Liz has been working at What’s Poppin' Popcorn Factory for a year and a half packing popcorn. She loves her job and has been a great addition to the team! A huge thank you to What’s Poppin' Popcorn Factory for not only being an inclusive employer but also for supporting us with the National Disability Employment Awareness Month campaign, making us purple and blue popcorn to hand out!

Be sure to give their popcorn a try and follow Career Compass on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to watch for more exciting announcements!

As families navigate daily living with children and adults who have intellectual disabilities, we are constantly on a journey to find available resources. At each stage of our child’s life, we are confronted with situations which require us to find answers.

Talking to other families is often a starting point. Sharing firsthand knowledge, we can come up with solutions that direct us to further assistance. However, our busy home and work lives may make meeting with others to discuss concerns complicated; there are scheduling difficulties and care arrangements to be made. Meetings are not the only way to find needed supports. Below, you will find valuable resources that can provide you and your family with answers to your many questions.

A complete list of available developmental services has been developed for children and adults who have intellectual disabilities. This should be your GO-TO for any questions you may have. It may be helpful to share this list with any of your child’s support staff.

As you can see there are many available resources to assist you and your family. Don’t forget to reach out to Ensemble — the voice of families. Our varied life experiences can provide you with answers to many of your questions. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

Join us for out next event at Crafty Nest Studio in Kingsville and escape your daily responsibilities. You will be provided with expert direction and all materials needed.

If you are an unpaid caregiver of an adult with intellectual disabilities who lives at home, please join us ~ Saturday November 25^th at 1 pm at the Crafty Nest Studio ~

PLEASE NOTE: Due to limited available spaces, EARLY registration is required and ONLY 1 family member from each family can attend. To register, please contact Marilyn via email at mgodard@ensembleunderstands.com.

Best regards,

mgodard@ensembleunderstands.com or 519-776-6483, ext. 225

Register today for the Jingle Bell Run, Walk & Wheel! This is an annual event hosted by Ken Knapp Ford in beautiful downtown Essex in support of Community Living Essex County.

Check out the latest offerings in our Community Living Essex County store! CLEC employees have the option of paying for items via Employee Payroll Deduction. Simply use code EMPLOYEE and include your employee number when placing your order. 

Community Living Essex County is looking for volunteers for our e-bingo volunteer shifts at Breakaway Gaming Centre in Windsor. The proceeds raised from e-bingo helps Community Living Essex County to purchase fuel and maintain vehicles for people with an intellectual disability that we support to get to and from work, volunteer opportunities and participate in leisure activities throughout Essex County. Check out our video to learn more and then email vsamek@communitylivingessex.org to sign up!

FREE Webcast

Once you've opened your RDSP there is still so much to consider. This webcast, on November 1^st, at 7 pm, provides tips and strategies for plan holders so they can manage an RDSP effectively and maximize its value over time. The webcast will give guidance on what you need to do before and AFTER opening your RDSP, and on strategies for your investments. 

This webcast will be recorded and made available to watch

for one month at the link you will receive when you register.

Join DSO Housing Navigators over lunch to discuss housing topics on Monday, October 30^th, from 12 pm to 1 pm. Sessions take place in a virtual format and are open to people with a developmental disability, their family members and/or support networks, as well as professionals in Ontario.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS EVENT CAN BE SENT TO: Olivia Thomas and Karen Roberts at dsohousing@dsoer.ca or Tanner Stranges at Tanner.Stranges@dsohnr.ca

Buy Locally or Grow Your Own Pumpkin: Reduce your ecological footprint by choosing locally sourced pumpkins or even growing your own, which is a fun and sustainable option.

Prepare Pumpkin Recipes: Don't limit your pumpkin's use to decoration. The flesh and seeds of fresh pumpkins are edible when prepared properly. You can explore various recipes to make the most of your pumpkin, from savory dishes using the flesh to roasted pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack.

Repurpose the Pumpkin: If you prefer not to consume the pumpkin, get creative! You can turn it into skincare products, create dog treats, or explore other innovative uses to prevent waste.

Donate: Consider donating your pumpkin to local farms. Wagner Orchard and Estate Winery at 1222 Lakeshore Road 103, just south of Hwy. 401 have been taking pumpkin donations for several years now and are accepting donations again this year to feed cows. Please remove foreign, sharp, or plastic objects before donation.

Composting: If none of the above options suit your needs, composting your pumpkin is an excellent choice. You can plant it in your garden, and when combined with other organic waste, it can enrich the soil and reduce landfill waste.

From Thursday, October 26^th, to Sunday, November 5^th, the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) returns with an extensive program featuring 186 feature films from 46 countries and over 300 screenings. Notable additions this year include the WIFF Centrepiece Film, Detroit and Housing film slates, industry programming, and more. The opening weekend spotlights the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film, with the winner announced on October 29^th, from a list of ten nominees. Tickets are available online, and festival updates can be found by clicking the link below.

Candy-Palooza indoor trick-or-treating event is FREE fun for the whole family! Taking place Sunday, October 29^th, from 5 pm to 7 pm, the event includes an array of treats, including candy, inflatables, cotton candy, popcorn, hot beverages, and more. All are welcome to attend, dress in costume and trick-or-treat indoor. This event is a rebranding of their annual Trunk-or-Treat event. Click the link below for more information.

The Halloween festival in Olde Sandwich Towne is on October 28^th and 29^th, from 10 am to 4 pm. The festival offers a wide range of spooky and fun activities for all ages, from kids' ghost tours to haunted pub crawl, a Halloween goth/industrial DJ dance party, the Black Market for spooky shopping from local artisans and vendors, and much more. Most events are FREE, with some being pay-what-you-can to support local artists. Click the link below to visit the event website for event times and more information.

Kick off Halloween weekend with one of the last vendors markets of the season! This event will feature over 30 local vendors offering a diverse range of products. On October 28^th and 29^th, from 10 am to 4 pm, visitors can enjoy the market, explore a corn maze, select the ideal Jack-o-lantern pumpkin for carving, and dress in costume for some festive trick-or-treating around the farm. It's a fantastic way to embrace the Halloween spirit and support local businesses. Click the link below for more information.

How do you feel about haunted houses?

I love them! I can't get enough scares. ~ 31%

I like them, but they can be too intense. ~ 21%

I'm not a fan, they terrify me. ~ 35%

I've never been to one. ~ 13%