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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 31, 2016 | 16 Differently-abled adults need a fair chance at life continued from p.15 Furlane said he became fast friends with Jake and his mother Joanne Hardy, a local real estate agent, who helped his family find a home in Oakville a few years ago. Later this year, when Jake turns 21 and has graduated Oakville Trafalgar High School, Furlane is hoping Jake and others like him who have Down syndrome will have more options and opportunities to have a fulfilling and meaningful life. One of the goals of the foundation is to open a franchise store in Oakville within the next year or two that will be run by adults living with Down syndrome along with a caseworker manager, he said. "We believe they're equal or better employees in many situations," he said, noting his company Locomobi, which is located in downtown Toronto, is hiring employees with different abilities. Furlane said when Jake visits his office, "the whole place lights up." "The whole attitude changes in the company," he said, adding Jake has an incredible memory and can call everyone by name. "I don't even have to motivate anybody because he's such a positive person." Joanne, Jake's mother, said Furlane's drive and enthusiasm to create real change has been infectious. She noted Furlane is no stranger to giving back to the community, having dedicated his time and efforts for several years in the past as the chair of the B.C. Neurological Centre and the B.C Centre for Ability, which is a nonprofit in British Columbia, providing services to more than 3,000 children, youths and adults with neurological, physical and developmental disabilities, and their families. His past experience, said Joanne, who is on the HHDS board, has been helpful to furthering the HHDS mission of promoting awareness and inclusivity by providing the tools to HDSA and the related associations to help people with Down syndrome be active members within their community and lead meaningful lives. "I just think some things happen for a reason," said Joanne, noting she was fortunate to meet and forge a friendship with Furlane. Leanne Tovey, HDSA president and HHDS board member, said one of HDSA's main goals is integrating people into the workforce. HDSA is helping HHDS look at possible solutions, said Tovey, who has a five-year-old with Down syndrome. She said after age 21, when adults with Down syndrome have graduated from high school, they often have limited options as they try to access community services. Often, parents need to pay for it or it may be somewhat subsidized," she described. "Unfortunately we have a lot more children with different abilities than we have places for which doesn't allow them ever to live outside of the family home." Tovey noted the group is also actively working to dispel misconceptions that people with different abilities are sick often and are difficult to train. In fact, she said, research is showing people with Down syndrome and different abilities are sick less, boost moral, that customers appreciate the diversity and are likely to support the business more and there is lesser employee turnover. "We're not pushing for our kids to become lawyers and doctors, but what we're saying is they can do what other people are doing and they should be paid minimum wage and that's not happening," said Tovey. Furlane says his heart is really invested in providing a better future for children with different abilities. He's hoping others will actively take part in making a difference either through volunteering or supporting one of HHDS's events. For more information about how you can support the initiative through donations, sponsorship, or volunteering contact Tovey at leanne@haltondownsyndrome.com. For more information, visit www.HHDS.org and www.haltondownsyndrome.com. HHDS is also on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ HaveaHeartforDownsyndrome. Jake Hardy and Darryl Sittler them to do things, and so a lot of us believe, and are correct in saying, our children can be valuable members of the workforce," said Tovey. " However, they're lumped in, altogether, under the Disabilities Act and under that, it claims if you work a certain amount of hours and make a certain amount of money the government takes some of that money back. She continued, "The problem is, if our children do end up finding valuable work, they end up not receiving any support from the government and what becomes really difficult is, it puts them, really at the poverty level, Take the first step toward moving forward. Join us for our upcoming Lunch & Learn seminar at Trafalgar Lodge by Revera. Tuesday, April 5th, 11:30 am ­ 1:30 pm Come out to learn more about how to move forward with the moving process and gain helpful tips and tools from Margo Salnek, author of Move Senior's Lovingly. Complimentary lunch and refreshments will also be served. 17364 03.16 Door prizes to be won. Call to RSVP today! Trafalgar Lodge reveraliving.com 299 Randall St, Oakville 905-842-8408