PAVE YOUR PATH

Independent Facilitation
Services

Guidance toward Goals - Nurturing all Possibilities - Discovering your Potential

Servicing the Kitchener/Waterloo Region and Surrounding CommunitiesPassport Funding Eligible

• Your first step starts here

What is Facilitaion

Facilitation is about making the achievement of personal goals and connections easier and ensuring that people, especially those with disabilities, have the support they need to fully participate in all aspects of life. Facilitation can take many forms, such as: helping individuals connect to vital services, providing educational support, ensuring that people (with disabilities) have the tools and resources needed to thrive in the workplace, helping the focus person uncover or rediscover gifts, strengths, and passions (and apply them in the community or in their personal life), and simply walking alongside the focus person to help guide them with reaching personal goals.For example, facilitators can help individuals navigate community resources, access healthcare, find employment opportunities, learn/practice self-help skills and independence, overcome social obstacles, or build and recognize a personal network of support.In short, facilitators strive to be a link to help the focus person find a sense of belonging and build connections within the community-as well as supporting the process to achieve any personal goals one might have for themselves
For Kitchener-Waterloo Region and surrounding areas, Pave Your Path offers specialized services that promote greater social inclusion, provide peer support, and ensure that people of all walks of life are not left behind. Whether it's navigating public transportation, finding work, connecting with social groups, preparing for independent living, or simply ensuring accessibility, facilitation in Kitchener is about removing barriers and empowering individuals to live their lives to the fullest.Instead of a starting point of “what’s possible for you, today,” we start from “who are you today, and who/where do you want to be tomorrow.” Joining this movement means removing fear of barriers. Instead, we assume barriers, and realize that the barriers are
the path. Once the path begins to be paved, possibilities arise, goals (micro and macro) begin to be met, and potential is found in all the work along the way.

Our Services

Facilitation is provided to develop your Person-Directed Plan, work on your goals, and develop your network of supportive relationships. Pave your Path is committed to focusing on person-directed planning, relationship development, social inclusion and community participation and contribution. Our Planning and Facilitation does not look the same for each person we walk alongside. Our approach involves a large variety of methods and services as we get to know each individual and family that we work with, to understand and navigate their unique gifts, strengths, passions, and potential challenges.The role of the independent facilitators is to guide the process, but not direct it- this is why we like to use the term “walk alongside”. As independent facilitators, we are accountable to the focus person and their network. Facilitators work with the focus person to create a plan for the life they want to live, and support them as they pave their path to take action on that plan.Our core work involves being person-directed. We practice deep listening, take our cues from the focus person and move at a pace that is right for them; frequently adjusting our plan and approach along the way. Our job is to uncover the hopes and passions of the focus person, honour them, and help turn them into obtainable goals with actionable steps.Frequent areas we are asked to help guide through facilitation include:- Making and retaining friendships and meaningful connections
- Getting involved with groups and recreation in the community to find a sense of belonging
- Finding volunteer or paid work, as well as resume building and interview preparation
- Planning for future housing needs and independent living
- …and whatever else may come up along the way!For older adults ages 50+, Pave Your Path also offers Facilitation Through Companionship.
This approach is less fixated on being Goal oriented, and instead focuses more on building connections through companionship. Facilitators at Pave your Path make it their core work to be present for you while maintaining awareness of your abilities, personal interests, and any challenges. Your facilitator will continuously find mindful ways to bring companionship to you. This option allows for your facilitator to support and accompany you as you rediscover the things in life that make you happy.Common areas of companionship include:- Story telling/journaling/ reliving important moments moments through conversation or an autobiography
- Meeting people of similar age at coffee hours or social drop-ins, to connect with and converse
- Mental wellness and mindfulness
- Rediscovering a once-loved hobby or passion and making it come to life again
- Finding meaningful volunteer work
- Light housekeeping and decluttering
- Scrapbooking, looking through photo albums and uncovering memories of the past
- Nature walks
- Assist with shopping and running errands
- Facilitating family meetings/planning family time
- Trying new hobbies
- A simple daytime visit/check-in, afternoon tea or coffee
- Trips to a favourite restaurant
Baking
- Mailing cards to distant family and friends
- Finding festive cheer around the holidays

Get in touch
We would love to hear from you!