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Annual Report 2018-2019

June 18, 2019

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MISSION STATEMENT:

To support the aspirations of individuals living with a disability.

VISION STATEMENT:

All individuals are valued, accepted and can realize their potential.

VALUES:

ImagineAbility strives for excellence by conducting all of its activities in manners that

foster:

1. “Integrity --- We maintain the highest standards of professional behaviour in our commitment to the people we support.

2. Inclusion --- We believe in community integration for everyone, allowing them to participate in all areas of society.

3. Advocacy --- We believe that human rights and freedoms are everyone’s birthright. 4. Independence and Informed Choices --- We promote independence as a principle

of well-being, fostering personal choice(s) and individuality, and contributing to enriching people’s lives.

5. Collaboration and Teamwork --- We emphasize teamwork and collaboration, working together and synergistically with our stakeholders, developing and sharing expertise, to achieve goals and build mutual success.

6. Accountability --- We value fiscal responsibility, overall accountability, transparency, and absence of conflict of interest.

7. Respect --- We interact with all persons with respect, treating them with dignity and valuing their needs, aspirations and abilities.

8. Empowerment --- We actively encourage individuals to take charge for managing their responsibilities and future.

9. Safety --- We provide a safe environment for working, learning, and participating in recreation and leisure activities.

10. Transparency and Honesty with all our stakeholders --- We strive to be open, honest, timely, accurate, respectful, and authentic in all we do.

11. Continuous improvement and learning --- We regularly challenge the status quo to help secure improvements in all aspects of our organization, promoting excellence and innovation to bring unique and fresh approaches to both problems and opportunities.

12. Employees Matter --- Our staff are the active participants and contributors to achieving all of the above values, and are recognized for their critical role in helping us accomplish mission, vision, and goals.”

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Message from the President and CEO

ImagineAbility is pleased to share its 2018-19

Annual Report. The year has flown by and has

again been a busy and productive year of

continued growth and development for people and for the organization as a whole.

Our Community based services celebrated 5 years on January 19, 2019. This service

continues to expand with more jobs, placements, opportunities and experiences for

people to live the life they want. Three years ago, we provided 35 different

opportunities for people, last year there were 46 and this year there were 87 different

placements for individuals in the community.

Over the past year as an agency, we have also experienced increases in people accessing

ImagineAbility services with 12 new people entering our services, 39 increases in

funding to better support people whose support requirements have evolved and

changed and 13 graduates entering our services this summer in all program areas.

We have also had an increase of 19 Direct Support Professionals to support this work

across the organization.

As we continue to grow and evolve as an agency, we have worked to improve our

training to increase capacity for staff and management to be able to provide thoughtful

and meaningful person centred supports.

We continue to appreciate our strong relationships with various School Divisions

throughout Winnipeg. They are an integral part of the ImagineAbility Community. This

year within Winnipeg School Division One alone, 151 students (with 448 placements in

three different program areas) along with 286 Education Assistants participated in our

programming.

Our business revenues continue to grow year over year in our packaging and assembly

and contract filling departments and this revenue continues to support the organization

as a whole and helps us to provide augmented and meaningful services.

At our 37th Annual Dinner and Dance, we gave out 56 service awards for people

celebrating 5-50 years with the organization. This event continues to be the premiere

event of the year in where we celebrate people’s accomplishments with their families

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and friends. Attendance increased from 510 people last year to 625 individuals this

year.

ImagineAbility gardening initiatives started 6 years ago with a “how to plant seeds” and

has grown to include a greenhouse, a square foot wheelchair accessible garden, two

garden plots and relationships with various different gardening associations. This year

we were able to pay it forward in supporting another agency (Association of Community

Living Interlake) with the start of their gardening program and we were also able to give

back to the West Kildonan Horticultural Society with supplying them with plants grown

from our greenhouse to support one of their spring events.

ImagineAbility’s ArtZone continues to be a meaningful and important part of the fabric

of ImagineAbility. People continue to direct the events, initiatives, programming and

support. Art is a life.

Almost 4 years ago, ImagineAbility embarked on strategic planning with various

stakeholders. This assisted in focusing and redirecting the organization from a primarily

sheltered workshop model to providing inclusive, individualized and community based

supports. There has been an agency-wide philosophical shift towards empowering

service users to direct their own services and many of our newest service offerings such

as art, gardening, theatre, dance and music began in response to the requests of people

and their families. Our focus is on developing closer relationships with people, both

supported and employed and involving them in the decision making process for the

future. We look forward to embarking on the next stage of strategic planning in Fall

2019.

In closing, thank you to the people you support; we support your dreams, your

aspirations and your goals. Thank you to our generous, hardworking and forward

thinking board members. Thank you to our funders, supporting agencies and friends.

And finally, thank you to the passionate, intelligent and dedicated ImagineAbility team.

Looking forward to the future.

With gratitude,

Audra Penner

President and CEO

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Board of Directors – 2018-19

Chair – Rob Olson

Secretary – Margaret Fair

Treasurer – Trevor Paradoski

Director – Adele Domenco

Director – Al Moon

Director – Jackie Markstrom

Director – Marnie Danzinger

Director – Rudy Danzinger

Director – Shirley Grierson

Director – Jennifer Formaniuk

Director – Scott Ash

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In the Community – Work

1 month Seven Oaks Day Care - Jeramias C

5 weeks Darcy's Arc - Michael Z

8 months Accessit Corp - David M

Sports Manitoba - James D

1 year Main Street Project - William G, Sam B, Reetu C

Sobey's - Jared K

Children's Museum - Justin Z

2 years Dream Factory - Caitlin B

Brett Young Seeds - Sean H

Whodunit - Valerie G

YFC - Jeff S, James B, Louis H, Tuyet L

WRENCH - Cynthia M, Jeff S

Sam's Place - Tuyet L, Jeff S

3 years Closet Chick - Jen J

Highland Sport Fishing - Alex W

Home Run Sports - Fred W

4 years Richmond Kings Community Centre - Sean H

Croc-A-Doodle - Kristen B

Holy Family - Ronald C

5 years Penner Auto Body - David W

Old Spaghetti Factory - Ted B

Winnipeg Blue Bomber Fan Ambassador - Ted B

Thrift Shop - Leaha V S

Mooshiro - Ken B

Elwick School - Sam B

Giant Tiger - Yilong C

Meals on Wheels - Various

Oakview - Various

Agape Table - Carlos H, Cory H, Garth S, Ronald C

North End Women's Centre 0 Colleen G, Corrine G, Dan L

10 years Seven Oaks General Hospital - Cynthia M, Garth S

Maples Personal Care Home - Melanie E, Tuyet L, Dan L, Florence G, Annie K, Jo-Ann B, Justin Z

Northwood Community Centre - Carlos H, Cory H, James B, Matthew S

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In the Community – Recreation

Floor Shuffle – Heinz B

Cindy Klassen Personal Fitness – Fred W, Brandi B,

Royal Winnipeg Ballet – Tracey, Adeline, Connie

Valour Community Centre – Various

Cindy Klassen Swimming – Various participants

Adaptive Fitness – Various participants

Bocce Ball – Various participants

Winnipeg Jets Open Practice

Heights Archery

Outdoor Sport Programming – Various

Manitoba Museum

Millennium Library

Fort Whyte

Thunder Rapids

Narcisse Snake Pits

Comic Book Club

Daily Grind Coffee Shop

Across The Board

Musical Theatre

Strawberry Picking - Boonstra

Laser Tag

Mini Golf

Comicon

Winnipeg Art Gallery

Escape Room

Hip Hop Dance Class

DoVr Virtual Reality

Uptown Lanes

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Stories

ImagineAbility continues to offer opportunities for participants to expand their artistic skills.

This past year, ImagineAbility partnered with the Manitoba Theatre for Young People to

present a 4 month long experience where users are exposed to song, dance and various

creative movement sessions.

David W. has recently been able to achieve his long-term goal of living independently.

ImagineAbility began supporting David 6 years ago and feedback from his Community Social

Worker expressed that the skills he has developed during his time with ImagineAbility have

been integral to learning how to support himself in living independently. David also continues

to attend a weekly placement at Penner Auto Body. David’s story reflects the importance of

good wrap around supports in all aspects of a person’s life.

James D. has a placement with the Fitness Centre located at the Canada Games Sport For Life

Centre (Sport Manitoba) James is the first person to hold the newly created Open Court

Supervisor position and will use his natural skills and experience to develop a paid position

within the Sport Manitoba umbrella.

Caitlin B. is a talented, capable young service user who is motivated to accomplish her goals.

Caitlin works with The Dream Factory; an experience both parties agree was very positive and

indicative of Caitlin’s potential and future success.

Miranda, already a published author and

talented artist, completed her first year of study

with the University of Manitoba’s Fine Arts

Program. Miranda credits her supports through

ImagineAbility in helping her to overcome

hurdles and ensure her personal success.

Miranda also gives back in supporting her talents

to ImagineAbility’s Art Zone Committee and the

Annual Art Show.

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ImagineAbility hosted an overnight

camping trip at Sugar Point, located

near Lake Manitoba. this year will be

the third year, with increased requests

from service users to participate. The

trip presents individuals with

opportunity to disconnect, spend time

together and enjoy nature and

promotes an organic development of

relationships and strengthening of

existing ones. As an agency providing

predominantly daytime services, this

overnight trip is still rather new for

ImagineAbility. The success of this

experience has inspired us to think

outside the box of our existing services.

For the second year, ImagineAbility and St. Amant jointly hosted an event put on by the

Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) Training Academy on the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The WPS New Recruits participated in a classroom session throughout the morning with

instructor Brendan Boehr from St Amant. The 22 New Recruits then enjoyed lunch in our

cafeteria, followed by a tour of our facility and a sit down session with some of our staff and

service-users. We shared about sensitivities that officers should have when relating with people

with intellectual disabilities in their jobs and in community. For several years, The Winnipeg

Police Service Training Division has offered training through its Vulnerable Persons Unit in

regards to supporting people with Mental Health Diagnoses as well as a few other marginalized

groups. This marks the second year that the WPS is beginning to explore the field of Intellectual

Disability. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to influence the beliefs, perceptions, and

skills of our future Winnipeg Police officers. We are working towards becoming a regular part of

the WPS New Recruit Training.

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Other Opportunities

As an established agency, we recognize that some ImagineAbility participants continue to enjoy and take

part in packaging and assembly work and we honor and respect that choice. Many choose a

combination of our offered services, joining in community activities and placements, as well as services

at our two facilities. We aim to continue to

provide choices that are specifically directed by

the people we support.

In addition to many of the individualized supports

in the community, some new offerings include:

Karaoke: ImagineAbility participants show off

their singing talents every Monday and Friday

afternoon. You will hear everything from smooth

jazz, country, old rock, Broadway hits and more!

Always a full house, an incredibly appreciative

audience guarantees that everyone feels like a

superstar.

Chair yoga: For those preferring a lower impact yoga class, or for those in wheelchairs or with mobility

issues. Chair yoga is a gentle approach to maintaining a healthy body and mind.

Guided Meditation and Mindfulness: A process by which our participants meditate and relax in

response to the “guide” either via sound recordings, video or audiovisual media or music and verbal

instruction. Participants always leave the meditation/mindfulness session feeling completely refreshed

and relaxed!

Music Class: A music class focusing on rhythm and movement, including rhythm instruments, singing,

dancing and themed music history. Music therapy is incorporated, addressing; physical, emotional,

cognitive and social needs through all of these activities. Writing songs, listening to different styles of

music, drumming and guided imagery are also included in this class

Open gym: Those with an interest in fitness are encouraged to try out various exercises and start the

day off with a boost of energy in a safe, supervised environment. Our coaches can cater to beginner or

advanced level participants with our own in house gym equipment and workout machines.

Video games: Our PlayStation III Console has forty different games to enjoy from adventure and sports,

to games of strategy. Accommodating 1-4 players, depending on the game, this can be a solo or group

activity.

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Virtual Reality: Virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within simulated and immersive

environments that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. ImagineAbility’s VR

station is supervised and includes

many games that will leave you

feeling like the characters are

“alive and coming at you”!

Garden Crew: Whether you have a

green thumb or not, like to play in

the dirt, enjoy a good workout, or

know a weed from a winner …If

you have a good sense of humour

and enjoy interacting with fellow

gardeners, then ImagineAbility’s

Garden Crew is for you! Fresh air,

vitamin D and comradery are

guaranteed! “To plant a garden is

to believe in tomorrow”. It is sixth year; this program has grown from a dream

Art Classes: Join one of our resident art teachers in exploring different techniques and medias in art.

Painting, sketching, tile mosaics, lessons in art history, beading and much, much more are enjoyed in

this weekly class.

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Business Partners

Vita Health Products Inc

Coghlan’s Ltd

Western Canada Concrete Solutions Ltd.

Dixon Bayco Ltd

Boeing Canada Operations Canada

Kitchen Craft Cabinetry

Endries International

Brock White Construction Materials

Adams Supply (1969) Ltd.

Cascade Canada Ltd.

JCA Electronics Integration Center

Signpost Music *

Rush Print *

Reliance Products Ltd.

Smith and Doyle Inc.

Canadian Grain Commission

Opportunity Partners Ltd

Amsted Rail

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ImagineAbility Partners

MEEPA - Manitoba Employment Equity Practitioners Association

Abilities Manitoba

Inclusion Winnipeg

MSEN - Manitoba Supported Employment Network

Ccednet - Canadian Community Economic Development Network

CME - Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

ADSPM - Alliance of Direct Support Professionals of Manitoba

Winnipeg School Division

Pembina Trails School Division

Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine

River East Transcona School Division

Louis Riel School Division

Manitoba School for the Deaf

Disability Matters Vote

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ImagineAbility 500 Madison Street

Winnipeg, MB R3H 0L4 Phone: 204-956-9700

Fax: 204-943-1893 E-mail: info@imagineability.ca

Website: www.imagineability.ca