The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Ask us about bleaching for new patients FREE 905-842-6030 90 dentistoakville.com den SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010 ontario's top newspaper - 2005-2008 Steak Sauce Sports FRIDAY, JULY 20, 2012 353 IROQUOIS SHORE DRIVE, OAKVILLE A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 50 No. 87 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" 40 Pages $1.00 (plus tax) Heading out into the world on their own By John Bkila OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Living with a disability shouldn't diminish a person's independence -- that's what the Independent Living Program (ILP) teaches its students. With the goal of getting young people with disabilities to become independent as they prepare to transition into adulthood, the program is run and funded by the ErinoakKids Foundation, in partnership with AbleLiving, an adult service provider that offers 24-hour care for the program's participants. Established in 2002, the "I've learned that it program takes 14 partici- is not only about pants each year, between what knowledge the ages of 16-19, with you have, but also physical or developmental challenges, and teaches having the them to live independently confidence to do for two weeks in a support- something new, ed environment to develop even if you are life skills, such as using nervous." attendant-care services and directing their own care, using accessible transporta- Samantha Miljak, tion and managing money. Oakville graduate Since its inception, the program has had 132 participants (including this year) with 92 moving on to pursue post-secondary education, 40 moving out on their own, 24 volunteering in their communities and 27 joining the workforce. This year's participants graduated from the program on Wednesday at an evening ceremony held at the Sheridan College Residence at 1410 Trafalgar Rd. It was something 17-year-old Matthew Simpson said he was looking forward to -- he was one of three Oakville participants who graduated Wednesday. See Youths page 7 marta iwanek / special to the BEAVER / @halton_photog making their way: Graduate Ian McAdam of Mississauga with special skills dog, Eddie, at the graduation of 14 youths from the ErinoakKids' Independent Living Program at Sheridan Wednesday. ErinoakKids serves Halton and Peel. Your local Tim Hortons is happy to bring you Tim Hortons Free Swim ­ complimentary swimming time at your local pool. For a schedule of times and locations, drop by your local Oakville Tim Hortons restauraunt. © Tim Hortons, 2010