Who We Are:

We are a registered charity supporting people with developmental
disabilities. We serve people from Waterloo Region.

Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region champions an inclusive community for all by working with people with disabilities, their networks and the broader community.

We connect people with the supports they need to live the inclusive lives they want.

What We Do:

We help families and individuals access and manage funding from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS). Funding for children is called Special Services at Home and for adults it is Passport Funding.

We coordinate FamilyHome, which is an opportunity for an adult with a disability to live with a family and to share life together and Supported Independent Living which enables individuals to live in a home of their own with supports in place.

We offer a number of programs and services based on age, interests, needs, goals, hopes and dreams. Some of these programs are fee-for-service and individual funding can be used for Direct Support People, Respite Support, WALES (Working Adults Learning Empowering Skills), Summer Program (camp), Youth Group, and SEEDS (a supported travel experience).

Our fundraised and sponsorship dollars support Community Development Initatives. These are programs and activities that bring people of all ages and abilities together based on common interests or a common goal.  These include Open Space meet-ups, KW Library of Things, Inclusion Workshops, Conflict & Communications Workshops, Turning the Page Together and more.  

How can you get involved?  

Hire a WALES participant, sponsor or volunteer at an event, support Community Development Initiatives, attend our training workshops, invite us to do a presentation at your workplace, or start a conversation with us to learn more!