Bridges to Belonging

Bridges to Belonging exists to affirm the inherent dignity and worth of people living with disabilities, walk with them to overcome isolation, live free of barriers to social and economic inclusion, and experience belonging. 

We are a non-government funded registered charity serving Waterloo Region.  

We walk alongside youth, adults and seniors with diverse identities and any disabilities (physical, psychosocial, cognitive, developmental/intellectual, psychological/mental health or addiction, including ABI or FASD) to be empowered to embrace their rights as valued citizens, engage in inclusive community-based activities, express gifts through meaningful contribution and build a network of supportive relationships that honours their choices for the life they want.  

As Independent Facilitators, we build trusted relationships with the individuals and families we walk with and serve as their personal guide and resource in creating a “Good Life” for themselves in communities of belonging. 

We offer:

Person Directed Planning & Facilitation - We facilitate the planning process to create a personalized “Embracing Possibilities Life Plan” based on individual gifts, strengths, interests, and passions; the achievement of goals for employment, independent living and a place to call home, volunteering, recreation and leisure, pursuing sports and the arts, building a friendship or any other goal the person may have.  

We engage individuals in their homes and the community to promote place-based learning, personal development, interdependence, civic engagement, community connection and participation. We also facilitate the formation of a network of unpaid supportive relationships that offers safety, security and support to sustain a life of independence and a sense of belonging. 

In addition, we offer Future Planning Learning Events where families learn how to create a safe and secure future for their loved ones from financial, legal, and medical professionals. Our Future Planning Sessions focus on creating a secure future for loved ones related to RDSP, Tax Planning, Wills, Estates & Henson Trusts, Trustees, Guardianship, Decision Making and Microboards.  

Be At Home is a creative housing initiative for affordable housing solutions for people with disabilities to live with dignity, choice and independence.   

Be at Work is a gift, strengths and interest-based approach for people to create a meaningful and sustainable career for themselves and contribute to their community. 

BE-Friends is a volunteer matching program where a person with a disability can develop authentic, long-term friendships with community members, enjoy inclusive community activities and enlarge their social circle. 

LINKS for Youth – is a series of workshops for young people to identify and align their unique gifts, strengths, values, interests, and passions to create a vision for the future, develop goals, identify community resources and generate plans.

Choice, Connection & Community for Seniors - is a series of workshops for seniors to develop personal plans to age in place. This includes using their unique gifts, strengths, interests, and passions to stay active, accessing current connections and building new ones to reduce social isolation, building a support network to enable independence and developing plans to age in place.   

We are grateful for your financial contribution through sponsoring one of our teams and runners in the 2022 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.