The Saulnier family of Grand Bay-Westfield have been involved with Inclusion NB for nearly a decade and their story began with a simple invitation to our annual luncheon which then led to a transformative weekend retreat with other families navigating similar paths. It was there that Jason and his wife, Amanda, found not just support, but hope. In December, Jason shared his story at our annual luncheon in Saint John.
“My wife Amanda and I have been involved with Inclusion NB for almost ten years. A family member invited me to one of these luncheons. At the luncheon we got invited to one of Inclusion NB’s weekend family retreats. We managed to get away for a weekend filled with time spent with others who were just like us, parents to children with exceptional needs.
That weekend came at a time when we had finally given up fighting for support. We knew what we needed for our son to be safe, happy, and healthy at home, but unfortunately the supports were not being provided or arranged.
We were told our only option was foster care. So, the day before we walked into the retreat, we met with the foster family that our son would be living with the following week. During this retreat, we shared our story with the other families, and the staff at Inclusion NB.
Over the weekend we found out about all the things Inclusion NB does to support families. And by Sunday, we had developed a plan to keep our child home, where he should be. Where we wanted him to be. Where he wanted to be.
Inclusion NB isn’t just an organization that fights for equality and the rights of people with disabilities, they also teach individuals and families to be a voice for themselves. They have advocated for us on so many occasions and have been by our side for every meeting. This type of support has been crucial for us as parents on this journey. Through this support, and additional resources and learning opportunities, we are able to do most of the negotiating now and simply have them in our corner.
Now I use the term fighting and meetings a lot when I talk about our life. It’s not really fighting, but it’s constantly negotiating with doctors, schools, social workers, summer and after school programs. We do this as parents, so our kids get to have the same experiences as everyone else.
Equality isn’t about getting more than others, but unfortunately, we need to ask for a lot more, just to get equal opportunities.
Our 8-year-old from 11 years ago, is now 19. And with becoming an adult, we are now faced with different challenges. I was once 19, like everybody else, and I didn’t know where I was going to fit into this world. Heck, 30-plus years later and I still wonder most days. But with a disability, that’s even tougher.
You not only wonder how you’ll fit in, but what it will take to get there. There are so many more barriers in the way. But we’re lucky. We know we will always have Inclusion NB in our corner, my wife and I, and our 2 wonderful boys as we navigate life’s challenges together.”
