Lifetime Networks Programs and Social Groups

Lifetime Networks

Programs

Being a Citizen

Being a Citizen is an inclusive, adult education program for participants with diverse abilities. There are two main areas of emphasis – academic skills and social communication skills. Participants continue to develop and build upon the academic skills acquired in high school. At the same time, participants learn to communicate more effectively while navigating the expectations of the adult world.

Being a Citizen provides an opportunity for learners to explore themselves, their strengths and challenges, develop interpersonal communication skills, employability skills and build relationships with others.

Being a Citizen is a strength-based program that focuses on the accomplishments and positive qualities of each participant. The development of effective social communication skills is at the core of Being a Citizen and is infused into all areas of the curriculum.

Fees are conditional upon circumstances.

Best Buddies

The Best Buddies program matches people with disabilities with students from UVic 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 meeting 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 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.

For more information please email BestBuddies@Lnv.ca or call 250-477-4112.

Community Engagement

The Community Engagement program 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 overcoming barriers to participation in recreational activities. If we have learned anything from the recent global pandemic, it is the importance of accessing outdoor recreation and the benefits of active living and building friendships. 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 the unique needs of a job seeker. CEDS involve creating a job or self-employment opportunity that is customized to the individual needs, skills, abilities and contributions of an individual.

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 results of the discovery assessment, 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 counseling).

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.

Equipment Loan Program

RAD Recreation Adapted Society is a registered Canadian charity whose mission is to create opportunities and remove barriers for individuals living with mobility issues to maintain healthy, active, independent lifestyles through access to the outdoors regardless of financial circumstance.

RAD hosts an inventory of rental outdoor adaptive recreation devices that help people with mobility challenges get outside to play their way. Biking, hiking, surfing, paddling, skiing, and golfing are all accessible on Vancouver Island.

Please contact tanelle@radsociety.ca or visit www.radsociety.ca for equipment inquiries.

Namaste Friday Music

Join us every Friday for some fun!

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Open mic + Open stage + Professional band

10:30am – 11:30am

Christ Community Church – 3897 Holland Avenue

6 Month Memberships (June – July)

$600 Day Programs and Schools

$100 Individuals

To register, please phone Lifetime Networks at 250-477-4112

We require a 1:4 staff to participate 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 being one of the cornerstones to 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, hang out at home…it’s all about the friendship and support. The Networks can last a lifetime and ensure unpaid relationships and true friendships are a reality.

Each Network has a Facilitator to help make sure the friendships are going smoothly and to act 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 nutritional 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 are wanting to connect with others in small group settings. Each POD is uniquely tailored to connect people that have 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.

Days and times are dependent on personal choice of the group.

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

Sessionals

Sessionals will return this Fall 2023, starting the week of September 18!

Registration is now open!!

Come have some fun and meet new friends! No experience necessary.
Budding new artists, musicians, and friends always welcome!

Music on Zoom has moved to Wednesday evenings.

To register, please email Tasia@Lnv.ca or call the front desk at 250-477-4112 to speak with Tasia or Gwen.

For further information about the program, please contact Mike at mike@lnv.ca

Registration Forms

Summer Inclusion Service 2023

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.

** The intake for our 2023 season of Summer Inclusion Service (SIS) is now FULL. Please contact Jessie at the below address to be added to our waitlist! **

Please contact Jessie (Jessie@lnv.ca) or call the office at 250-477-4112 for more information.

To request support, please fill out the online application:

Theatre Troupe

For those interested in fine arts we offer the Lifetime Networks Theatre Troupe!

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:

Song writing
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 a successful three 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 may be arranged to take place in various locations such as: in the home of the supported individual, in the home of the respite provider, at a campsite, or at a hotel. The options are customized to the unique needs of each family.

Respite is a dynamic program that is tailored to the desires of all parties involved. Individuals may use CLBC funding to paid for Respite services or may pay privately. If paying privately, there is a flat rate for 24 hours of respite care.

It is strongly suggested that you contact the Respite Coordinator well in advance of your anticipated Respite date.

Respite Coordinator:

Thom McMahon – Thom@LNV.ca

250-477-4112

Programs

Being a Citizen

Best Buddies

Community Engagement

Dynamic Duos

Employment Support

Equipment Loan Program

Namaste Friday Music

Networks

Outreach Support

PODS

Sessionals

Summer Inclusion Service 2023

Theatre Troupe

Respite

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