Last week SaskAbilities received a cheque for $7,920.13 to aid with supporting there Youth Employment Program.

The cheque was given to them from, the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation Smart and Caring Fund.

The money joins the $105,102 raised through the SaskAbilities Bowl earlier this year.

The money raised from the Ability Bowl will also help their youth employment program but also helps send those with disabilities to camp, and give them many things to do as part of the summer fun program.

Jayda Watson, program manager with SaskAbilities, said that the funding will go along way in provides something to do.

"Helps to support our local programs and services and local individuals in the southwest region of the province," she said. "These funds help to support our programs such as our summer fun program that runs from the months of July and August that help to support children and youth experiencing disability between the ages of six and twenty-two.

"Also helps us support our youth employment program that is a newer program where we work with youth between ages 15 and 30, that may have barriers to employment to get them employment in the community," Watson continued and it also helps to send campers to Camp Easter Seal. We send over 35 campers to the southwest region to camp easter year every year with the funds raised through Ability Bowl. Camp easter seal is an all accessible camp that invidiucals with disabilities are able to access in the summer."

SaskAbilities receives funding from the Ministry of Social Services community living service delivery to provide programs and services to individuals experiencing disability. They are also funded through their partners in employment office with the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training through labour market services and through Service Canada. SaskAbilities runs many other services that don't receive support and funding for, which is where the organization's main fundraiser, the Ability Bowl and donations like the cheque they received help out immensely.

Watson said that being able to provide all those services and programs is all apart of their goal to make dreams come true.

"SaskAbilities supports children, youth, and adults experiencing disability with a variety of programs and services," she said. "Many in the community support them in their goals and achieving what their dreams are."

Those services and programs see those with disabilities volunteering with events and helping employers in the community with what they can.

"We focus on employment, volunteerism, and connecting individuals to community groups that are of there interest so we could be supporting anybody," Watson said. "We were at the Windscape Kite Festival volunteering and helping out; we support individuals in riding the bus to there different places in the community such as the Meadows, SPCA, different places that we volunteer at."

SaskAbilities has four branches including in Swift Current, Regina, Saskatoon, and in Yorkton. The Swift Current Branch has over 70 staff members to help with the hundreds of individuals they assist through there programs and services.

SaskAbilities recently underwent a name change, and Watson says that they've also changed their focus on how they operate. The non-profit organization used to see those who used their services work with sewing and woodworking, but now they've taken a more community-minded approach while still sewing and turning there working area into a paper recycle area.

"It's gone not without its struggles; It's been very positive," she said. "We have focused on individuals goals and helping to assist them in achieving what their interests are in the community, connecting them again to those community-based groups and organizations that are of there interest, jobs in employment that are of there interest and volunteer opportunities. Just a few weekends ago we had a group that are interested in cars and drag racing volunteer for the weekend at the drag races."

Watson said a big goal for them is to get individuals to get out of there comfort zone and try new things out in the community.

"Opportunities that are up in the community. Our community is very open, welcoming and always tons going on, so we've been able to work with individuals to be connected to what they are interested in and overcome those fears of the unknown to get involved."

Watson said to see people overcome their fears is something that is amazing to see.

"It's amazing to see them going out there for what they are interested in and meeting their goals, and also how welcoming the community is in embracing working with Individuals with disabilities out in the community, we have a great welcoming community."

Watson said SaskAbilities success to help people wouldn't be possible without the community of Swift Current.

"The community, employers, volunteer organization have embraced SaskAbilities in becoming apart of assisting at different events in volunteerism and employment, I think we have a very welcoming and inclusive community that is willing to work with people of all abilities."

SaskAbilities also provides Swift Current and members of the southwest with assistant living equipment such as walkers.
Watson said Sask Abilities success to help people wouldn't be possible without the community of Swift Current.

"The community, employers, volunteer organization have embraced Sask Abilities in becoming apart of assisting at different events in volunteerism and employment, I think we have a very welcoming and inclusive community that is willing to work with people of all abilities."

Sask Abilities also provides Swift Current and members of the southwest with assistant living equipment such as walkers.