TIFSters Dave and Alex

By : Kirra Dack

Dave started the Trying It On For Size (TIFS) program in January, 2016. He began with 3-hour and 6-hour  visits, working on skills with his community support worker, Kirra. He had expressed interest in having a roommate to partner up with during his overnight stays at the apartment. At this stage, there was no suitable roommate for Dave. In June, however, there was a new intake process and Alex joined the program, becoming one of our newest TIFSters. Alex also expressed interest in a roommate and Kirra thought Dave and Alex might be a great match. Community Living Toronto had two events coming up: Bowling and Bingo. Kirra saw these as opportunities where Dave and Alex, along with their families, could meet and get to know one another. There was an instant bond between Dave and Alex and so the partnership began.

Early in their friendship, Dave and Alex found a major common interest in sports. Their friendship grew as their TIFS stays continued and they encouraged each other when learning new skills. They each had their own strengths and challenges and they helped each other grow and progress. They continued individual skill building sessions with Kirra, but they’d also get together to cook, clean, and go out on the town. They enjoyed Dance Rock evenings, watching sports, and grabbing a bite.

On overnight stays at the apartment, the final responsibility on the last day is cleaning up; no one’s favourite job. Whenever Kirra arrived at the end of a Dave and Alex overnight, the pair would already be busy tidying up; no prompting needed. At the front door, she could hear them encouraging each other, saying “Good job Dave!” and “Keep up the good work Alex!”

Dave and Alex shared a goal: both wanted to go out in the community, independently, while doing overnights at the apartment. Earlier, Kirra had accompanied them on their outings, but soon the guys were heading out on their own. Dave and Alex went out to movies, restaurants, and sports bars to catch a game. They’d figure out the directions together and use public transit.

All of these experiences built Dave and Alex’s confidence and soon they were organizing activities together outside of the program. They even planned a trip to Niagara for themselves and their friends. The pair’s friendship has continued to grow stronger. They stand by each other in times of frustration, using supportive language and words of kindness. They also share a ton of laughs.

Now that the TIFS program has come to an end for Dave and Alex, their eagerness to live independently reflects the mutual encouragement, motivation, and confidence brought by their strong friendship.

Contact:

Kirra Dack
647-780-1336
kirra.dack@cltoronto.ca

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