L Arche Launches New Website on Friendship for Young People with Intellectual Disabilities
NOVEMBER 2, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
L’Arche Launches New Website on Friendship for Young People with Intellectual Disabilities
Today L’Arche Canada launched an innovative, accessible and comprehensive online resource for young people with an intellectual disability, their families, teachers and others who support them.
“L’Arche Canada created this online resource because we know that many young people with intellectual disabilities find themselves quite lonely and isolated after their school years end,” explains Beth Porter, Project Manager. “Their school friends move on to college or university and they are left at home, often with few opportunities even for daytime programs.
We also know that people with an intellectual disability have much to contribute in rich and mutually rewarding friendships with others. L’Arche has over forty years of experience nurturing such friendships—and we are transformed by them!”
Nick, one of the young people who tested the site, proclaims it to be, “Great!” and “Easy to Use.” He says, “I liked it all. First, I went to Dating and then Internet Safety and the part on Why Do We Lose Friends. Then I went to the Families section, because families are important.”
Most of the website is devoted to Young Adults. This section is in Plain Language and is interactive, with audio page summaries, many short videos, brief stories with “Listen” buttons, games, downloadable activities and documents that provide further suggestions and links. Among topics covered: What is friendship? Finding Friends, Friends Don’t Always Use Words, Making Plans that Work, Why Do We Lose Friends? Friendship Skills, Dating and Sexuality, and Safety.
Resources are also provided for Families and Educators. Topics include Network Building, Inclusive Education, and Transition Planning. A further section, titled Getting Involved, provides information and stories to catch the interest of visitors who might like to have a friendship with someone with a disability. The Additional Resources section highlights several organizations for their Good Practices. Other annotated links to helpful organizations and resources are provided in documents that can be downloaded from various pages in the site. A double-opt-in Community Forum encourages the sharing of experiences, suggestions and announcements.
About L’Arche
In L’Arche, people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together in homes and programs all across Canada. L’Arche Canada is part of the International Federation of L’Arche, which exists in 37 countries and is a global leader in how people with intellectual disabilities are seen and treated. To download a handbook about ibelong! click on the Education tab at
Contact: For more information, contact Guillaume Richard, Director of Operations, at , 514-844-1661 or 1-866-992-9192, or Beth Porter, Coordinator of Educational Initiatives
, 905-770-7696 ext. 108, or 1-800-571-0212.