Annual Report 21-22

Annual Report

Continuing to Navigate a Sea of Uncertainty

For a second year, SCIO’s annual journey began with navigating a new sea of uncertainty. With an ongoing pandemic, we prioritized the safety of our clients, staff and broader community to minimize the impact of COVID-19. We worked from home offices with limited in-person activities and appointments. The gradual easing of rules allowed us to operate closer to the SCIO we all knew pre-pandemic and we were able to maintain an exceptional level of operations.

Communication with the government was impacted, limiting opportunities to connect with ministry staff and other key players equipped to press our business cases for how we can support OHTs and SSMs. With the end of our fiscal year aligning with the timing of the provincial election cycle, these discussions were impacted even more. We have a passionate, dedicated and capable team that is ready to ramp up their efforts again with the newly elected government.

This past year, we focused on maximizing productivity in an uncertain environment, keeping in mind our community’s most pressing needs.

We were able to tackle numerous issues, including:

  • Collaborating with MOH’s implementation team to operationalize ways to centralize public coverage for intermittent catheters and other urinary supplies.
  • Working with our stakeholders to submit a proposal to the Premier’s Office to modernize the Assistive Devices Program. This included an expansion of device options such as transfer devices, standing frames, commodes and pressure relief mattresses.
  • Addressing the lack of PSW support in our community; our Public Policy team created new models for support options, including Family Managed Services.
  • Playing a pivotal role in producing health and education standards to amend with AODA legislation.
  • Continuing to ensure that sidewalks do not become obstructed for people with disabilities by e-scooters.
  • Executing a new Toronto by-law that enables improved accessible parking on our streets and condos.
  • Creating six online courses on disability and employment through a Resilient Communities Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
  • Building a partnership with the TRAIL Lab, a research hub housed at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation’s Hospital Research Institute to make available a new toolkit on disability disclosure in the workplace.
  • Expanding Employment Services to serve job seekers across Ontario through virtual workshops.
  • Informally launching Internet Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) for our clients.
  • Nearly doubling our volunteers actively involved in fundraising for SCIO. This includes the Advocacy Fundraising Committee, which is seeing great success in reaching new avenues for potential donors.
  • Launching the early stages of an Equity, Diversity Belonging and Inclusion strategy for SCIO.
  • Building growth and community on our social media channels by launching two new Facebook groups dedicated to members of our community. (Facebook Community Connect and SCIO Marketplace)

This year, our online educational content saw immense growth, particularly on Youtube. Our new interview series, Underestimated sheds light on the experiences of people with disabilities on their journey to landing meaningful work. It is generating interest within our community, and we have secured a distribution partner for a second season.

Demand for spinal cord injury training for support workers and mediation services was low. COVID has had a significant impact on community service organizations with staffing shortages, outbreaks and reductions in direct service. As such, revenue was down for the year. We are continuing to conduct market research on training opportunities and updating our business plan for organizational services.

Our Peer Connections continued to operate virtually and new and interesting topics were explored. While some support was available in person, Zoom and Teams provided us with an ongoing virtual platform, which led to new referrals.

The Regional Services team continued in-person services in 21-22 and our work with the Consortium – the five major SCI rehabs – demonstrated the importance of our role in the community. Access to assistive devices was highlighted as an urgent need for clients transitioning out of rehab and funds from Ontario Health enabled us to support those most in need.

On behalf of SCIO, a heartfelt thank you to our staff, volunteers, donors, corporate partners and community members who continue to bring our mission to life by helping people with SCIs and disabilities live the life they choose.

0

Clients served

0

Volunteer hours

0

Service locations

0

Peer support events

0

Peer support partnerships

0

Job placements

0

Client event atendees

0

Donors

Numbers are for Fiscal Year April 1 2021 – March 31 2022

Financials

Efficiency and accountability are paramount. We have a strong legacy behind us and uphold our founder’s visionary spirit by keeping SCIO strong and sustainable.

Thank you

In a particularly challenging year, SCIO is grateful for all our supporters who gave generously in the following categories:
SCIO deeply appreciates the sponsorship for our programs and events contributed by the following generous supporters:

$50,000 – $99,999
Insurance Bureau of Canada

$25,000 – $49,999
Bell Mobility
Bergeron Clifford LLP

$15,000 – $24,999
Bourassa Savaria Foundation
Hollister Ltd.
Lerners LLP – London
Motion – Toronto Head Office

$10,000 – $14,999
Coloplast Canada Corporation
McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP
Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP
Silver Cross Automotive – Brampton

$5,000 – $9,999
Mölnlycke Health Care
PIA Law
Wright Rehabilitation Inc.

$1,000 – $4,999
Access Abilities
Adapt Solutions
Bartimaeus Rehabilitation Services
Blue Star Construction Corp.
Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Bruce Power
Bruce Wilson Landscaping Ltd
Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons
Cedar Infrastructure Products LP
Cohen Highley LLP
Conval-Aid Inc
Dom-Meridian Construction Ltd.
Drive Again
Earth Boring Co. Ltd.

EMCO Waterworks
Forterra Pipe and Precast
Greg Monforton & Partners
Harris Law Personal Injury Lawyers
Harrison Pensa LLP
KGK Kettleby Contracting Inc.
Larrek Investigations – Waterloo
Domenic Marchese
McLeish Orlando LLP
National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association of Canada
Power Plus Mobility
Provincial Bldg Trades
Rogers Communications Canada Inc.
Roma Fuels Limited
Royal LePage New Concept
Stride Rehabilitation Services Inc.
The Daniels Corporation
The Shadigee Investment Corporation
Thomson Rogers Lawyers
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc
Trans Power Utility Contractors Inc.
Universal Motion – Toronto
Vantage Mobility International
Yorkwood Building Group Ltd.

$500 – $999
Ambler & Co. Inc.
Atlas Dewatering Corporation
Bayshore Home Health – London
Black & McDonald Limited
Gluckstein Lawyers
Ipex Inc.
Mobility in Motion
Scotiabank – Ontario Region
Skill Builders Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre

SCIO deeply appreciates the funding for our programs and services contributed by the following generous organizations:

$100,000+
Ontario Trillium Foundation and its funder the Government of Ontario

$25,000-$99,999
Federated Health Charities Corporation
HelpAge Canada
Ralota Technologies Corp.

$10,000-$24,999
AXA Insurance
Investment Readiness Program funded by the Government of Canada SI/SF Strategy. The project was delivered with the support of The Toronto Foundation and Community Foundations of Canada
Oatley Vigmond Personal Injury Lawyers LLP
The Sifton Family Foundation

$5,000-$9,999
Aurora Cannabis
F.K. Morrow Foundation
Grey Bruce Paraplegic Association
Lakeshore Rehabilitation Centre – Toronto
Meridian Credit Union

$2,500-$4,999
Cheshire Homes of London Inc
Fiera Capital Corporation
Gerd Hermanns Landscape Contractor Inc.
Gould Leasing Ltd.
Invisible Discipline
Power Plus Mobility
The Hillcrest Consulting Group Inc.

$1,000-$2,499
Banks Foundation
Centre de Sante Communautaire de l’Estrie
May Court Club of Barrie
Motion LP
Northgatefarms Ltd.
Rotary Club of Chesterville
SS Tile and Stone Inc.
Suurdt Properties Ltd.
The Tonglen Foundation
Wawanesa Insurance

$500-$999
Battlefords and District Community Foundation Inc.
Desjardins Financial Security
Kinsmen Club of Cornwall Inc.
McKellar Structured Settlements Inc.
Ontario Medical Supply Inc.
Peel Scrap Metal Recycling
Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation
Tri-Star Landscaping Inc.
Wayne P. MacDonald Human Fund

$250-$499
Blackfriars Financial Ltd.
Cedar City Developments Ltd.
Eastern Ontario Christian Senior Citizen Co-op Homes
United Association Local Union 67
VHA Home Healthcare

This year generous gifts were made in memory of the following people:

Anna Schiestel
Anthony Stewart
Antonio Desimone
Bob Dillman
Bob Norris
Brent Bell
Charlie & Gail Gatt
Christopher Johne
Danny Mangos
David Flipchuck
David Richter
Dianne Hochgrafe
Doreen Carrick
Eterno Baldassare
Franca Metcalfe
Frank Drysdale
Garry Prusky
George Simpson
Giovanni Metallo
Guiliano Santangelo
James Yeaman
Jim Yeaman
John Suchon
Joseph Ernest Ropp
Joseph Ropp
Kevin “Bruce” Winslow
Khalaf Al-anizi

Kirby Rowe
Laurence Gusman
Leonard Goulais
Liz Chalmers
Lorraine Shannon
Martin Taylor
Michael Hicks
Michael Westover
Mildred F. Hatch
Ethel MacMillan
Patti Dawson
Phyllis O’Hagan
Randy Rumaia
Richard Little
Robert Dillman
Robert Norris
Ronald Bush
Sheila Keuhl
Steve Campbell
Susan Monahan
Terry Graham
Thomas Allan Garner
Trevor Harrison
Ursula Davis
William Wilcox
Yick Ngai

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