Road Ahead Society of Calgary

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Personal Network?
2. Who can become a member of a Personal Network?
3. Where do you find people willing to participate in Personal Networks?
4. Do Personal Networks replace families?
5. What are the benefits to me of establishing a Personal Network for my son/daughter while I am still alive?
6. How can Personal Networks help after I am gone?
7. What are some tips for parents in building a Personal Network?
8. What qualities does The Road Ahead Society look for in hiring a
facilitator?
9. Do parents have to attend meetings of Personal Networks?
10. What are the limitations of Personal Networks?
11. Do Personal Networks replace social services?
12. What happens if the Personal Network fails?
13. How much does it cost to develop a Personal Network?
14. How many hours does it take to develop and maintain a Personal Network?
15. What do you do for younger families?

1. What is a Personal Network?
A Personal Network is a committed group of people who have developed a relationship with a person who is isolated and vulnerable by reason of disability, living arrangement, limited opportunities, or Society's perception. A Personal Network is the bridge between living on the edge of community and active inclusion and participation in it. A Personal Network welcomes or connects people to the heart of community. Each member of the network has voluntarily formed a relationship with the focus person and with every other member of the network. Through their relationship these individuals offer support, advocacy, monitoring, and companionship. The Road Ahead Society believes Personal Networks are the foundation of future planning for a person with a disability. Network members positively contribute to the quality of life now, and after you are gone.

2. Who can become a member of a Personal Network?
Members of a Personal Network typically include other family members, (particularly brothers and sisters,) neighbors, members of church congregations, services clubs, leisure and recreation groups, former service providers and teachers. Virtually anyone can be a member of a Personal Network providing they genuinely care about the person in the center of the group.

3. Where do you find people willing to participate in Personal Networks?
The key is invitation. First, we find out who was or is currently in a relationship with your family member. Then, we look to the immediate and extended family. We invite family friends and neighbors and people from every walk of life. We look for people who may have similar interests to your relative-people who want to help your relative overcome challenges, realize goals and follow dreams.

4. Do Personal Networks replace families?
No. The family is the link between the individual and the larger community. Family ties provide the vision, inspiration, and emotional fuel for new members of the network. The blessing and cooperation of the family is required to allow network members to make their contribution. And, of course, when you are no longer there, Personal Network members become your eyes and ears, arms and legs.

5. What are the benefits to me of establishing a Personal Network for my son/daughter while I am still alive?
Establishing a Personal Network now:
• gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge of the best interests of your son/daughter with the people you are counting on to support your child in the future
• allows you to see your relative flourish socially and emotionally
• helps you prepare your relative for the changes that will occur when you can no longer help
• enables you to shape and define the nature of the Personal Network and to see it fully functioning while you are alive
• enables an organization such as The Road Ahead Society to have the detailed background and the familiarity it needs to become an effective advocate and monitor
• gives you security, relief, and peace of mind

6. How can Personal Networks help after I am gone?
After you die, the Personal Network may:
• serve as an advisor and resource to the trustee(s) you select. Some members of Personal Networks are willing to assist parents by serving as executors and trustees
• advocate on behalf of your relative
• monitor the services and programs your relative receives
• provide emotional support
• provide support during crises
• ease the grief and trauma associated with your death
• provide continuity of activities and support based on your wishes

7. What are some tips for parents in building a Personal Network?
• Believe that a strong relationship will develop
• Listen to other people's ideas about your relative
• Make connections with other parents who have gone through the same experience
• Learn to let go of at least some of the things you have always done for your relative with a disability

8. What qualities does The Road Ahead Society look for in hiring a facilitator?
First and foremost a person who shares yours and The Road Ahead Society’s values. We hire people based on their knowledge and connections to the community and their compatibility with the individual with a disability. They range in age from their mid-twenties to their early seventies. Some are parents or relatives of people with a disability. Many have a background in community support and counseling. Several have university degrees. Most have at least two years of college. All have a knack to see the gifts of your relative, and the enthusiasm to inspire others to see it, too. Previous experience with people with disability is a bonus but not a pre-requisite. One of our most effective facilitators was the coordinator of emergency response in a rural community. She knew everyone.

9. Do parents have to attend meetings of Personal Networks?
This is an individual decision between you and your relative. Many families do attend meetings of their relative's network, especially at the beginning. They also hear about it from their relative, keep informed through the facilitator, and review summary reports of network meetings. Once the network gets established and things are going well, they may decide not to attend.

10. What are the limitations of Personal Networks?
Personal Networks do not work miracles. They require hard work, perseverance and commitment. Personal Networks are no guarantee that all will be well. A lifetime of isolation or loneliness cannot be overcome immediately. New contacts take months before they mature into nurturing relationships. The process can be slow and may at first seem as if nothing is happening. Even though results may take time, pleasant surprises occur frequently.

11. Do Personal Networks replace social services?
No. However, they do minimize the isolating and sometimes impersonal aspects of human services. And they reduce reliance on paid service provision by involving the individual in relationships and connecting them to the community.

12. What happens if the Personal Network fails?
The Road Ahead provides continuity for all Personal Networks. If for some reason network members leave and the network collapses, The Road Ahead will dedicate staff resources to renew the network and provide personal support and backup until the network becomes healthy again.

13. How much does it cost to develop a Personal Network?
The Road Ahead Society networks cost $30/hour for lifetime members. This is a partial contribution to the actual costs. Limited funds are available to support people who have no family or whose family has modest income. We also have a flexible payment schedule.

14. How many hours does it take to develop and maintain a Personal Network?
On average 40 hours of facilitation are required over eight months to get started. Established networks average two to three hours of facilitation time a month.
The time for facilitating networks varies. Influencing factors include:
• How easy it is to get to know you and your relative
• Connections you and your relative already have
• What your relative currently does and wants to do
• Changes in your relative's circumstances
• Change among Network members
• How much involvement families want the facilitator to have

15. What do you do for younger families?

The future may seem an elusive concept when you are young. It is hard to think about the future when the present is so demanding. Planning your will and establishing a trust for your child with a disability may seem unnecessary or impractical given other priorities.

You are likely preoccupied with starting a family, perhaps even a career as well, not to mention the extra attention your child with a disability requires. Making ends meet is your priority. You may have little disposable income let alone extra money to leave in a trust.

Nevertheless from our contact with younger families we know you are worried about what might happen to your children if something should happen to you. To put your mind at ease we have collected some tips from the experiences of other families that may be of use to you.

1. Write your will - If you don’t have a will government has a formula for what happens to your estate and your children. Better you should do it. You will likely want to establish a discretionary trust in your will for your child with a disability.

2. Consider life insurance - By putting a little aside each month you can purchase life insurance so if something happens to you, the proceeds from the policy can be used to establish a trust for your child.

3. Grandparents can help - Grandparents and other relatives can help by establishing a discretionary trust for your child in their will.

4. Choose a guardian(s) - It is hard to imagine anyone else caring for your child and it may be hard to find someone willing. However it is worth the effort. Someone you choose is better than someone chosen by government. Don’t worry about the finality of this decision. You can change guardians anytime circumstances change.

5. Support your child’s friendships - Open your doors and invite others to be actively involved in your child’s life. Involve them in community activities, guides, scouts, ski lessons, poetry etc. You are investing in lifelong friends. You will be heartened by how many of these early contacts will reconnect at later stages of your son or daughter’s life.

6. Apply for the federal disability tax credit - One of the few tax breaks available for families faced with extraordinary costs. Do not wait until your child is an adult as you can use this credit to save taxes now.

7. Do not put funds in your child’s name - even with the best of intentions, this could disqualify them from government benefits when they are older.

8. Connect with other families - There are number of family support groups out there. Take advantage of their expertise. They are either going through or have gone through what you are experiencing.

9. Relax - You will receive more advice than you can act on. Take it a step at a time and enjoy your child. Eventually you will get to all the important stuff.

10. Establish a support network for your family – Organizing a group of people willing to support your family will keep you connected, reduce stress and create friends and supporters for your child.

11. Imagine - The future holds unlimited possibilities. Allow yourself to visualize a future of safety, security and happiness for your child.