Activity Options Expand for Nova Scotians Living with Disabilities

Nova Scotians living with disabilities will have more options as they move into a community to pursue their interests, develop life skills, access employment and connect with friends and neighbours.

My Days is a new initiative that will provide opportunities for people to choose how they want to spend their time as part of community living. Forty residents moving to homes in the community as part of the closure of Harbourside Lodge, an adult residential centre in Yarmouth, will be the first to take part in My Days.

“It is important for Nova Scotians who are leaving large institutions to have access to activities they enjoy or want to try,” said Karla MacFarlane, Minister of Community Services. “This will create opportunities to work, volunteer and be active in their community while helping our communities be stronger, more diverse and inclusive.”

The Disability Support Program is working with service providers and community agencies across the province to expand the list of activities available to participants, starting with people moving to community-based settings. Individuals who currently use day programs will continue to do so. In the future, they will also have access to expanded opportunities available through My Days.

Quotes:

“My day starts when I wake up in the morning and ends when I go to bed at night. It is not 9 to 3, Monday to Friday.”

– Member of Disability Support Program Advisory Committee

“I'm very excited about the opportunities this new approach will give Prescott Group and others like us to expand our services and meet the needs of people with disabilities in the ways that they choose. This is going to be a great addition to the landscape of our community.”

– Alice Evans, Executive Director, Prescott Group

Quick Facts:

• My Days is funded from previously approved funding to continue moving more residents out of adult residential centres and regional rehabilitation centres
• My Days funding will include individualized supports for participants and will assist community groups to offer new activities, including employment, volunteering, and recreation, that respond to how people choose to spend their time
• My Days is being developed in consultation with participants, families, advocates and day program providers
• the Disability Support Program serves about 5,400 children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities, long-term mental illness and physical disabilities in a range of community-based, residential and vocational day programs

Additional Resources:

News release - Province Phasing Out Harbourside Adult Residential Facility in Yarmouth: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20201021002

A Roadmap for Transforming the Nova Scotia Services to Persons with Disabilities Program: https://novascotia.ca/coms/transformation/docs/Choice_Equality_and_Good_Lives_in_Inclusive_Communities.pdf

Disability Support Program: https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/index.html