Sometime a family needs some help getting some help.
Kim Revenco’s now 12-year-old son was diagnosed with significant ADHD seven years ago and Inclusion Foothills was there to help.
“We were trying to figure out what we do with the situation we had with our son and his diagnosis,” said Revenco of Okotoks. “Trying to figure out what that meant, trying to figure what is involved in it and what we can do, because obviously it’s something that’s not going to go away."
She was referred by a friend who has an autistic child to check out Inclusion (formerly SNAPS), an organization that helps families with special needs children.
Inclusion Foothills is one of the eight charities participating in the 2019 Western Wheel Cares campaign.
“Inclusion Foothills has been a saviour in all honesty,” Revenco said. “Then we found my daughter has a diagnosis and I had a diagnosis (both with ADHD). Just trying to find some serenity and sanity in my house…”
She said trying to find information about the diagnoses and how to manage them was a nightmare.
“Thankfully with the help through Inclusion Foothills, my husband and I were able to find the avenues of where to go and where to get started,” Revenco said. “You’re trying to figure out what does the diagnoses mean, how to get support and how to manage it. Inclusion Foothills was the only one to actually get me some information about my daughter’s diagnosis.”
Her now eight-year-old daughter would have tantrums as a five-year-old.
“She could be very physical with us and what do you do with a five-year-old that is being physical with you?” Revenco said. “As a parent, that kills you inside. How did I fail my children? Why can’t I figure this out?”
She began figuring things out with the help of Inclusion Foothills
“Inclusion Foothills with the Step Up meetings, the programs they have, we got access to resources to help us out, to get us on the program for what is the best plan for them… what is the best to help them learn and to support them,” Revenco said. “I don’t know where we would be if we hadn’t had those resources. Now we know how to teach our children, we know how to manage – we know how to direct them without the chaos because we understand the disabilities now and we understand how to manage them.”
The Step Up meetings consist of parents who gather and discuss programs, ideas and just to support one another. Sometimes there are guest speakers.
There is always an ear available among the close-knit Inclusion Foothills family.
“Even having someone to call is important – there is a parent-to-parent program where you support other parents,” Revenco said. “Just to call someone and say: ‘hey, this is my day, I don’t know what to do.’
“It’s that other ear. And that makes a massive difference in your life because you’re not all alone.”
She said the children are now doing awesome. Both are in schools and there have been few incidents.
Revenco was so impressed with Inclusion Foothills, she joined the board and is now the treasurer.
She said it is payback time – there was no cost to the family for using the Inclusion Foothills programs.
Inclusion Foothills is located at 123 4th Ave. S.W. in High River. However, staff will drive to Okotoks to assist families if needed. Its phone number is 403-603-3032. For more information go to fsnaps.org
The other recipients in the 2019 Western Wheel Cares campaign are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Foothills Country Hospice, Magic of Christmas, Okotoks Food Bank, Okotoks Pound Rescue, Rowan House Emergency Shelter, and Sheep River Health Trust.
Donations to the Western Wheel Cares campaign can be made via credit card, debit, cash or cheque (payable to Western Wheel Cares) at #9 McRae Street, mailed to Box 150 Okotoks, AB T1S 2A2 (please do not mail cash) or by calling 403-938-6397. Visit www.okotokstodaßy.ca to donate using PayPal.
Donations of $10 or more will receive a 2019 official tax receipt at the end of the campaign.
For more information call the Western Wheel office Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 403-938-6397 or email Gayle Wolf at [email protected]
