A CANADIAN CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE
Press Room
Abilities Centre ready to break down barriers
By: Parvaneh Pessian / Metroland
WHITBY -- Though he's been visually impaired since birth, 28-year-old Donald McCafferty can see his vision for the Abilities Centre clearly.
"I can hardly wait for when it gets up and running because I can check out the track, try the new activities and make new friends," he said.
Mr. McCafferty is a member of the Adult Social Club, a program that was established by the Abilities Centre to offer recreational activities for adults aged 18-30 with special needs.
Standing at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, he is steps away from where the ground-breaking facility will one day exist.
Council unanimously approved a business plan for the Abilities Centre this month, setting the wheels in motion for finalizing contract documents necessary to tender the project in late April.
The facility will be a world-class recreation, athletic and performing arts site fully accessible to people with a varying degree of abilities and challenges.
Special features will include a field house containing a walking/training track, full-size courts suitable for wheelchair basketball, volleyball and movement education classes, a fitness facility, therapy rooms and a performing arts component.
Newly-created programs will be mingled with already existing community programs to offer users a wide variety of barrier-free options for their recreational and leisure needs, administrative director Jennifer Ayotte said.
"What we're trying to do is not reinvent the wheel but rather fill in the gaps by introducing programs that aren't available or latch onto stuff that is already in the community and help those organizations expand," she said.
One in seven (14 per cent) of Canadians have some form of significant disability or specific medical challenge, according to Statistics Canada.
The activities currently offered to disabled people across Durham -- from bowling and dances to visits to the theatre and sports games -- are meant to help them feel welcome in their community, said program co-ordinator Karen Taylor.
"We want to have a face out in the community; we want to be visible and part of what's going on and we'll carry that over when the new centre opens," she said.
"We don't just want to be in our own little segregated facility. We want to show ourselves off and then once our building gets built, we want to be able to bring the community in to see what a fantastic opportunity we have here."
The facility will adopt a fully-inclusive standard that encourages the involvement of all members of the public so while the majority of memberships will be sold to disabled individuals and their families, a small percentage of memberships will also be sold to the general population.
"Everybody is a fully-valued member of our society and they should have every opportunity that everyone else does," said Ms. Ayotte, adding that the facility will focus on highlighting abilities over disabilities.
"That's the shift in thinking that this facility will bring: it's not what you can't do, it's what you can do and we're there to help provide the environment so people can reach whatever potential they have while socializing as well, which is absolutely key."
The Abilities Centre will also open the door to employment and volunteering opportunities for members, while providing enhanced convenience for parents.
"I think as they get older, there are less local programs available so it's great that this will benefit people of all ages and we won't have to travel far distances, it'll all be right here where we live," said Terry Goulet, who looks forward to her daughter, Jennifer, making use of the facility.
The Town of Whitby will be proceeding with its tendering process for the relocation of Iroquois Park's tennis courts and ball diamond to make room for the Abilities Centre. Construction is expected to begin by June with a target opening date set for late 2010.
"I think we'll see some very good tender prices for the project now because of the slow economy," said Peter LeBel, Whitby's director of community and marketing services.
"It's a big investment but it's an investment that's going to make a difference in the community without question."
Media inquiries:
ABILITIES CENTRE :
Jennifer Ayotte - Administrative Director 905-665-8500