Cass Amyotte and Pam Slade are giving out good vibrations, and have been for a couple of years now.
They are the team behind Vibe CK, a recreational adult respite program operating out of 425 McNaughton Ave. W. in Chatham, the Peifer Realty building.
The pair oversees a variety of programs geared for developmentally challenged adults in Chatham-Kent. They’re delivered in a laid-back, drop-in style approach that has seen about three dozen people join for support, activities and development.
Vibe CK picks up where youth programs leave off for people with developmental disabilities. Amyotte and Slade have clients from age 17 to 70-plus.
Support structures are in place for youth and teens with developmental disabilities in the community, but much of the program assistance dries up as people reach their early 20s.
“They transition out of high school into adulthood; you age out and then there’s nothing. There’s nothing for you to do; there’s nowhere for you to go,” Amyotte said.
Vibe CK is an offshoot of sorts from Vibe Community Connections in Sarnia. Amyotte worked there as a developmental service worker, while Slade, who worked with Developmental Service Ontario (DSO) here, saw a need. She approached the overseers at the Sarnia operation and was connected with Amyotte. They hit it off immediately.
“We met for lunch once and then we were like, ‘OK, we’ll do it,’” Amyotte said.
Vibe CK provides activities and support, and none of it is done with a cookie-cutter approach.
“Everyone’s memberships look different. We have some that come once a month; some that come twice a month, we have some that come four days a week,” Slade said. “We also provide one-to-one respite as well. We’re very open to exploring new things.”
Those new things include field drips to various locations and different activities to keep members engaged.
“We love to try new things and want input from other people,” Slade said. “There’s no point in us putting a program on if nobody wants it.”
Joining the programs at Vibe CK is a simple process. For the most part, referrals come from DSO, but otherwise, “it’s kind of just word of mouth and families passing on information to each other,” Amyotte said. “But it’s really for any adult with a developmental disability, 16 and over. People 18 and over can receive what is called Passport Funding. Anybody who has access to that funding can utilize it to attend the program.”
Some families pay out of pocket, but Slade encourages people to reach out to DSO for support.
The goal for Vibe CK is to reach about 60 clients. Slade and Amyotte are happy with the progress to date, as there is a great deal of trust involved.
“You have to trust people with your vulnerable adult child,” Amyotte said. “And we pop up out of nowhere. But we have all this experience.”
Both have more than two decades of experience in the field.
“We’ve both kind of been doing this type of program for some time. We’ve seen it all,” she added. “Once people do get to know us, they that it’s pretty great and they share it with their friends.”
For new members, it starts with one-to-one interaction and then Vibe CK staff seek to “ease them into a program in a group,” Slade said. “If the group setting is not suitable, we still provide one-to one.”
Slade said seeing people get comfortable at Vibe CK can be special.
“We had one person crying today because they didn’t want to go (home). It was sad they were crying, but it shows we’re doing something right,” she said.
And that is the reward.
“We love what we do. It’s kind of not a job. We’re pretty fortunate that way,” Slade said.
No day is the same as the previous at Vibe CK, and that’s fine with Slade and Amyotte.
“There is a lot of in-the-moment pivoting. All of a sudden, something can trigger someone,” Slade said. “They’ll need some one-to-one support. It’s very much always moving parts. It keeps us on our toes.”
On top of hiring two developmental support workers – both of whom began as placement students there – there is peer-to-peer support that can be heartwarming.
“It’s cool to watch these relationships build,” Amyotte said. “People from two different group homes are now friends because they come here.”
Slade said several people who once lived at the Southwestern Regional Centre come weekly to Vibe CK. They’ve reconnected.
“They are in their 60s,” Amyotte said. “They want to sit around the table and have a coffee. The just want to be together and talk.”
Amyotte also said a young woman who is a member knows sign language and helps with non-verbal individuals.
Slade added an older gentleman who attends twice a month has a knack to quickly calm down one of the other members, who is non-verbal.
“He just has this calm about him. He can just talk to her and calm her down because they are connecting. It’s so cool to see this happen,” she said.
Amyotte said the two didn’t know each other prior to attending Vibe CK.
Slade said those types of connections are priceless
“It’s great to see the friendships that are being created. We’re fostering these friendships,” she said. “We don’t need to be part of everything they do.”
