By David MacDonald
When did the DIRECTIONS Council come to be and what’s your current reach within Nova Scotia?
HS: DIRECTIONS officially formed in 1984 and then later took on the brand of the DIRECTIONS Council of Nova Scotia. At its core, DIRECTIONS is a network of 29 organizations across the entire province that provides support to individuals with disabilities in the area of life skills and job skills. We also actively work toward community inclusion in the areas of employment and self-employment. Each organization that makes up DIRECTIONS operates social enterprise businesses to provide employment opportunities for the individuals who are the face of our organization. This is how we reinvest to better serve people and increase our capacity.
I’m curious: What existed in Nova Scotia before DIRECTIONS to provide this service to people with disabilities?
DM: The majority of the services that existed for adults with intellectual and other disabilities were really drop-in centers, or a day program model where people came in and basically had a place to go where they thought they belonged. It didn't really follow so much a work model or a training model, it was really kind of busy work, social engagement, and we’ve really tried to move away from that model since adopting it in 1979. That’s when the department of social services approached a lot of what were small local groups and asked them to start forming boards to administer what has turned into what we are today, which is adult services centres.
“Our biggest asset on that front is working with groups throughout our communities who endeavour to reflect their citizens and values, today and in the future as well.”
What are the mandates that make DIRECTIONS what it is?
MT: As a network, DIRECTIONS is intended to support the 29 organizations to improve the quality of services that are offered to Nova Scotians living with disabilities, mental and physical. We extend services to individuals who are being under-supported in their communities and to share best practices and supports in the area of learning, networking, and training so that the services being delivered are similar no matter where you live in Nova Scotia. We work as a collective in order to expand the service delivery options and the programs that are offered. It may play out a little differently in every organization, but it’s a good model.
DM: Our mandate is very similar to what Heath mentioned: It is supporting individuals with the aim of becoming contributing members of the community. Whatever that looks like is different from community to community, organization to organization, but we all agree that we need a shift in society so that people with disabilities aren’t continually looked at like they’re in receipt of care or support. Our members are vocationally trained and they want to, like everyone else, fulfill their role in their communities and we in turn want to fulfill our role for them. We have a progressive ‘make it happen’ attitude and so do our members.
HS: I’d very much like to echo what Deborah said: Progressive means a lot of different things to different people, but we translate it as the propagation of individual choice and celebrating the qualities and contributions of all citizens with disabilities, whatever they may be. Our programs benefit communities throughout Nova Scotia and I think we’ve really progressed from a model of people being in receipt to one where their contributions are integral to the fabric of their communities.
So ultimately for DIRECTIONS, ‘best practices’ means an individually-tailored approach for everyone?
DM: That’s absolutely right. Like Heath suggested, each community has its own unique make-up. My organization is in a particularly impoverished area of North Sydney and the employment piece doesn’t come as easily to us as it does to other member organizations. But being located in such a small area can have its advantages. We are well-known and when an opportunity does present itself, the community or surrounding communities, are that much more likely to buy-in to what we offer. We’ve had a lot of success promoting individuals because they’re already well-known in the community.
“We work as a collective in order to expand the service delivery options and the programs that are offered. It may play out a little differently in every organization, but it’s a good model.”
HS: I think in terms of shared best practices that a number of our agencies share philosophies and values around the client and putting the client at the center of the operation. Deborah is right, though, because how that translates is very different from place to place. The various social enterprises that the 29 organizations take-on are numerous. We have two commercial bakeries, a café, a green space maintenance team, a laundry service, a home care service that provides non-medical supports, and a trophy and engraving service for community sporting associations. Our clients can participate, at many levels, in these programs along with a host of other social and recreational programs.
JT: In Antigonish at the CACL, we’ve really been inspired by the incredible programs being offered by other member organizations in places like Shelburne. Their entrepreneurial spirit has really radiated throughout the province and all through DIRECTIONS. We also have a very supportive community here in Antigonish. We have a tremendous amount of local support from community members, the Chamber of Commerce, and several local private enterprises. In fact, local businesses couldn’t be more supportive. We have a lot of people from our organization who are out in the community working because of the support of many employers in town and in the county. Everyone knows who we are and what we have to offer.
It’s an incredible time to be a part of DIRECTIONS. Two of the guys who we support here have broken out on their own and started a business – and you wouldn’t believe the support of the business community. Local business leaders like Steve Smith, the owner of Central, Aaron MacDonald of Steel Mac Limited, and Joe Boudreaux from BioNovations, are all examples of people who will they stop what they’re doing and drive to town and troubleshoot and help the guys with whatever project they’re working on. Seeing what the CACL does for the community is humbling and powerful. If someone has a dream, we have people to get behind them. We have people who want to volunteer, be involved with recreation, and people who want to start their own business. We’re not here to tell people what their goals and dreams should be. We want people to see and meet their potential, even when it’s harder than they ever expected.
How would a pre-existing or new organization meet the requirements for membership into the DIRECTIONS family?
MT: Basically, organizations apply to our provincial office. They provide information indicating the types of services that they offer and then we assess the extent to which the values and approaches of that organization are consistent with the DIRECTIONS philosophy. It comes down to identifying the quality of services they provide and then determining if we can provide the assistance needed to help them grow and their community grow. To formally proceed, we need to receive two letters of support from two organizations within the region in which they operate and then that application is reviewed by our membership.
And what advice would you give an organization that is considering applying for membership?
JT: We have people land at our door every week and we always do what we can to facilitate what they need and want. For some people, they quickly realize that the Career Resource Centre is the path for them. But we want organizations to know that we support people with intellectual and physical disabilities as well as people with mental health issues. In the last few years, we’ve brought in several partners for funding in areas in which we were lacking resources. We’ve worked closely with organizations from First Nations communities, the Employment Services, and the Nova Scotia Association of Community Living – basically we work with anyone who is willing to champion the rights of people with disabilities. There are also people with dual diagnoses, both physical and intellectual, or physical and mental, or any combination.
“It’s not just a choice between employment, socializing, leisure, and physical activity – it’s all of them if you want it.”
HS: I’d also like to consider the question from our potential clients’ viewpoint. There are many circumstances wherein the onus is on us. As organizations, we need to reach out to clients and to families who may be interested in our services, whether they’re potential partnerships with schools like school-to- work programs, or other community immersive experiences. We do planning with families and when the proper foresight is there, we can identify many needs early on and create five or 10 year plans. We can talk about potential community partners with them. A lot of our work is reaching out to families and communities to assess their needs.
DM: We have a transition to work program here in North Sydney through the local high school. We also take referrals from the Department of Community Services and families will often seek us out privately. Because of the close nature of the community, we’re able to do reach-out work where we know it’s needed.
It sounds like every organization in the DIRECTIONS network is ripe with mentors for prospective clients.
JT: Our clients are lucky because of the amount of mentorship and learning opportunities available in town. As I mentioned earlier, business owners are always thrilled to give a hand and share their expertise. They’ve also received significant mentorship through the Sauder School of Business, St. FX. In November, in fact, they were invited to speak with the executives and leadership team of the East Coast Credit Union – from whom they received help to start their business – about the transformational possibilities of supporting businesses like theirs in communities across Nova Scotia. Their mantra is pretty great: ‘Work hard, don’t quit.’
We encourage our more veteran clients to become mentors to our new clients, because becoming inspired often requires solid leadership. Whenever anyone becomes self-employed or successful in a particular enterprise, they inspire others. That’s where client council comes in. The council is formed by the complete range of our clients and when we meet they tell us how we’re doing as an agency, afterall our clients are the primary stakeholders in our organization. When they see the successes of their peers, they see ways in which they can act toward their goals and this positivity only drives the increasing capacity and the increasing opportunity of the CACL and DIRECTIONS. I think that when there’s positive feedback that it just follows everyone else in the room everywhere they go. That’s what coaching and mentorship can do.
MS: At the last DIRECTIONS conference – which involves all 29 organizations – we actually had the opportunity to meet the gentlemen from Antigonish that Jeff is talking about. It’s those kinds of learning opportunities that allow every DIRECTIONS organization to make our individual centres that much more client-centred.
As a not-for- profit group, who does DIRECTIONS reach out to for the resources you need?
HS: The government is really getting behind DIRECTIONS like never before. They’re helping us to build capacity and to scale-up some of the opportunities around social enterprise.
MT: That’s true. We have a number of projects that we’re delivering in partnership with the Department of Community Services. Two of those projects are providing increased resources to local agencies within our network to assist people to connect with basic community employment opportunities. We’ve done similar things in the past and they’ve been highly successful with very good job retention rates – which of course, increase the work experience of our clients. This sort of proactive approach is part of our mandates. We aim to help people with disabilities move to the next stage of their employment dreams.
For others, this helps them make permanent connections to employment. The government is really moving in a direction that increases our capacity to provide support and increase outcomes in the area of employment – and also in the area of social enterprise. Just in the last year, we’ve been given funding to assess our potential in the social enterprise area and to look at what’s happening in other provinces and jurisdictions within Canada and internationally. We are now on the verge of a significant expansion of our social enterprise operations.
“We have a lot of people from our organization who are out in the community working because of the support of many employers in town and in the county. Everyone knows who we are and what we have to offer.”
Does having such an impressive network within the province with clients as ambassadors help places like the town of Truro when it comes to applying to host big ticket events like the 9 th Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships next July?
DM: It’s extremely important; having a banner to all get behind is very powerful. It’s a great mechanism for communication and what’s more, the reputation of DIRECTIONS as a strong collaborative entity is long-founded.
On a side note, Aimee Gordon, who works here at the Haley Street Adult Centre, recently traveled to Austria to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games. She’s a speed skater and the first person from Cape Breton to attend worlds. It’s really been a media circus and we couldn’t have a better ambassador for what it is we can accomplish as organizations. Aimee’s work ethic is an inspiration to everyone here.
HS: I think we are just beginning to maximize those sorts of opportunities. I know that there is a great deal of interest from clients and employees from many member organizations to volunteer at such events, so it’s a great model for businesses to pay attention to. DIRECTIONS has the volume, the capacity now to partner with so many businesses throughout the province. Any business looking for services should know that we can deliver on a variety of platforms, more than we ever could before, in fact, and that’s pretty exciting to me.
JT: The town of Antigonish has been a very solid employer for the CACL. Over the last several summers, we’ve managed to secure contracts with the town’s Communities in Bloom program, which is a beautification project and national competition that sees flowers and plants placed throughout Antigonish. The town has actually won this competition before, which has become a great marketing tool. One of the key components to scoring this competition is inclusive hiring and that’s where we come in. With a non-motorized system, people from the CACL with primarily intellectual disabilities go around the town and water the flowers. It’s a great job, they’re making money, and the town is even more beautiful because of them. From the top-down, from the Mayor’s office down, people have tremendous pride in what our gang is doing for the town every single day.
MT: These kinds of examples are getting noticed by big businesses. Recently, Sobeys has really ramped- up their efforts to increase the social impact of their inclusive hiring in communities throughout Atlantic Canada. The effort Sobeys puts in to navigating the non-profit sector to accomplish this goal is commendable. They’ve approached DIRECTIONS as a network and we are in discussions with them about a number of developments. The Senior Director of Human Resources and Retail at Sobeys Atlantic, is really motivated to strengthen their connection with DIRECTIONS. We have individuals from several of our organizations working at Sobeys locations and I think it’s something people are going to be seeing more of. Because we have 29 organizations that span the entire geographic scope of the province and increasing capacity as a result of communicating successes, I think more and more businesses will seek out long-standing partnerships with us. So much of business is relationship-based and those relationships are strengthened by good corporate citizenship. The benefits of becoming a champion of hiring people with disabilities are numerous.
So, supportive employment is really making impressive inroads for DIRECTIONS.
DM: There’s no doubt. People want to feel good about a connection and what we provide through our organizations is bursting with positivity. It’s not so much a ‘Get behind us’ attitude that businesses take on with us anymore; it’s a ‘Get a board’ mentality. It’s all about what our clients can do when they have the right supports and services and gets a lot more exciting when you have corporations and big businesses working alongside you – it’s exciting!
HS: DIRECTIONS agency members provide a high quality of service and high-quality partnerships. Businesses will know they are making a long-term positive impact on their communities when they seek out opportunities through us.
JT: I couldn’t agree more. The young gentlemen here in Antigonish are a testament to that. When they meet people on the street, they hand them a business card every time. That’s how they introduc themselves now. They’re business owners before anything else.
MS: Yes, when people have more meaningful and productive lives, it makes for a tighter community. I think that applies to everyone, not just people with disabilities.
MT: It can be a powerful experience for everyone involved. We often point to the example of the Carleton Road Industries Association in Lawrencetown in Annapolis County. If it wasn’t for that organization, people in Lawrencetown would be driving a significant distance to access many basic services. Members of the Association help run the local XTR gas station, for instance, which is the only one in town. This is a tremendous demonstration of just the sort of thing DIRECTIONS and its various organizations bring to communities.
What are your day-to- day challenges?
DM: Our agencies provide support to people with a wide range of barriers and needs with the goal of increasing their level of independence one step at a time. On Haley Street, for example, we are supporting individuals who come with complete support needs. Gaining self-help skills and even basic independence can be a long and difficult process for these members. It’s often difficult to find the right door to open in front of some members, but sometimes the right mechanism is out there in the community. Sometimes it’s a matter of actually presenting them with choice, which they may not have had very much in their lives before connecting with us. It’s different with every single person who comes through the door.
MS: Yes, the challenges vary but it’s always rewarding when someone new comes into the Centre and asks ‘What can I do for you?’ and we look right back and ask ‘What can we do for you?’ Like Deborah said, some prospective members may have never been asked what they want, so it’s often encouraging for them right from the very first meeting. It’s not just a choice between employment, socializing, leisure, and physical activity – it’s all of them if you want it.
“The government is really moving in a direction that increases our capacity to provide support and increase outcomes in the area of employment – and also in the area of social enterprise.”
HS: SASI’s food services in Barrington are a great example of how rewarding it is to find solutions to inclusion. The bakery offers people a choice of social enterprise activities and the opportunities to progress into community employment. Everyone in this successful business wants to bake or cook and contribute and belong to something productive and positive. This is where we’re charged to come up with innovative solutions. Some of these solutions might be technological like devices to operate a mixer in a bakery or universal design investment to help people deliver meals on wheels for community senior citizens. Business owners who give back know that there’s a huge social return working with DIRECTIONS organizations.
What would you say to someone who came in to one of the DIRECTIONS agencies in Nova Scotia who maybe comes to the conclusion that they are too old or their disability is too cumbersome? I’d imagine you get the ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ mentality from some people.
HS: That comes back to the earlier question about mentorship and inspiration. The coaching aspect that we foster has really put in place a wide range of supports. These human resources have really proven to newcomers that the people we serve are in charge of DIRECTIONS and that’s our biggest strength.
DM: For us, age is really not a factor. It’s more about finding what really interests newcomers. We had an applicant who is 52 years old and has lived at home with family her whole life and was in receipt of her personal care and support needs. She has been with us for a year now and has taken on a lot of self- help skills that she was depending on others for. Now she’s contributing to the organisation in a really meaningful way. I’ve been at this job for 38 years, it’s my career, and I still love to get up and come to work. go to my job everyday but it’s like any other job it’s got its ups it’s got its Downs but when you have a committed staff a committed board and you have the support of the Community it really is an inspirational place to be part of.
Your clients seem to be highly motivated. It must be a thrill to make that first connection.
DM: I know I speak for everyone when I say that like any strong organization, we believe we can only get better at what we do. We’re always trying to find ways to make ourselves more accountable to the people who walk through our doors. We pride ourselves on being able to say that we sat down and listened and came up with a plan to move forward together. It’s a great career.