Life Without Barriers, a program of the Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN), is celebrating 20 years of community鈥恇ased services to individuals and families experiencing disability from an acquired brain injury.聽聽聽
Previously called ABI鈥怚ndependent Living, Life Without Barriers was established on August 28, 2000. It was the first program of its kind in Saskatchewan and is the only independent living program continuing to provide services under the provincial ABI partnership. The partnership is a joint initiative of Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) which provides the majority of funding, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. SIGN contributes additional funding annually to supplement the program. Since it was established in 2000, Life Without Barriers has supported 90 individuals, and currently assists 11 persons.聽聽
鈥淧eople are affected in various ways by their injury, including short term memory loss, difficulty starting tasks, communication issues, seizures, headaches, and challenges in regulating their emotions. The impact on individuals is often invisible to others,鈥� program manager Stephanie Carlaw points out. That can create misunderstandings, changes in family dynamics, loss of sense of identity and greater isolation. The program鈥檚 mission is to improve the quality of life for survivors by fostering independent living skills and community re鈥恑ntegration.
Services provided by the SIGN program are integrated with local partners: the Saskatchewan Health Authority (ABI Regional Coordinator) and Saskatchewan Abilities Council (ABI Life Enrichment Facilitator). Services are provided in individuals鈥� own homes in their own communities. The focus is on a person鈥恡o鈥� person approach, addressing each individual鈥檚 needs to ensure the support provides maximum independence, Ms Carlaw says.聽聽聽
Monthly group sessions are also conducted in various communities in the former Sunrise Health Region to facilitate life skills and peer support and encourage community participation, she adds. Individuals can access self鈥恏elp strategies and gain a sense of community and belonging within a supportive peer group which shares similar experiences.聽聽
Group sessions are a safe environment for individuals to be open and honest about their feelings and receive positive feedback from their peers. Visit www.abipartnership.sk.ca and www.signyorkton.ca/life鈥恮ithout鈥恇arriers for more information
