For over 75 years, families in Ontario have come together to build better lives for their loved ones with a disability. One of the ways they have done this has been by developing family networks across the province. Through meaningful relationships with one another, families build resilience, and courage and also bring innovation to the challenges they face.
This new webcast will feature a variety of family networks who will discuss how they strengthen, grow, and maintain their networks.
This webcast includes a Q&A with our panelists.
Sherron Grant
Sherron Grant, M.Ed. is an educator, advocate for persons with special needs and the co-founder of Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support. She is also an elementary school principal. Sherron supports families, volunteers and advocates for persons living with various disabilities, to be recognized for their valuable contributions to society and emphasizes the benefit we all experience when eliminating barriers for others. In 2020, Sherron and her husband began the Black Parent and Caregiver Support Group which has now become Sawubona Africentric Circle of Support, to provide a safe space for families of African descent to come together to meet and connect, share resources, expertise and needs, inspire and support one another through the unique and often challenging and isolating journey of raising Black children or supporting a sibling, of any age, with a disability. Sherron was the 2020 recipient of the Community Living Toronto Jim Turner Award for Outstanding Voluntarism! Sherron is also the recipient of a Humanitarian Service Award in 2021 and most recently, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pin for her work in creating a safe space for Black parents/guardians raising and caring for a loved one with a disability. When not "on the clock", Sherron is an avid "foodie", enjoys a good workout at the gym and time with her grandchildren.
Sharon Bak
Sharon Bak was born and raised in Northwestern Ontario and currently resides in the City of Thunder Bay. She holds a diploma in Social Service Work and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. She has worked and volunteered extensively in the social services field for over 25 years, with a focus on individuals with a developmental disability and their families. She is currently the President of Thunder Bay Family Network and a strong advocate for the power of family voices in all aspects of the service system. Sharon is also an experienced emergency manager and currently operates her own consulting business, where she assists communities, organizations, and other entities to build their emergency management programs using a strengths based, whole of community approach. Her passion is to put people first in all that she does and focus on the needs of those most vulnerable in our communities.
Joyce Rivington
Joyce is a mother of three children with the youngest having a rare genetic syndrome and developmental disability. She has a strong background advocating for integration and inclusion in schools and throughout the community. Her previous experience includes IEPs/support in a school placement, former SEAC member Lanark County Board of Education (now the Upper Canada District School Board), Board Member and former President of Community Living Association Lanark County (CLALC). Currently, Joyce is a Board Member of Family Alliance Ontario, a member of P4P Family Advisory Committee, the Co-Founder of the Parent Support Group Family Voice of Lanark County, and is an independent advocate to support families. Joyce is also the designer and co-author of three resource handbooks.