Our Vision & Values
Skills Society is a not-for-profit organization that provides support services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, survivors of brain injuries, and their families
For some, this may involve a few hours of outreach support each week. For others, it involves 24/7 supported community living. No matter the need, our work is rooted in providing people with disabilities with the same opportunities and choices, the same ability to share their gifts and talents, and the same sense of belonging that we all enjoy.
Vision
A community where all individuals are valued citizens deserving respect, dignity and rights.
Mission
We support individuals with disabilities and their families in their right to learn and grow in the community. Our services strengthen belonging and encourage and support individual choice and opportunity.
It starts with citizenship
For many of us, citizenship is something we take for granted. It can be defined in many ways, but at its core citizenship is our sense of value and belonging. This sense of citizenship doesn’t always extend to people with disabilities. That’s why Skills Society was formed - to provide people with disabilities with the same opportunities and choices, the same ability to share their gifts and talents, and the same sense of belonging that we all enjoy. Citizenship is what we strive for every day.
Full citizenship involves…
RIGHTS
Equal access to opportunities, freedom to choose, independence
PARTICIPATION
Having meaningful things to do and places to go, the opportunity to share gifts and talents with others
RELATIONSHIPS
Being surrounded by people who love and care about you, sharing your life with others
BELONGING
Feeling valued, respected, and an important part of society
“We battled for years to find the right environment for Robin. She just didn’t fit into the mould that had been established for the delivery of services. Until we came to Skills Society. They have made all the difference”
Core Values
Our values keep us focused and inspired
Practice in person-centred ways
We never forget to keep the voices of those we serve at the centre of our planning and practices.
In the past, people with disabilities were left out of important conversations that affected their lives. We believe that our planning, policies, procedures, and pathways are more effective when they are informed by and responsive to the needs of the people whose lives they impact.
What this looks like in action:
We focus our services around the lived experiences of the people we support
We plan our services in creative and engaging ways in order to make them meaningful and relevant
We ensure our solutions are the most empowering, least intrusive and safest for the people affected
We build and strengthen healthy relationships in everything we do
We work equally to solve big picture problems and on-the-ground needs
Seeking Creative Collaborations
By working with others, we build a stronger community of neighbours, leaders and advocates.
We believe that real social change comes from collective effort. By sharing resources and working closely with other like-minded organizations, we raise the voice of the disability community and take a leading role in building more inclusive communities.
What this looks like in action:
We treat invitations to collaborate as opportunities to help achieve our vision and mission
We use the Action Lab and other initiatives to open uprelationships and spur innovative ideas
We look beyond our organization for new and different ways to achieve our vision
We place trust at the centre of any relationship – because that’s what enables collaboration
We embrace the sometimes slower nature of collaborative work when it is necessary
Build and Share Knowledge
In order to continually improve the support we provide, we’re not afraid to learn from others and try new ideas.
In order to become better problem solvers, we work hard to learn through our actions and study excellence in others. We are committed to trying new ideas, seeking input on our work, and building a learning organization each and every day.
What this looks like in action:
We actively seek out new knowledge and view continuous learning as essential to our role as leaders
We learn through reflecting on our actions and studying the work of others
We strive to mix solutions that are old, new and sometimes surprising
We generously share what we build and learn with others
Embrace Complexity
We know that supporting people’s citizenship is complex. Through creativity, determination and collaboration we can tackle any challenge.
Helping people with disabilities live fulfilling lives is not an easy, straightforward road. It is complex work - from the needs of the people we serve to the interconnected policies that shape their world. Rather than shy away from these challenges, we meet them head-on with creativity, determination and collective effort.
What this looks like in action:
We experiment with multiple ways to address tough issues in order to improve the chances we find a solution
We embrace ambiguity, difficulty and tension as opportunities for creative thinking and innovative responses
We are comfortable knowing that measuring success in our work is not an exact science with clear answers
We are relentless but patient in our efforts to navigate and make progress on tough issues
Adapt and Evolve
We build our supports to adapt to the unique needs of each person. At the same time, we strive to shift our services and priorities to meet changing times.
Life is full of change. We know that if our strategies and systems are too rigid and static, we risk our services becoming less useful or relevant. Instead, we are stronger when we are more agile in responding to changing contexts and uncertain times.
What this looks like in action:
We stay razor focused on our vision and mission yet flexible in how we pursue them
We constantly scan our world - inside and out - to identify opportunities and barriers for our work
We boldly seek out new insights - even failures - and adapt our work to reflect our learning
We promote clear and constant communication to enable us to pivot quickly if required
We adjust and revisit decisions when new information is presented or as political, social, and environmental contexts shift
We remain open to new solutions in the face of changing times
We listen deeply to understand what is really going on and what is needed.
At Skills, we build each of our services to help people with disabilities thrive in five pillars of everyday life.
What this looks like:
Making a house feel like a home
Building and strengthening connections with roommates, neighbours, friends and family
Establishing healthy and meaningful routines together
Completing day-to-day tasks like budgeting and grocery shopping
What this looks like:
Making and sustaining friendships along with healthy, romantic relationships
Establishing social networks with friends, neighbors and colleagues
Nurturing family relationships
What this looks like:
Finding and maintaining paid employment
Developing new skills through volunteering
Pursuing education or job-related training
What this looks like:
Setting and attending medical appointments
Establishing healthy eating habits and exercise routines
Assisting with personal hygiene
Supporting medication management
Supporting mental and emotional wellbeing
What this looks like:
Participating in neighbourhood activities
Sharing talents with the community
Discovering fun and meaningful things to do
Learn More About Our History
“I think it’s important that we focus on supporting the citizenship of people with disabilities, because we still live in a society that doesn’t truly value that everyone has something meaningful to contribute.”
— Skills Society Community Support Worker