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The Richmond Society for Community Living helps families access child care services in their community.

Photo courtesy Richmond Society for Community Living

Teenagers and adults with developmental disabilities can access programs and supports offered by the Richmond Society for Community Living.

Photo courtesy Richmond Society for Community Living

Supporting people with developmental disabilities

By Samuel Cheng

Published 10:56 PST, Mon February 14, 2022

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The Richmond Society for Community Living continues to help people despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The organization, also known as RSCL, was established in April 1982 by a group of parents who wanted their children to be taken care of after school.

The late 1970s saw the beginning of a civil rights movement where people started to realize the importance of community living. RSCL was founded based on the principles of community inclusion and care for children with developmental disabilities.

The organization also provided after-school care to ensure that working parents could continue working. It began picking up momentum after other institutions closed their doors in the 1980s.

RSCL began to provide care for the people in the community, as well as supporting and aiding children with developmental disabilities.

“When you have a child with a disability, you can’t just get a babysitter. You need somebody who has more specialized care (experience) to be able to provide that extra support that’s necessary,” says Lisa Cowell, the organization’s manager of fund and community development.

As more people moved into Richmond, the RSCL staff team gradually expanded to 200-plus employees who support over 1,000 people with disabilities.

To help people discover and pursue their goals, the RSCL aims to foster a safe and inclusive community and treat people with respect, kindness, and dignity. The organization also voices the needs and desires of the people it supports, as well as educating and bringing people together.

As a non-profit organization, it offers programs and services throughout a person’s life span as well as providing help for people who require extra support performing daily activities.

When a baby is born with a diagnosed disability or risk factors for developmental delay, the RSCL steps in to ensure children who require early intervention services receive the support they need. This includes providing physical therapies and other types of therapies that are in place to help children build skills and meet developmental milestones if they were born prematurely.

The RSCL helps families access child care services, like preschools or daycares, in their community. It provides support for teenagers who are transitioning through and out of high school and has various supportive programs for adults including employment support, outreach services, and residential options. There are also supports available for family members of people with developmental disabilities.

Although the RSCL is primarily government-funded, the organization struggles to advocate for necessary funding due to an increased demand for services. The COVID-19 pandemic has further challenged RSCL’s fundraising efforts. Despite the challenges, the organization aims to safely offer the same services, even if with reduced numbers.

Additionally, the RSCL is exploring new methods of connecting with and supporting community members, whether through Zoom or through various facilities found throughout the city.

The organization is moving forward thanks to short- and long-term goals, including its upcoming name change. Staff hope that the new name will better reflect the type of work undertaken by the RSCL.

“We want to better reflect the work we hope to do in the future, which is around helping and supporting people in their thriving, connected, and happy lives,” says Cowell.

The RSCL also wants to create an environment where all Richmond residents recognize people for who they really are and not perceive a disability as a barrier.

Over the last decade, the RSCL has been going to schools and talking to children and youth about the importance of community inclusion.

There are efforts everyone can undertake to help make Richmond a better and more inclusive place. It starts with embracing the philosophy of inclusion in the community, workplace, school, and at home.

To help support the RSCL, people can go to
rscl.org to make a donation that will go towards improving services and furthering projects.

One of the projects is replacing the Treehouse Early Learning Centre playground, which is 25 years old and not fully accessible for children with mobility challenges.

Apart from donations, people with an interest in the non-profit and charity sector with a financial or legal background can also be a huge asset to the organization as board members.