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48tCT10NB THE HERALD Wednesday November IMS Handicapped kids thrive on the love found in a family From the Childrens Aid Society Growing up as an only child In Holland vowed that one day her own borne would re sound with the laughter and chatter of at least a dozen youngster At the time she assumed the children would all be her own all in health achieving the usual milestones around the time Indicated In the baby book and going on to lead normal Uvea Never in her wildest dreams did the young herself sharing a home in faraway Canada with three multl handicapped children through government sponsored foster parent programs Yet today Arina runs a loving household in Hal ton with not Just three special needs kids but two adopted daughters who normal foster children and two adult children of her own Its not quite Cheaper By The Dozen but when consider and husband have fostered children since they first linked up with the Halton Children Aid Society CAS in most would agree this couple Qualifies for citations In the department Among those who wishes there were more In the world Is Sharon Hatter coordinator of the Halton Home Care and Halton Shared Care Programs for rum capped children Ms Halter Is searching for families within Region who are willing to care for physically andor mentally han dicapped children on a full- or part time basis Unfortunately laments Ms Hat ter many couples are hesitant to open their doors to these children because they fear the respon sibilities will be too great The alter native to finding homes for many of these children Is place them in In stitutional settings something Ms Halter looks upon as a last resort Handicapped kids like all kids on the kind of love and In dividual attention Ihut is best pro vided In a family setting The kids in the Home Care and Shared Care programs are kids who want to be port of a family and who In fact can make a positive addition to the right household Indeed if you talk to Dun she will tell you caring for nan children Is far more rewar ding than caring for socalled nor mal or ordinary kids 1 look ing after handicapped children ten t everybody cup ten Just as work In the bank lsn t everybodys cup of lea But Its been my experience that the rewards of this Job arc une qualled The feelings of satisfaction and joy you get when one of these children makes some progress reaching a goal that might be small by other peoples standards is very hard to describe But my husband and our children will tell you how very special and wonderful it is each time one of these kids accomplishes something new It always a cause for celebration la sponsored through the Home Care program the other two were placed with the ami ly before came into existence Arina believes the challenges and rewards Involved In their care to be typical of other children In Sharon Hatters specialised foster care pro grams The big difference says Is that the first two children were CAS wards while the Home Care childs mother requested that the agency provide her with some relief from the stresses of tains legal guardianship of her youngster The first handicapped child to be laced with the Dunnlnks was a llnd nine monthold victim of cerebral palsy whose chances of im proving were considered remote at the time of his placement nearly years ago A specialist told us he would never be more than a vegetable recalls proudly adding the young man is now mobile and able to perform many tasks with assistance The second handicapped child to be taken in as family by Arina and Herman was a loyearoid blind with slight physical handicaps The girl Is now a teen who Is learning how to become independent The Home Care child ed at the Dunnlnk residence three years ago at age three exhibiting some minor physical disabilities and behavioral challenges Because he doesn t yet have full bladder control and has difficulty feeding himself Arina walks over to the school each Sometimes parents just need a bit of a break Many parents arc at the end or their rope following a routine day with a normal child Annoying little habits boisterous play and sibling bickering have a way of fraying the nerves of even the most dedicated loving caregivers Bearing this In mind its not really hard to understand why pa tlence is wearing thin around the home of a young girl with severe problems Including fits of kicking scream and Piling At other times Liz withdraws and remains mute for lengthy periods This is despite the fact she bus a reasonable vocabulary and Is capable of speaking in simple sentences When Lizzies behavior Is under control she is a very lovable girl says her mother who has appealed to the Halton Home Core fostering program for relief ram the sometimes overwhelming task of caring for the eldest of her three children The mother explains that Lizzies two younger siblings fre- feel neglected and stressed because of the amount of lime and energy family members must devote to Lizzies special needs We desperately need a rest after so many years says Lizzie heavier and heavier as she and her husband grow older We need another family open their doors to Lizzie and make her feel at Lizzie currently attends and obtains further assistance from a Special Needs Worker who visits her home regularly The little girl thrives on a strict routine loves music and enjoys romping In wide open spaces For further Information contact Sharon Hatter Coordinator of Halton Home Care at Adoption benefits available through UIC Maternity and paternity benefits are not the only benefits available to those whose families are growing The unemployment Insurance system also offers Adoption Benefits to those who are adopting a child These benefits are similar to mater benefits but there are ferencesaswell To begin with there are two points to remember when making a claim for adoption benefits First in order to be eligi ble you must prove that the adop tion a legal one adhering to pro vincial legislation Secondly you must show that it is reasonable for you to remain at borne because of the adoption Adoption benefits are also AND YOU By COLLEEN ROBINSON make a claim Once the claim has begun no changes can be made And If you are adopting more than one child at the some time it is only possible to make one claim Tor benefits When it has been decided which parent will remain at home with the child certain eligibility criteria must be met in order lo establish the claim The parent Involved must Home care need increases Citizens are turning to Halton Regions home care program now more than ever before Demand for borne care increased by just over 10 per cent between 1 and September this year over More than people benefitted from the Regions borne care pro gram in that six month period The home care program which Is entirely funded by the Ministry of Health provides nursing physiotherapy occupational therapy speech language therapy and a of support services ln- providing sick room equip ment oxygen and dressings and medical supplies Of the people who received home care from about 370o of them are classified as acute care another are chronic care and the remaining 1 people received treatment at school have worked In Insurable employ merit for at least weeks in the last As well they must experience an stopped receiving wages or they have a reduction In heir insurable earnings of more than per cent When you make a claim you will have to complete on application for benefits a supplementary applies Hon for adoption benefits and you will be required to supply a letter from the agency Involved to prove that a child has been placed in your Again is important to em phaslze that these benefits are not automatic You must apply for them as soon as you finish working If you arc able to establish a claim the benefits available arc the same as for maternity and paternity First you must serve a twoweek waiting period for which no benefits ore payable and then you will receive 15 weeks of benefits at a rate of per cent of your normal Insurable earn ings Main Sir mi South Downtown Georgetown 8731470 RESIDENTS OF WARD 4 Thank you tor giving me the tunity to represent you again at the local and regional levels our municipal I enjoy my job and am committed lo work diligently on your THE SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army in cooperation with the Lakeside Chapter 0 Si Paul and Acton Rotary Club will supply Christmas Hampers families need upon request Ap plications are available at The Salvation Army Thrift Store Mill East Acton 853 3321 The Social Services 19 Willow Street North 853 and The Salvation Army Thrill Store Mill Street Georgetown 877 Applications are available between Monday Nov 21st and Monday Dec WELCOME TO HILLS FOB IL MIPS the HERALD ytrrW POMPEI PIZZERIA i SUBS Mort to Wed oft and St SO off krp and jumbo PICK UP ONLY Mutual Lift it Canada Court Georgetown Pal and Bob Craig moved Georgetown recently from Toronto with their children a and Lindsay Mr Craig is Fleet Administrator for Lease Master In Toronto and Mrs Craig works for Canada Packers Food Service In Brampton A very warm welcome to III Courtesy of these fine businesses and SINCE Hostttses Cathy Doolay DbblBut1r you ntw In own or a in baby call Cathy or Dabbte SUPPLES id SECRETARIAL MONEY CONCEPTS PERSONAL FAMILY FINANCIAL PLANNING 8731877 WANTED Community Minded Business Call 8772201 Unlike maternity benefits adop tion benefits are not payable prior to the placement of the child In your home The claim begins no earlier than the actual date of placement As we have pointed out before there are always exceptional so If you are planning to make a claim for adoption benefits get In touch with your local Canada Employment Centre Well be glad to answer your questions Remember were here to help day at noon to assist with his special progress at three yean He feels very much a part of the Dunnlnk family and is becoming more and more eager to participate In activities with other children In household la the first to admit caring for handicapped children Isnt always easy Im only human and there are days I need tune alone too she admits The agency does provide parental relief services for foster parents like me but Im not the type who wants a stranger com ing in and taking over my house So if I fed the pressure starting to build I just tell everyone You ft have to excuse me for a moment while I take some lime out Ill be in my room for a few minutes with a cup of coffee and when I come out we 11 all feel better I very lucky that I set a lot of support from my husband and our grown children who still live here at home How does know her own children dont resent the attention and affection she showers upon the other youngsters in her care I know because they have told me they want to be foster parents one day themselves They cant a family being any other As for her own special abilities says I dont see myself as extraordinary Yes you do need qualities of patience and understan ding and you also need to have and enforce house rules to avoid total chaos but other than that I don see this as such a hard job In fact for me having a house full of children Is a dream come true I only wish we had room for morel For details about the Home Care and Halton Shared Care pro grams for handicapped children call program coordinator Sharon Hatter at M48211 or Just Call Us Your Electronics Hospital We II patch up your tape player and put your stereo in a Whatever it takes to get your equipment on the road lo recovery and in top working order we do Were your expert trouble shooters FREE ESTIMATES To All CarryIn Repairs IPfau MILL ST ACTON time to do something constructive about affordable housing There Is only one to create affordable housing in province constructive The Ministry Mousing Is taking constructive through various including our latest initiative HOMES NOW Tills Is the largest single non profit housing initiative undertaken by the province HOMES NOW will pro vide the resources for profit corporations and appropriate housing lor their communities This will be created through new con and through the rchasc or lease existing buildings For local organizations Including churches service clubs and other associations who wish to form profit corporations HOME5 NOW provides grants for incorporation and loans to help finance housing proposals Community action in concert with of Housing will help bousing needs of Ontanans Today and tomorrow All we need now is involvement of your group Ministry Housing Ontario Community action speaks louder than words