New Leaf Link Entering New Era

Jeff Green | Oct 04, 2023

When New Leaf Link (NeLL) started up in Sydenham in 2006, it was in response to a gap in the community.

The local High Schools had developed “School to Community” programs that provide educational and social programs for students who are developmentally disabled, but once those students leave school at the age of 21 there is little in the way of programming for them.

There are day programs available in Kingston, but there was nothing for South Frontenac residents that did not require travelling outside of the local community. For this population and their families, transportation as well as socialization in an outside community is a real barrier.

New Leaf Link brought day programs to South Frontenac, first at its former base at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Sydenham, and more recently at Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church.

Founding New Leaf Link Director Dr. Karen Steiner describes a personal journey that led to the startup of the organisation. It began with her son Nicolas.

“Nicolas was born in the 1980s and he was first diagnosed with autism in Japan at age 4, at a time before early interventions and autism services were readily available. Once Nicolas entered High School I realized there would be few prospects for him, especially in rural Kingston, yet the country life was therapeutic for both of us.

“We knew that Nicolas wasn’t the only person facing life with few prospects once high school was done. Nicolas graduated in 2007, but in 2006 I had already begun talking with other parents, friends, and colleagues about how we might provide services beyond school in our home community.”

“The first 4 participants at NeLL were graduates of Sydenham High School: Amy, Joel, Nicolas, and Stefan. And so the first classes, in Equestrian and Arts, were launched. What became clear during those first NeLL classes was that my hopes and dreams for Nicolas were not so very different from those of any parent.”

“We all want our children to have opportunities, connections, and feel a sense of belonging within a community.”

Since its inception, NeLL has steadily increased from one, to two, and finally to three programme days a week, thanks in great measure a strong cohort of supportive volunteers. It’s formula for success is having fresh and creative programming presented by several local instructors from various backgrounds, from the visual arts; theatre, dance, and music communities, as well as from the fitness and martial arts realm. NeLL also hosts local community members to share their passions such as beekeeping, soap making, and support dogs.

Karin Steiner remained a major force behind NeLL until she had to step away for health reasons, and about a year ago Brandy Sheahan came on as Developmental Program Manager.

Along with Board member Julia Atherley, Sheahan is working on a fresh outreach program for NeLL. After withstanding a challenging period over COVID, which was made more challenging because many NeLL participants have health issues that make them more vulnerable than the general adult populations to complications from the virus, NeLL has been fully back in gear with three packed days of programming at the Church for over a year.

“We have a great group of instructors, and some of them have been with us just about since the start. They are all professionals in their own fields, and they each come here about once a month, which brings both continuity and variety for our participants” said Brandy Sheahan.

NeLL instructors include: Chris Boal - Cooking (who is also the full-time program facilitator) Gary Rasberry, Chris Boal, Margaret Moncreif and Tim Sheffield – Music, Diane Black – Art, Annie Milne – Puppetry, Tracy Vallier – Fitness, Deb Donaldson – Dance, Sid Anjivel -Science, Christine Harvey – Drama, and Julia Miller – QiGong.

Each program day, which runs from 9:30 – 2:30, includes a morning and an afternoon session, with lunch and social time in between. Arts and healthy living streams fill out the programming week, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

With the programming running well, Sheahan and the NeLL Board are ready to deal with a couple of major ongoing challenges; bringing new participants to its programs, and finding more funding in order to keep the program running.

Funding has been an issue since the founding of NeLL, and that continues to be the case.

“We have been supported by South Frontenac Township, which is great, and the Community Foundation and United Way, but we do not have any ongoing funding except participant fees and our own fundraising campaigns. So, we will be looking at funding sources in the next few months.” said Brandy Sheahan

Letting people know about the programming is another initiative. NeLL hopes to welcome more participants as well as volunteers, visitors, and instructors.

“We went to Sydenham High School last spring to talk to the graduating school to community class and their families, and some of them had not heard of us. I think COVID has had an impact on communication,” said Julia Atherley.

While the issues facing NeLL are challenging, a recent success story has given the group a renewed sense of optimism.

“We decided in the spring that we should give our participants a camp experience, something some of them have never had and that others had maybe once when they were very young.”

So, earlier this month, the NeLL 4 day camp was held in Arden (at the Camp Kennebec site.)

“Participants prepared for weeks learning how to be independent while away from home. Still there were so many challenges to overcome, even getting everyone on and off the bus was a challenge, but the growth we saw in everyone who went to camp, the sense of independence and accomplishment, was remarkable,” said Julia Atherley

The camp was funded by a grant from the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund delivered by the United Way Kingston, Frontenac Lennox & Addington.

“We know what we were able to accomplish, and we are taking that sense of confidence as incentive to deal with our other challenges,” said Sheahan.

“And now we plan to do a camp again next year as well,” said Atherley.

For more information about New Leaf Link, go to newleaflink.ca