The Sault’s two Adult Enrichment Centers, along with three other Center offices in Sudbury, are closed due to COVID-19 concerns.
The good news is Adult Enrichment Center clients in both communities are still receiving the support they need thanks to online technology.
The Adult Enrichment Center offices serve individuals 18 and over who are developmentally disabled, including those with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, most others being on the Autism Spectrum.
To make up for widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, Adult Enrichment Center clients, through a private Facebook site, can avail themselves of Sudbury-based programming, including a morning social chat with others, an afternoon art or music therapy session, then a group discussion about a chosen topic.
“This week it’s mostly been about COVID-19, just to alleviate people’s fears, why we aren’t at the Center, and that it’s in their best interests to keep everybody safe. I’m sure next week they’ll get some more general discussions. We’ll probably talk about something else next week,” said Lori Harrison, program manager for the Sault’s Adult Enrichment Center locations, speaking to SooToday Thursday.
As a proactive step, the Adult Enrichment Center sites closed even before Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency in Ontario due to COVID-19 Tuesday, March 17.
“We wanted to protect the health of our clients. We didn’t want to have them come here and expose them. Last week we decided to stop volunteering, stop our community outreach. We closed one of our locations (at first) and all stayed in one location. We cleaned diligently several times throughout the day, teaching hand washing,” Harrison said.
There are 16 Adult Enrichment Center clients in the Sault, over 120 in Sudbury.
The three Sudbury locations are closed for the time being.
The Center’s location in the Sault YMCA’s basement was closed Wednesday, March 11, the second at 244 Second Line West Monday.
“We offer a very structured day,” Harrison said.
“The Sault location at the YMCA is more geared toward fitness and volunteering, being out in the community. The one on Second Line, the main centre for the Sault, has individuals who are more dependent than the ones at the YMCA, they need a little more attention here. We have one person in a wheelchair, we have some people who can’t speak, we have some people who can’t really walk or their mobility is limited.”
For their clients, the Center’s five offices provide life skills training, how to develop more independence, coping mechanisms when upset, behaviour management and social skills.
“(During the current COVID-19 situation) I call them to touch base with them, to see if there’s anything they want to talk about, if there’s anything they need assistance with, if there’s a funny story they want to tell. It’s just to stay connected,” Harrison said.
“I’m going to be starting my own video broadcast next week (on the private Facebook page) for the individuals in the Sault.”
“They just want to see me,” Harrison chuckled.
“They’re so used to seeing me every day. I’m a constant in their lives and have been for a few years now, so it’s very difficult to remove that constant. I still keep in contact with them over the phone just to make sure they know I’m here and still thinking about them just to alleviate their anxiety.”
“We’re all set up. We haven’t forgotten about our clients.”
