By David MacDonald W hen did the DIRECTIONS Council come to be and what’s your current reach within Nova Scotia? HS : DIRECTIONS officially formed in 1984 and then later took on the brand of the DIRECTIONS Council of Nova Scotia. At its core, DIRECTIONS is a network of 29 organi- zations across the entire province that provides support to individuals with disabilities in the area of life skills and job skills. We also actively work toward community inclusion in the areas of employment and self-employment. Each orga- nization that makes up DIRECTIONS operates social enter- prise businesses to provide employment opportunities for the individuals who are the face of our organization. This is how we reinvest to better serve people and increase our capacity. I’m curious: What existed in Nova Scotia before DIREC- TIONS to provide this service to people with disabili- ties? DM: The majority of the services that existed for adults with intellectual and other disabilities were really drop-in centers, or a day program model where people came in and basically had a place to go where they thought they belonged. It didn't really follow so much a work model or a training model, it was really kind of busy work, social engagement, and we’ve really tried to move away from that model since adopting it in 1979. That’s when the depart- ment of social services approached a lot of what were small local groups and asked them to start forming boards to administer what has turned into what we are today, which is adult services centres. “Our biggest asset on that front is working with groups throughout our communities who endeavour to reflect their citizens and values, today and in the future as well.” What are the mandates that make DIRECTIONS what it is? MT: As a network, DIRECTIONS is intended to support the 29 organizations to improve the quality of services that are offered to Nova Scotians living with disabilities, mental and physical. We extend services to individuals who are being under-supported in their communities and to share best practices and supports in the area of learning, networking, and training so that the services being delivered are similar no matter where you live in Nova Scotia. We work as a col- lective in order to expand the service delivery options and the programs that are offered. It may play out a little differ- ently in every organization, but it’s a good model.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • APRIL 2017
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