ABLE2 Moments August 2024

Understanding and Supporting Individuals with FASD:

Everyone Plays A Part

A father holding a sign that says "We love a child with FASD. She deserves support and services too." Photo taken from an FASD Awareness Walk event in 2020. People are wearing red and white, outside the Parliament building.

Next month is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month. ABLE2 Executive Director Heather Lacey shares insights on FASD and how we can play a part in supporting those with FASD.

"As the Executive Director of ABLE2, I feel a personal duty to keep advocating for people with disabilities and to use my platform to shed light on the realities they encounter every day. As September is FASD Awareness Month it is especially important to me to highlight the challenges and needs of those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)."

Read more in Heather's blog entry here.

Thank you for making our Annual Picnic a success!

ABLE2 Annual Picnic video highlights. People enjoying the activities, dancing, smiling to the camera

Thank you to all our attendees, volunteers, and supporters for making this year's Annual Picnic a huge success! Your fun energy and enthusiasm brought much needed sunshine to our event! We hope you had a blast!

Thank you to the individual donors, funders The City of Ottawa & Maker House Ottawa, and our event partner B Media Shop for making this event possible for people with disabilities and their families in our community!

Keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram for the official photos from the event!

ABLE2 on CTV News

Thony Jean-Baptiste being interviewed on CTV News Ottawa

On July 18, CTV News Ottawa spoke with ABLE2 Director of Programs Thony Jean-Baptiste about the challenges of accessible housing in our community, following a local man's plight for an automatic door button to be installed in his apartment building after months of waiting.

Read and watch the news segment here.

Michael overcomes agoraphobia

with his Ally, Mike

ABLE2 Matching Program Friend Michael and his ally Mike

"In the vast expanse of an arena, amidst the roar of over 17,000 hockey fans, Michael experienced something extraordinary. For someone who had spent much of his life confined within his home due to agoraphobia or fear of open and crowded spaces, attending a live Sens game was a monumental step towards recovery. Michael attributes his renewed confidence and trust to his dedicated Ally, Mike, and the support from ABLE2’s Matching Program."

Chat with Jeff Snyder – Long-Term Chair of the Evening in the Maritimes Committee

Jeff Synder at Evening in the Maritimes on May 1, 2024 with Danielle Demark, incoming Chair of Evening in the Maritimes for 2025

Jeff Snyder with incoming Chair Danielle Demark at Evening in the Maritimes on May 1, 2024 at The Westin Ottawa.

Photo by Caroline Phillips

ABLE2 Board Member Rick Burns chats with long-term Evening in the Maritimes (EiTM) Chair, Jeff Snyder, as he steps down from his role after 11 years.

"Giving back to the community is something Jeff always knew he wanted to do - it is a value that was instilled in him by his parents throughout his life. Knowing how good volunteering can be in terms of making friends and connections... Jeff ended up signing up for ABLE2’e matching program... But as we know, life happens. Jeff had started a family and found that he had less time to give for a formal match. He wanted to stay involved, however, so he joined the organizing committee for Evening in the Maritimes and ended up co-chairing it for 11 years."

Read more about Jeff Snyder here.

Thank you Lumentum Ottawa!

Lumentum Ottawa staff present a cheque to ABLE2 representative Emelou Porquez, in the amount of $4,050. This donation will support programs and services for people with disabilities in the community.

In June 2024, Lumentum Ottawa hosted a month-long fundraiser for ABLE2, raising an incredible $4,050! Employees formed teams and hosted a variety of fundraising activities, including a Pizza Party, 5km Race, BBQ, Chess Tournament, Bakery sale, and more.

Thank you Lumentum Ottawa for empowering people with disabilities to build lives of meaning and joy!

Volunteer Corner

black and white image of the group photo of volunteers at the ABLE2 Annual Picnic

A BIG shout out to our team of dedicated volunteers at the Annual Picnic!

We are grateful for your time and efforts, whether it's helping plan the event, bringing extra supplies, assisting our guests with their accessibility needs, or just making sure everyone has a good time. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Matching Program Ally Adrian and his Friend John

There are still over 140 people with disabilities on the Matching Program waitlist seeking for volunteers. If you have the time to spend with a person with a disability to simply do things that friends usually do, consider becoming an Ally. The biggest wish of people on our waiting list is to have someone to meet for a coffee!

Learn more about volunteering with ABLE2's Matching Program here.

Share your story!

3 ABLE2 program users at the Ottawa Race Weekend

Do you have a story to share about your involvement with ABLE2, how our programs and services have impacted your situation, or about your volunteering experience?

Email us! events@able2.org