The “No One Turned Away” Campaign
November 17th, 2007!…….the date of the campaign closing event at the site of the newly constructed state-of-the-art Diagnostic & Behavioral Research Center in St-Hyacinthe. The facility, christened the Maison Lily Butters, will welcome donors, government officials, professional leaders, and representatives of the media to a demonstration of the treatments to be offered in the facility and the research that will be undertaken on site. This treatment center is part of a range of treatment facilities operated by the CRDI Monteregie-Est dedicated to treating intellectually disabled and autistic clients with severe behavioural disorders. Led by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists lodged in the Maison Lily Butters, this comprehensive range of facilities will propel the CRDI Monteregie-est to the forefront of innovation in the treatment of severe behavioural disorders.
The other two campaign projects, the mobilization of Parent Self-help Groups and the purchase of a working farm for intellectually disabled workers from around the region will see the light of day in 2009.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Our scholarship program to graduating students from the bilingual public secondary school in Cowansville marked its twentieth year, and the John A. Bryant Fund continued to support students in the graduate program of the Faculty of Education at McGill University. Bursaries to 2 talented young disabled women from the region allowed them to pursue studies in creative arts at the Centre d’Art et Loisirs les Muses in Montreal. One of these students has already landed 2 parts in French-language tele-romains distributed throughout Quebec. Lastly, the Doris Mildred Parsons Bursaries to students who had excelled in their studies and in field placements continued for a third year at Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville and at le Cegep de Granby-Haute Yamaska.
Support for Innovative Projects w/ the CRDI
In 2008, the Butters Foundation continued to work with its public partner of over thirty years, the CRDI Monteregie-Est, (formerly the Butters Centre), to promote innovative projects that go beyond the scope of the public mandate. This year, $50,000 was earmarked for a wide range of respite services for disabled children and adults who live at home with their parents and siblings. We know that respite is a key to healthy and strong families. In addition, the Foundation continued to support a program of subsidizing the purchase of timely and specialized equipment that will foster community integration, and allow certain clients to better communicate with their peers and family. These measures are small but crucial to enhancing the integration and quality of life of disabled people.
The Loslier Project
This new project, named after its generous donor, will allow the Foundation to support parents who wish to augment the services that the public system offers, or experiment with treatments and therapies that are not yet sanctioned and supported by the public system. This project especially targets families with pre-school age autistic children who could benefit from intensive therapies that are continuing to come onto the market. Treatment results are sometimes very encouraging for parents struggling to equip their autistic child for life and school ahead. The Butters Foundation is committed to promoting new best practices and innovation in the service of intellectually disabled people and their families.