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50 years of CLASS

First came the school.
web-school1
Phil Stephan

First came the school.

Then the community followed.

In January 1960, a school program for children with severe developmental disabilities began in the basement of a Westpark church.

The program was the result of the work of six families who wanted their children to live at home and receive an education in a classroom.

Not satisfied with a makeshift school, however, the families successfully lobbied the government for a permanent school.

Parkland Community Living and Supports Society (CLASS) was incorporated as the society overseeing the school program in 1963.

The doors to Parkland School opened a few years later in the Waskasoo neighbourhood welcoming hundreds of students from Central Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories over the next five decades.

Sharon Grimshire, a daughter of one of the founder’s Pat Grant, has taught at Parkland School since 1981. She also drives the Action Bus.

Grimshire’s sister Elaine, who was born with Down Syndrome, was one of the first students at Parkland School and continued to receive services from Parkland Class for more than 50 years. “Lanie” to her friends and family died last year at age 57.

Grimshire celebrated Parkland CLASS’ 50-year milestone and the unveiling of two 10-metre high totems whose carvings tell the history of the society at an event on Saturday.

Grimshire, who drew inspiration from her parents and sister, said there’s nothing better than working with disabled children and adults.

“I was born into it,” said Grimshire, who also worked in nursing and recreation at Michener Centre for 17 years.

Grimshire, 66, said she finds joy in teaching and driving the Action Bus everyday because the school is one big family. Grimshire said she tried her hand at a few different careers when she was younger but she kept being drawn back to the children.

“It just wasn’t the same,” she said. “I was out for about a year and I was back right where I started.”

Since that fateful day when Parkland School was recognized by the province, Parkland CLASS has evolved into an organization providing supports in the Red Deer community and working in the area of developmental disabilities in the Canadian Arctic, Mexico and Argentina.

Phil Stephan, CEO of Parkland CLASS said a pivotal time for the organization was 25 years ago when it began helping families and individuals from Michener Centre find new homes in the community.

Stephan said the society evolved as the individuals had emerging needs. He said it started with the need for a school and lead to after school programs, vocational assistance, finding homes in the community and other supports.

“Twenty-five years ago, we had to ask permission for neighbours to have somebody with developmental disabilities move into their community,” said Stephan. “We were turned down several times. Today there’s no question. People have a right to live where ever they chose to live and to have the life of their choice and it is supported and accepted.”

Today Parkland CLASS is building four new homes to accommodate individuals who will leave Michener Centre in the wake of its pending closure. Currently Parkand CLASS operates more than 40 community group homes for adults and children. More than 450 adults, children and families receive supports from the 600 staff and foster cargivers.

The Parkland School graduates are working at Walmart, the Red Deer and District SPCA, Cosmos (co-founded by Pat Grant) and other places in the community.

Trudy Lewis, chief of Educational Services, who has also worked at the school for more than 20 years said community is for everyone – disabled or not.

Stephan said today there is strong support for inclusion the community from the provincial government and Alberta citizens.

Parkland CLASS was the first organization accredited by Canadian Accreditation Council in Aboriginal Services. Supporting First Nations people in Central Alberta and the Arctic led the organization to its international work in Mexico and Argentina. A teepee and now the two totem poles mark this significance at the school site.

In Mexico, Parkland CLASS is currently working with impoverished aboriginal families living in remote regions. Stpehan said these families are in the similar position that our families were 50 years ago. Stephan said there’s a lot of fear, prejudice and superstition.

Stephan said it is the same journey that started 50 years ago but in different setting.

crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com