Gordon

When Gordon's wife suddenly passed away two years ago, not only was he faced with the loss of his life partner, but he also sufered a major blow to his independence. Gordon and his wife both lived with the challenges of cerebral palsy, but within their relationship they learned how to combine their skills and compensate for whatever the other person lacked.

Now living alone in a Long Term Care facility, Gordon was not able to use the TV nor the phone without help from staff who were not always readily available. Sometimes Gordon's predicament meant lights and the TV were left on continuously. Through support from The Person-Centered Planning Program at the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP), Gordon was successful in his pursuit to increase his independence. A facilitator worked with Gordon to make the necessary community connections. He also received a $2,000 grant from OFCP.

Now Gordon has a power wheel chair that he can control on his own. His room is equipped with daily living aids that allow him to operate his TV, phone, and lights.

Even though much of what Gordon couldn't do on his own most people take for granted, he was effusive in his appreciation, writing: "There is no way I would have been able to complete this goal towards independence without the commitment, passion, and creativity of the planners at the OFCP."

Web:  www.ofcp.on.ca
Phone:  1-877-244-9686; 416-244-9686