Where We Have Come From
1950's
"The
term forgotten child' no longer applies. These children are
winning a rightful place in Society. What is our aim in
teaching? Happiness first, all else follows. What do we
want for these children?
- to be accepted for who they are."
Jean
Burke, teacher at the Dawn School in her retirement speech 1969
The early days in the 1950's were difficult. Families
were left to their own devises to support their child with a mental
handicap. The professional community offered little in terms of help and
more often then not discouraged already exhausted mothers and fathers. The
only option was to take matters into their own hands - to beat on
bureaucratic doors and challenge the system heretofore dominated by
institutional superintendants.
By 1958, The Canadian Association for Retarded Children was founded,
bringing together into a national organization nine provincial associations
and 116 community associations. Parents no longer wished to hide their
mentally handicapped children away in shame; they admitted to their
childrens' handicap and, as individuals and associations, they began to
demand community services for their child and for themselves. Parents also
began to develop special schools because children with mental handicaps were
excluded from regular public schools.
The Semiahmoo House Society story, which can be seen as a microcosm of this
community living movement, begins with the development of one such school.
In 1957 the Boundary Society for the Retarded formed and further split into
the Surrey Society for the Retarded and the White Rock Society. The White
Rock Society created the Dawn school and held its first class in 1958 in a
small Rotary Club house near the centre of White Rock. In 1959 the school
moved to the Thrift Elementary School and was ahead of its time when the
students of the Dawn School naturally started playing with the other
students at the school.
1960's
"The
results and the changes that we see in people even in a few months,
have been astounding, beyond belief. You know you hear the
propaganda...but when you actually see it happen
- it's just
incredible."
A
regional Social Worker
It became clear that the children of the Dawn School
would not be children forever. There were many children reaching adulthood
in the lower Fraser Valley and services for these adults began to take form.
In 1964, the White Rock Society joined forces with 4 other groups of the
Association for Retarded Children of BC to provide facilities and services
for adults with disabilities. One such facility, the Ladner Farm, provided
both residential and day services.
1970's
"We're
people first and handicapped second."
Barbara Goode,
of People First 1979
"It was because of
the Go-Getters and their push to be a part of their community that
Semiahmoo House Society even started. All they wanted was a
normal life."
Janie Noftle,
lifetime board member
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the
Mentally Retarded was created putting pressure on local governments to close
institutions and provide alternate services. The BC provincial government
began a Regional Boarding Home program with the objective of placing 1500
residents from institutions back into communities around the province. These
boarding homes were licensed by the government and funded based on the level
of care provided. The White Rock Society purchased land and a duplex and in
1976 Fir Acres Estates opens and becomes home to 8 adults with disabilities.
They all shared the Dawn School as their alma matter.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Mental Health Association was running an informal
social program for people with mental handicaps and mental illnesses. They
used an old bus depot owned by the White Rock municipality. The depot was
known unofficially as Semiahmoo House. Based on the lack of funding for
boarding homes, there was often very little for the residents to do. 6 White
Rock Boarding Home residents decided that they wanted to plan their own
activities, parties and bus trips. A government case worker (our very own
Janie Noftle) facilitated the first meeting of these residents and the
Go-Getters Social Club was formed. The Go-Getters were inclusive of all
people with mental disabilities and an environment of camaraderie and mutual
support developed. Fred Switag, a self-advocate, was elected President.
Based on the success of the Go-Getters, the Semiahmoo House Association was
formed with the purpose of administering government funds and providing
accountability for the programs offered. The Go-Getters eventually placed
their fate in the hands of the new association which was directed by a board
which consisted of baording home operators, government workers and community
citizens.
In 1978, the White Rock Society approached the Semiahmoo House Association
about the possibility of amalgamation. Together the two societies formed the
Semiahmoo House Society - providing "one-stop" services to people with
mental disabilities; the Achivement Centre and Go-Getters club for day
programs and the Fir Acres Estate for residential services.
1980's
"We're a people
Society, I hope."
Laurie McColl,
Board President 1983
"We are all working
to create a better world! Well that sounds presumptuous, but we
are working, and we are creating, and we are doing better in our
corner of the world."
John Hoy,
Board President 1986
In 1983, Semiahmoo House Society purchased the old Surrey
Fire Hall on 24th Avenue. That summer was spent in clouds of dust as
$150,000 worth of renovations were done to transform the fire hall into the
Achievement Centre.
The 1980's was a decade of beginnings, of frustrations and of successes. It
was an ongoing challenge for the board to supply more individual
programming. The funding was just not available. The Achievement Centre
offered life skills training, recreational programs and offered work
opportunities. Holidays were celebrated with dinners and dances, where board
members often volunteered to entertain and serve the clients. Clients
paticipated in events like Operations Trackshoes in Victoria and even went
to exhibitions like the Expo '86. Clients were beginning to feel a part of
the community, but still had a long way to go from the point of view of
normalization, human rights and fair treatment in the community.
1990's
"Something that is
constant at Semiahmoo House is change."
Dorothy Engen Conner
"Enthusiasm can work
miracles."
Janie Noftle,
lifetime Board member
The programs offered underwent significant reconstruction
in the late 1980's and early 1990's. In 1992, new programs were developed
such as the Supported Employment program, a retirement program, a community
network program, an enclave program and a Skills Enrichment program. The
early dreams of the Society started to become reality when "you walk into
the Achievement Centre and no one is there." They are all out and about in
the community working, playing, learning and supporting the community.
Semiahmoo House Society was growing rapidly, and by 1990 had 85 staff
supporting 107 clients in three major day program areas and 24 clients
living in 6 group homes. By 1995 there were 180 employees serving clients in
4 major program areas and 11 group homes.
In 1996 The Family Support Program is launched to assist families in
negotiating systems that affect their family member who has a developmental
disability. The Semiahmoo Legacy Association is formed to benefit persons
with a developmental disability living in the Semiahmoo Peninsula. The
Community Care Network is established in 1998 to help families and
individuals find community based solutions to their needs. In 2000 programs
at the Training and Personal Development Sentre are expanded through the
introduction of LifeQuest, a pre-vocational program for recent high school
graduates with developmental disabilities who need maturity to acquire a
vocation.
2000's
"So, here we are at
the end of a momentous year. 2003 will always be as pivotal for
us internally, and on the larger provincial stage. The move to
our new home was a symbol of profound changes in how we support people
and of changes to community living in British Columbia. Now we
are privileged with the trust of going into 2004, 05, 06, and beyond
as people committed to supporting each other to successful life as
full citizens.
Paul Wheeler, current
Executive Director
In January of 2001, Semiahmoo House Society contracted
with the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority to provide HandyDART
services in the South Surrey/White Rock and Langley areas.
Click here for more details.
In 2001, Semiahmoo House Society began a capital campaign to raise funds for
a needed new building facility. The old fire hall became full of rot and
mold and could no longer be used for programs and services. Programs were
moved to temporary locations until a new building could be built. By 2002,
construction began and in March of 2003 we moved into our new centre.
In 2003, our Training and Personal Development Centre changed its name to
the Learning Centre and also changed its program structure to what it is
today. Click here to
read about the Day programs offered at Semiahmoo House.
In 2004, Semiahmoo
House Society acquired the Peninsula Child Care which offers daycare/school
aged care for children 30 months to 12 years.
Click here to read more about the program.
Semiahmoo House Society was also awarded the Acquired Brain Injury Program
from the Fraser Health Authority. It is a multi-faceted program geared
for individuals with advanced brain injuries.
Click here more more
information.
The future is bright for Semiahmoo House Society, and our history has
developed us into who we are today and who we will become tomorrow. |
