An alternative to adult day programs for young adults with special needs requiring minor support, with respite and/or community hours through PDD, in the NW Calgary and Rockyview areas!
Starts this September! Offered Monday and Wednesday afternoons!
Sign up TODAY!
HOW THIS PROGRAM CAME TO BE AND MY SET-UP HERE ON THE ACREAGE
My name is Marianne Disipio, and I am the mom of a 19-year-old young lady with a mild to moderate cognitive impairment. She only requires minor support, but is coded accordingly. As my daughter approached her high school graduation, I prioritized her transition into adulthood, recognizing that preparing for this significant life change was essential. However, I encountered substantial obstacles when searching for appropriate placement options. The existing government-funded programs often group individuals with varying levels of needs, making it difficult to provide comprehensive support for those who do not fit neatly into one category. This experience highlighted a substantial gap in services for young adults who fall somewhere in between. My dedication to ensuring her successful integration into the community has illuminated the necessity for tailored programs that address the unique needs of individuals in this demographic. I believe it is essential to provide an alternative that ensures a satisfying quality of life while fostering a sense of autonomy and self-worth.
With a background in Occupational Therapy, Wellness Coaching, Equine-assisted Support, Yoga Instruction, and Expressive Arts, combined with my experience as a service provider under Behavioural Developmental Support, I possess a wealth of knowledge and skills that uniquely qualify me to create a quality program.
My private acreage is located at the corner of Twelve Mile Coulee Road in the NW, where it intersects with Country Hills Blvd. On the right is Country Hills, and on the left is my street, Township Road 254. We are a 2-minute drive from the Coop. We have a hacienda-style home, a small studio, an upcoming bookshop, an outdoor sauna, a barn, a ranch, a large walled-in garden, an outdoor deck, a patio, a stone fireplace, a large yard, a back trail, horses, and dogs. Our property is nestled in a forested area and gives the feeling of being removed from the city. It is perfect for hosting a small group of adults interested in spending some purposeful and meaningful time managing and caring for an acreage among peers who are functioning closest to their ability level.
RECREATIONAL PROPERTY IN BRAGG CREEK
I also own 22 acres in the gorgeous West Bragg area, only an 8-minute drive from the quaint Hamlet of Bragg Creek! It has stunning cleared trails, a large pond for canoeing and swimming, and a fully equipped luxury RV camper. It is accessible and usable in all seasons! We will plan trips
PURPOSE
The primary goal of this program is to provide supportive, stimulating, and socially meaningful experiences for young adults who find themselves in between levels of functioning, enabling them to create meaningful friendships, thrive with the skills they already possess, explore new life skills, and learn to love all that they are! This program is tailored to individuals with additional needs requiring minor to minor-moderate support.
Key objectives include:
1. Personalized Support: Tailored programs for this particular demographic that cater to the unique profile of participants, ensuring that they experience joy and success. There will also be a strong focus on self-love and acceptance.
2. Community Engagement: Fostering connections among participants and the broader community to promote inclusivity!
3. Skill Development: Offering new experiences that provide the right challenge for building confidence, as well as activities of interest that utilize life skills and promote independence!
4. Stimulating and meaningful activities: Among other community activities, there will be an integration of equine activities, yoga, and expressive arts to promote emotional and mental well-being, as well as some exposure to tasks that can establish the foundation for vocational experience.
The program will be situated on 7 1/4 acres of serene land (2 min. from the Coop), offering a peaceful setting conducive to learning and growth. This tranquil environment will be integral in promoting socialization, mental wellness, and relaxation.
WHAT I AM OFFERING
Starting September 3rd, 2025, I would like to offer 2 afternoons a week (Mondays and Wednesdays, from 12pm-4:00 pm, where a small group of 4-6 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 can come and experience a mix of stimulating activities. There would be 2 adults to help run these afternoons. IF THERE IS AN INTEREST, I MAY GO TO FULL DAYS INSTEAD!
Examples of activities would include outdoor and indoor fitness, mindfulness, expressive arts, nature walks, dog walks, cooking/baking, recreational indoor movies, horse care, gardening, property maintenance, community outings, canoeing, swimming, and hopefully, some special guest visits! I am also in the process of placing a small structure on my land that will serve as a community book exchange. The idea is that the young adults could participate in running it. Hopefully, this will already be in place by the time the program starts in September.
We will have the following themed days scheduled throughout every month, so every day is different:
-Outdoor nature day
-Vocational practice day
-Recreational day
-Life skills day
-Community outing day
-Mindfulness and fitness day
-Animal care and fun day
-Bragg Creek day
-Join up with other groups day
The program would run throughout the entire year, and activities would be adjusted to the season (for example, snowshoeing).
Below is a preliminary draft copy of the September schedule. More details will be provided once specifics are finalized.
WHO CAN APPLY
While I would love to accept a variety of profiles, I currently lack the resources, budget, and ability to serve everyone effectively. My focus is on meeting my daughter’s needs while creating a quality program for young adults in between levels of functioning. This program is tailored to individuals with additional needs requiring minor to minor-moderate support.
If you have a young adult who meets the following criteria, you may apply:
-In-between levels of functioning in life, requiring minor to minor-moderate support and most likely receiving PDD funding under family-managed services.
-Coded as mild to mild-moderate cognitive impairment. This is NOT suitable for individuals who have been assessed by a psychologist as having moderate-severe or severe additional needs.
-NOT a learning disability. This program is not suitable for individuals who score within average for IQ and simply have a learning disability.
-No other significant diagnoses or presenting challenges (if unsure, please ask).
-Fully verbal with speech that is understandable to others about 80% of the time.
-Independent for toileting, dressing, and eating.
-Mobile
-No unpredictable, disruptive, impulsive or repetitive behaviours (including stemming).
-Presence of basic social-emotional skills.
-Requires very little supervision and assistance. –
No significant safety concerns.
Due to the very nature of being for this group, it is NOT for individuals presenting with the following:
-Anything other than very minor medical needs or mobility needs.
-Notable psychological, psychiatric, or social-emotional challenges such as a marked presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Obsessive
-Compulsive Disorder, pronounced anxiety or depression.
-Oppositional Defiance Disorder or Pathological Avoidance Disorder
-Non-verbal communication
PAYMENT
To use your Community and/or Respite PDD hours for the hourly rate, you can designate me, Marianne Disipio (or another staff member), as your Community Support or Respite worker. This program is not funded by PDD like a regular day program, so you do not need formal approval from your case manager. As a parent or legal guardian, you will hire me as an aide for your young adult and can use your PDD contract hours accordingly. If your young adult qualifies but does not have PDD hours assigned, private payment is also an option.
OCCASIONAL ADDITIONAL COSTS
Parents, caregivers, and legal guardians will have to be prepared to occasionally pay for other special fees such as community outings, materials for specific activities or covering the cost of receiving a special guest. This would always be specified in advance.
START DATE
The official start of this program will be Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. Afterwards, the program will run every Monday and Thursday afternoon from 12 pm to 4 pm. There will be the occasional unavoidable daythat you will not be charged (and will be reimbursed if need be) for when I will have to take the day off. I will alsodo my best to inform you of holiday times in advance. Being flexible with this type of scheduling and occasional cancellations will be necessary.
FEES
Option 1
One afternoon/week $21.54/hour for a total of $86.16 a week
Option 2
Two afternoons/week $21.54/hour for a total of &172.32
**NON-REFUNDABLE MONTHLY COMMITMENT**
A non-refundable monthly commitment is required upfront to secure your spot, with no exceptions for sick days, holidays, or family emergencies. This policy applies to all adult programs.
**TRANSPORTATION CONSIDERATIONS**
Although Calgary is just across the street, my address falls under Rockyview, and ACCESS Calgary Transit does not service this area. You will need to arrange your own transportation. I may offer pickup and drop-off at the Coop if several young adults use Access Transit. Please note that there is no before or after care available-no exceptions.
ABOUT MARIANNE DISIPIO
Marianne Disipio is a Behavioural Developmental Support Provider with Alberta Health’s FSCD program, accredited in the biopsychosocial approach at the master’s level in counselling psychology. She also holds a degree in occupational therapy, a certification in wellness/life coaching, and is a certified yoga instructor. Furthermore, she has completed courses in expressive arts therapy and founded Equine-assisted Support©, where she launched a certification course for practitioners and established the Canadian Academy of Equine-assisted Support©.
TO APPLY, CONTACT MARIANNE DISIPIO DIRECTLY AT info@mariannedisipio.com
There will be an in-person tour for those interested in attending.
