Programs & Services > Options > What we do > Networking
Networking
Circle of support
Networking is the art of connecting to other people. It's about getting yourself out there and meeting different types of people. It's about building relationships and circles of support with others based on common interests, hobbies, or skills.
Sometimes networking is not that easy, and for some people it's just plain difficult.
Very often, people labelled intellectually disabled live isolated lives and may need some support getting connected to other people. They have a limited number of close relationships, and this can hinder their ability to be and feel truly connected to the rest of their community. There are lots of reasons for this, but sometimes we all need a little help getting to know other people. This help might be going with someone to a new place; or finding out what is going on in the neighbourhood and bringing a friend there; or connecting someone who doesn't know a lot of people to some of your friends; or it could be as simple as introducing someone to something totally new.
Networking allows a person to share their gifts and participate with others, while getting to know different types of people who also have something to share.
We focus on gifts. We first strive to understand the gifts, strengths and interests of the people in the community and then find opportunities for those gifts to be shared. Communities develop around the collective strengths and resources of individual citizens. So, we introduce the people we work with to their communities based on their strengths and interests. For example, if you like digging in dirt, we find a community garden or a horticulture group nearby; if you like to sing, we connect you to a local choir.
We do Community Mapping. Based on where people we work with live, we find places, spaces, and people in their communities who need their skills, and share their interests. Then, we just get people out and about, and support them to become known.
We find Door-Openers: These are people who have connections to the community and can help introduce us to new places and people who have something to share; people who have a positive attitude, feel welcoming, and who are open and curious. Their expertise is their knowledge of the community.
If you would like to receive service from Options, please call us at 416-971-6326
