Buddy pairs are encouraged to meet up a couple of times each month and communicate weekly, either by phone or e-mail. All members of Best Buddies are invited to the events, including those who have not yet been matched with a Buddy, as we like to encourage friendships across the whole Best Buddy group.”
This program runs through the school year, September – April.
The Best Buddies 2023-2024 Report can be viewed here.
For more information, please email Julie Mason at Julie@Lnv.ca or call 250-477-4112.
Community Engagement
The Community Engagement program is uniquely tailored to each person’s goals. It may be one-to-one support or engaging with peers in preferred activities. This is an opportunity to receive intentional coaching and mentoring to meet your goals. Goals may be social, academic, work-related and recreational. Days and times are dependent on personal choice.
People in Community Engagement sometimes choose this opportunity to:
Explore educational upgrading or post-secondary education options
Increase personal fitness
Work on skills to increase independence in the community
Receive specific support to reach a personal goal
Access community resources to increase social interactions
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
Dynamic Duos
As with all our programs at Lifetime Networks, we envision all people with disabilities to have equal opportunities to be active in their community. The Dynamic Duos program is a service that connects participants with volunteers to provide assistance in overcoming barriers to participation in recreational activities. If we have learned anything from the recent global pandemic, accessing outdoor recreation and the benefits of active living and building friendships is important. Active Living not only contributes to our physical well-being but our social, mental, and emotional well-being as well.
Email Emily Mayberry at volunteer@Lnv.ca for more information or to sign up!
Employment Support
The Employment Program is for individuals who are interested in exploring their potential for employment. Lifetime Networks offers various approaches to support people in reaching their goals, including:
Customized Employment Support
We offer Customized Employment Development Services (CEDS) that combine service options to effectively support a job seeker's unique needs. CEDS involves creating a job or self-employment opportunity customized to an individual's needs, skills, abilities, and contributions.
One-to-One Employment Supports
Our Employment Specialists will meet with you to assess your employment support needs and provide one-to-one individualized job search support. Individuals will complete a comprehensive, strengths-based discovery assessment. The assessment is a person-centred approach to understanding the individual, their strengths and abilities, as well as what supports may be necessary for their success in the workplace.
Based on the discovery assessment results, employment support provided to individuals may include career cruising, unpaid work experience, customized employment development (working with employers to create a position based on the strengths and needs of the job seeker), job development (assisting individuals to pursue traditional employment opportunities), and employment counselling. Job coaching is provided for employment retention once a job placement has been secured. Days and times for some employment supports are dependent on personal choice.
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
Namaste Friday Music
Join us every Friday for some fun.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Open mic + Open stage + Professional band
10:30 am – 11:30 am (excluding statutory holidays)
495 Burnside Rd E, at the corner of Burnside and Jutland.
6 Month Membership (July - December 2024)
$750 for Day Programs and Schools
$150 for Individuals
Full Year Membership (January 2025 - December 2025)
$1,500 for Day Programs and Schools
$300 for Individuals
To register, please phone Lifetime Networks at 250-477-4112
We require a 1:4 staff-to-participant ratio.
Networks
“Why don’t I have any friends?”
“What will happen to my child when I pass away?”
“I want unpaid relationships for my adult child.”
“My child deserves a variety of relationships in his life!”
Connecting with people and making friends can be very difficult—in fact, sometimes almost impossible! At Lifetime Networks, we understand the importance of friendship as one of the cornerstones of a fulfilling life. Through our Networks, we help people with disabilities develop and maintain lasting friendships. Each Network is created for a specific individual with focused goals and activities that meet the individual’s needs, interests, and lifestyle.
Once formed, a Network is a group of 3 or 4 friends who spend quality time one-on-one with the person at the centre of the Network. Network friends may go to movies, out for dinner, to a concert, or hang out at home… it’s all about friendship and support. The goal of all Networks is to last a lifetime and ensure unpaid relationships and true friendships are a reality. Each Network has a Facilitator who helps ensure the friendships go smoothly and acts as a mentor whenever necessary.
Days and times are dependent on personal choice.
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
Outreach Support
Outreach Support is for people who are living on their own or planning to live on their own and need a little extra support to be successful. Each individual’s Outreach Support is based entirely on their personal goals, needs and the disability-related supports they may require. Other times, it’s more of a mentoring relationship to increase personal safety and good decision-making
This program will be tailored to you. We’ll work together towards independent success. Days and times are dependent on personal choice.
Outreach Support may include:
Budgeting and financial literacy coaching
Planning nutritious meals and shopping together
Mentoring with meal preparation
Support to organize self and home
Facilitation to access the community in fulfilling ways
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
PODS
PODS is a community-based program designed for individuals who want to connect with others in small group settings. Each POD is uniquely tailored to connect people with similar interests and goals
This is an opportunity to receive intentional coaching and mentoring alongside your peers. Goals may be academic, work-related, or recreational. The days and times are dependent on the group's personal choice.
People in PODS sometimes choose this opportunity to:
Build friendships
Explore niche interests
Increase personal fitness
Volunteer in the community
Develop skills in a desired area
Become knowledgeable in specific topics
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
Sessionals
Registration for Fall 2024 is open!
Come have some fun and meet new friends! No experience is necessary.
Budding new artists, musicians, and friends is always welcome!
To register, please email info@Lnv.ca or call the front desk at 250-477-4112 to speak with Arshis or Gwen. For further information about the program, please contact info@Lnv.ca.
Summer Inclusion Service
This service provides a one-to-one Support Worker, at no cost to you, for your child/youth with a diversability to attend a summer camp of their choice.
Our 2024 Summer Inclusion Service (SIS) season intake is now FULL.
Please call the office at 250-477-4112 for more information.
Applications for 2024 Summer Inclusion Support are now closed.
Theatre Troupe
We offer the Lifetime Networks Theatre Troupe for those interested in fine arts! Participants in this program create, write and perform their own show two times a year to often sold-out crowds.
Participants can expect to increase their skills in:
Songwriting
Comedy writing
Prop creation
Dancing
Acting
Singing
Fees are conditional upon circumstances.
“The DeviANTs” are an inclusive theatrical co-op of adult artists with disabilities. They have been performing live in Victoria for eight years, using improvisation, music, and collective collaboration to build exciting, hilarious and profound content. Their original hit musical, “The Great Big Show,” sold over 1,100 tickets at the MacPherson Theatre in 2018. “Victoria’s Secret Society of DeviANT Superheroes“ was their first live performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. After three successful nights, the group looks forward to their next performance. Watch this space!
Respite
Lifetime Networks is now offering Respite services. This program offers time-limited relief from the ongoing responsibility of delivering care to supported individuals, with the goal being to strengthen relationships through a facilitated break in regular care delivery. Referrals are not needed, and the supported individual or their family may contact Lifetime Networks directly to arrange services.
Individuals may seek our Respite services for numerous reasons, such as weekend respite, support for longer vacations, or additional support while at camp.
Respite is a dynamic program tailored to the desires of all parties involved. Individuals may use CLBC funding to pay for Respite services or pay privately. If paying privately, there is a flat rate for 24 hours of respite care. Respite may be arranged in various locations, such as the supported individual's home, the respite provider's home, a campsite, or a hotel. The options are customized to each family's unique needs.
It is strongly suggested that you contact the Respite Coordinator well in advance of your anticipated Respite date.
Respite Coordinator:
Kim Davidson – Kim@Lnv.ca
250-477-4112