Scarborough, Ontario Jun 29, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - On Saturday, the Hon. Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility met with members of the ATI Foundation as they celebrated the launch of the SEEDA (Social Enrichment Entertainment for Differently Abled) program for Canadian Tamils with Disabilities. Thanks to a $39,900 Seed grant awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation last summer, ATI launched the SEEDA program, a weekly Saturday drop-in for Tamil youth with developmental and/or physical disabilities.
“Congratulations to the ATI Foundation for having such a tremendous and positive impact on youth with disabilities and their families,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “The work you do is helping not only Canadian Tamils in our community realize their potential, but your ongoing commitment and dedication also provides tremendous support to their caregivers and family members."
Located in Scarborough, this program serves approximately 30 individuals from across Toronto. Through crafts, music sensory activities, physical activities, games, relationship-building, and hands-on learning, participants connect with others and develop social and emotional skills. Funds from the grant have been used to help with staffing and buying supplies and materials for the programs.
The parents at ATI Foundation saw a need in culturally responsive programming, as the slow development of their children’s emotional and social skills was placing a heavy burden on their day to day life as parents. Due to the lack of culturally responsive programming that currently exists many children and young adults with disabilities from the Tamil Community stay at home or infrequently engage in recreational activities. ATI Foundation saw a need in the Tamil community and created this program to build a bridge between mainstream society and the marginalized community.
“My daughter didn’t talk much now she is talking a lot, making friends easily, independent and helping in the kitchen, helping with laundry. She even goes out on bike rides by herself.” – Parent
ATI Foundation stands for “Annai Thantha Illam”, which is a Tamil phrase that translates literally to “a home provided by the mother”. ATI is a non-profit cross-disability organization that empowers Canadian Tamils with disabilities to realize their potential and achieve their goals. Our mission has continued to be focused on providing a nexus of support for both the Canadian Tamils, who face challenges with intellectual and physical conditions, but also their caregivers, who are often in need of respite and supportive care. ATI Foundation provides a full-time program from Monday to Saturday, utilizing professionals in order to provide support services for our clients, one-on-one, including training individuals with intellectual and physical challenges to perform day-to-day functions and engage in occupational and recreational activities.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario and is one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $108 million to some 629 projects this year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities. www.otf.ca.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Nimalan Balachandran, Cofounder/President
info@atifc.com | 647-909-5292
Media Contact
Nimalan Balachandran nimalan.ba@gmail.com 6479554496 Unit 11 - 151 Nashdene Unit http://www.atifoundation.org
