New Leaf Link settles in to service

Jeff Green | Dec 22, 2011

Photo: L-R Amy Jack, Kyla Gordon, Michael Timmerman, Margo Gallagher, Joan Worsfold, Christian Scheunemann, and Sam McKay, students and volunteers involved in a production of the Grinch who Stole Christmas.

Almost three years ago New Leaf Link (NeLL) came into existence with the goal of bridging a massive service gap for the community of developmentally disabled people in Frontenac County.

“Over the years the school system has really made progress in learning how to integrate developmentally disabled students into the elementary and secondary school panel through the School to Community program, and by allowing developmentally disabled students to remain in school until they reach the age of 20, they have really made a difference in the lives of the students,” said Dr. Karin Steiner, Founding Executive Director of NeLL.

But when those students leave school, there is little support for them and their families in the community. The situation is particularly acute in South Frontenac Township because while services are available in Kingston through Community Living – Kingston, and in Central and North Frontenac through Community Living – North Frontenac, those services are not generally extended to residents of South Frontenac for travel and budgetary reasons.

As well, because NeLL's founding directors come from an educational background and it has found support from members of the local artist community, its focus has been more on bringing educational opportunities to its clients rather than other kinds of physical or life skill related supports.

The program that has developed, and which was marked last week at a Christmas Open House, is a twice-weekly day school that is held at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Sydenham on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am and 2:30 pm. Eight students attend the classes, which focus on the production of artwork, healthy eating and exercise, literacy and functional skills.

Making full use of the kitchen in their home in the basement of St. Paul's, the program includes cooking classes that tie in with the work the class has been doing with the Canadian food pyramid. In the winter/spring session that will begin in January, Local Food will be another aspect of the healthy lifestyle program that will take place.

Because the disabilities that the different students face are so varied, ranging from: autism spectrum conditions, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injury, even blindness, the educational programs are individualized.

Nonetheless, one of the most important aspects of the NeLL classes is the interaction between the students.

There is a palpable feeling of camaraderie between the students, volunteers, and staff at the NeLL classes, and according to Karin Steiner, whose son Nicholas takes part in the program, the human connection between the people in the classes is a major benefit, one that transcends the skills that are taught.

“It took a long time for my son Nicholas, who has autism, to come into his own at Sydenham High School, but he did eventually. When he became too old, there was nothing for him to do but sit at home, and that is no way for someone to move forward. For him, and for everyone in the program, interaction with other people is very important,” she said.

As a charitable not-for-profit corporation, New Leaf Link survives on donations, a few isolated grants, including one from the County of Frontenac's community sustainability initiative, and the efforts of volunteers. The volunteer effort of people such as Joanna (Jo) Lyon, a retired special educator who runs the educational program, and Karin Steiner herself, is what sustains the program, and the long term viability of vital service organizations that are fully staffed by volunteers is always a challenge.

“We know that we are doing something valuable, and it is something that is not done in other places. That's why, although we focus on residents of South Frontenac, we have participants coming from Kingston and Sharbot Lake,” said Steiner.

As the NeLL program wound down for the Christmas break, the Open House last week featured artwork and gift items made by students for sale and the presentation of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”.

The NeLL program, which costs $30 a day, will be starting up again in early January. Anyone interested in the program, or in opportunities to volunteer, is welcome to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-374-3451.