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Program provides long-lasting benefits to participants Continued from page 1 9 · Friday, July 16, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com "I know Ilish has experienced some profound loneliness at his school. He is one of the few people in a wheelchair," said Kimberly. "He is fully integrated, but there are times when I think he has felt some loneliness when his brother has been away, working and at school. "The friendships he's developed here (and) that email list is so precious to him now because he already wants to be able to get in touch with the campers he was with," Ilish wasn't accustomed to being away from home overnight, let alone for two weeks. But as time went on, he got comfortable being away from his parents. "It was quite a new experience for me. It was challenging at first, but I got used to it in the later part of the week and by the end I got pretty comfortable with it," said Ilish. "The two weeks went by so fast (because) we were busy doing different things." Kimberly wasn't used to him being away either. "There was a little bit anxiety because its change. Outside of being with grandma and grandpa for a day or possibly overnight, he's always been at home," said Kimberly. "All of a sudden being in a dorm situation, it's all the practical questions. How are going to be able to make his room in the dorm like home? "All the anxiety has kind of fell away, once we got the kids moved in and they made us as parents feel comfortable because the communication was there throughout the week." Among the various things Ilish and the other 13 graduates did, his favourite thing to do was taking the GO train to downtown Toronto. "That was really fun. We also had an amazing race, (and) one of the days we had to go to downtown Oakville and we had to do all these different challenges, that was really fun," said Ilish. ILG is supported by the ErinoakKids Foundation and other donors, helps youth ages 16 to 19 with physical or developmental challenges to live independently for two weeks in a supported environment in order to develop living skills. Since the programs inception in 2002, there have been 104 participants, including the 14 this year, with 61 of the grads involved in MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER CLASS OF 2010: The graduating class of ErinoakKids Independent Living Program post-secondary education after they completed the two weeks. The program relies entirely on the support from donors to keep it running, with no government support. ErinoakKids is a vital contributor to the programs existence. "Because the program is not funded by government, the foundation works to secure funding to ensure that the program can be run each year," said Anissa Hilborn, President of ErinoakKids Foundation. "From our point of view, it's a really great example of how the foundation exists to support these kids in providing funds from the community where the government doesn't support certain areas or programs." The participants learn essential life skills, everything from using attendant care services and directing their own care to using accessible transportation and managing money. They are also provided information sessions that will educate them about resources, which include accessible housing options, recreational equipment and opportunities, community safety skills, advocacy skills, and relationships. "I think the Independent Living Program really exemplifies ErinoakKids mission that we are here to support our children to reach their full potential," said Hilborn. "We work with the kids and our youth to provide them with the skills and support to be able to grow and condition into the next stage of their life. So it really brings our mission to life." One of the biggest contributors and supporters of the program, besides ErinoakKids, is the Milton Harley Owners Group, which holds a charity bike run every year to raise funds for the program. To date, the group has raised $199,000 over the past eight years for the kids. "These kids are our heroes, they really are. They epitomize everything we're about. We're independent (and) we're from all walks of life," said Clayton Shold, director of Milton Harley Owners Group. "I heard someone say we take risks by riding on the highway on these motorcycles, but these kids take risks everyday. "You hear these kids talking and they're so inspirational. For them to be able to go out and overcome the barriers they do, that's remarkable. It gets us charged up." This year's run will be held Aug.15, which will ride through the Niagara escarpment and finish at the Mohawk Inn in Campbellville with a barbeque afterwards. Registration is between 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Jacox Harley-Davidson in Streetsville. Now that Ilish has completed the program, he will be going into Grade 12 this year. Like many of his friends that he made in the program, Ilish plans on going to university to live on his own. "I want to become an urban planner. So hopefully I will go to university for maybe a geography degree," said Ilish. "I'm hoping to go to the university of Guelph and University of Toronto and Mississauga. We deal with you like few other insurance companies do. In person. 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