The sun was shining, and the morning had a hint of fall crispness on a recent Friday at Grace Anglican Church in Waterdown - perfect for getting outside and doing something active.
There was an air of anticipation as members of the Graceful Abilities group got ready to tackle their first project of the day: decorating and installing a scarecrow for the Halloween walk sponsored by the BIA. Plans for the afternoon included a field trip to go bowling.
Tracey Adomeit, who oversees Graceful Abilities, is eager to get the word out about the unique day program that supports adults with developmental disabilities.
“I think more families will be interested to know more about us; we’re right in the middle of Waterdown, so it’s nice and local,” she said during a break in the morning’s activities.
The program, now in its second year after launching in January 2023, runs Wednesdays and Fridays each week, in three 13-week sessions throughout the year. Adomeit, a retired special education teacher, is joined on staff by Gloria Asaph, a retired nurse. Volunteer Sue Hickey, who also has a background in special education, helps out, as does Kayla Stinson, who is working on grant applications for the program.
Currently, five participants of varying ability levels are registered in the program. On this Friday, there were three: Chris, who lives on a nearby farm, provided bales of straw for the project; Julia, with her radiant smile, advised on the costume selection, and Barhomi, who is relatively new to the group, discovered that he doesn’t really like the feel of straw.
Graceful Abilities sessions are a full day, which is a great way to get everyone engaged, says Adomeit. “The program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it gives us a chance to really do things,” she added.
The group’s activities are selected to be educational and engaging, and help the members stay physically active. They regularly participate in Wheel of Fitness sessions, which also take place at the church, and everyone helps with making lunch or baking.
“They help choose what to make and we give them a task, such as helping load the dishwasher,” explained Adomeit.
She noted the program also gets the members out to enjoy different experiences around town – recently, they learned about etiquette before heading to Tea at the White House.
“Our goal is to really have the participants be part of the community, and get the community used to seeing us.” said Adomeit, adding that staff take plenty of photos to share with the families, so they can talk about the day’s activities when they get home.
Graceful Abilities has the added benefit of giving the adult participants some independence from their families, something Julia appreciates. It also offers the families some respite from caregiving duties.
The program received funding from the City of Hamilton’s enrichment fund, and costs are covered through fees, which are $85 per day for each participant. With access to the Bobby’s Place Space, Noble Hall and the grounds of the Mill Street North Church, there is plenty of room to grow, says Adomeit.
Program organizers are working on securing funding to purchase a mini-bus, something that would make getting to activities much easier. They have used services such as My Ride On Demand, but they can’t always schedule transportation when they need it. As well, city buses don’t travel outside Hamilton, making trips to Burlington impossible.
“Arranging transportation for wheelchairs is extremely challenging,” said Adomeit.
While the next Graceful Abilities session starts in January, participants can join at any time, and pay by the month. Anyone who is interested in finding out if the program would suit their family’s needs is encouraged to reach out.
“We accommodate all abilities, including adults who have cognitive or physical disabilities who want to be out doing things,” said Adomeit. “People can call the church office and let them know they’re interested in the program and we will see if their child would be appropriate here.”
For more details, visit the Grace Church Waterdown website; the church office can be reached at (905) 689-6715, ext. 83.
