Be a Legend…Be a Friend

Through all of the uncertainties that surround the parent of a child with autism, one constant remains….at some point and time, their family could really use some help. Our Legends program was created to match a properly trained support person, with a family from Jake’s House.

The intent of our Legends Program is to connect affected families with a trained volunteer, a “Legend”, who will provide mentorship, not only to a child, but to a family. A Legend will provide an extra pair of hands from time to time. In the very spirit of the program, a Jake’s House Legend ideally becomes an extended part of the family. The nature of autism often results in families feeling isolated and alone, helpless. A Legend provides families with the only “cure” available for autism to date – respite and hope.

There are over 200,000 children and families across Canada that could use an extra pair of hands and some outside support when the sledding gets tough.

When dealing with a child with autism, a critical element to a family’s health is respite. The needs of a child with autism never relent. Care for these children cannot be left to a single person; the task is simply too great. With a mother and a father and perhaps a brother or a sister to help out, the task becomes a great deal more manageable. Not all families are that fortunate. This is where our Jake’s House Legends can help provide tangible, practical relief and support.

Many families with autistic children struggle, whether physically, emotionally, financially or socially, with the demands and challenges they face on a recurring unrelenting basis. A less tangible but potentially invaluable benefit of a Legend relationship is the fact that it tells the family that someone knows and cares about their plight and cares enough to help. We hope and believe the Legends program may help some of the families find the strength to better cope with their situation and remain both functional and intact as a family unit.

By adding a Legend to a family and by having all of our families able to learn and lean on one other through the greater Jake’s House community, the day to day tasks become a little more tolerable and attainable….quality of life can be improved and most importantly, hope and faith is renewed and refreshed.

Through our other programs, over the last 5 years we have provided some measure of support and hope to thousands of families. The formal launch of Legends is our most ambitious and needed undertaking. We have developed a comprehensive set of program guidelines and criteria, availed ourselves of a distinguished advisory panel to oversee its launch, and recruited our first group of volunteers. Now we need the money to formally train these volunteers and oversee the implementation and growth of the Legends program. Because our work will intimately support our most precious assets – children who have special needs – our program needs to be, and will be, diligent and of the highest caliber.

To become a Legend, please complete the Legend Form or email us for more information at jake@jakeshouse.ca

LEGENDS FORM

To register your child, please complete the Friend Form or email us for more information at jake@jakeshouse.ca

LEGENDS CHILD FAMILY FORM