Independent Advocacy Celebrates its 30th

“I didn’t start a business,” says Independent Advocacy founder Christine Topping, “It was thrust upon me and I just sort of ran with it really.”

Independent Advocacy celebrated its 30th birthday this year. Started in 1991 as a tiny documentation service, it has since grown into one of Edmonton’s most established agencies for adults with disabilities, employing over 100 employees, running 13 homes, and providing supports to countless individuals over its lifespan.

“I was originally contacted to write service plans,” continues Christine, referring to the  plans which provided the basis and scope of the funding provided to individuals. “The first ones I wrote were all hand-written. I didn’t even own a typewriter! They were all accepted though.”

IA as we know it started in earnest when Christine took over the lease for a group home in Westmount that housed some of the individuals she had written plans for. “The funding was not great. You’d get $3, 360 per individual for the month. And this was prior to any sort of standard protocols like the current CET standards (Creating Excellence Together Industry Standards). We had no money for lifts. You’d have to physically lift individuals out of their chairs into the front seat of your cars to transport them. Wheelchairs in the trunk.”

Sheila Clark

One of those first individuals was Sheila Clark. Sheila is still with the agency today. Confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, Sheila has required extensive support in terms of care. She came to IA out of a desire to live a more community-oriented lifestyle after growing dissatisfied with her previous care center. She has trouble remembering much about the early days but she remembers many of the homes and roommates she has had. She also remembers the staff that has helped her through the years. “I remember when my door was stuck once,” she says, smiling at the memory. “My staff had to climb in through the window.”

I ask Sheila what has changed over the years with IA and she gushes about the assistance she has received with new technology and communicative devices. With her limited mobility, exploring many of these touch-screen devices was revolutionary. She gained a degree of independence with being able to select new entertainment options on her own. She has loved using facetime and many of the other apps to stay in touch with loved ones.

I ask her why she has stayed with IA for so long. “I really like you guys. “You guys are good at helping me figure out what I want to do,” Sheila says, “I like concerts. Like when I got to stay at the (Fantasyland) hotel at the mall. I got to go to a dinner theatre and shopping. I’d like to do that again.”

I ask Sheila about what she is up to these days. At first, Sheila struggles to remember, but her staff reels off a long line of activities Sheila participates in weekly. Sheila sniffs and gives a sheepish smile when I tell her she gets out more than I do. “You guys are so good to me.”

Mike Smith

Mike Smith has been with IA virtually since its inception. “I started here in 1991,” he says. “I completed my Bachelor of Psychology in Lethbridge and was looking for work. My wife was managing a salon at West Edmonton Mall so we moved to Edmonton. I had a weekend job I was doing and someone there mentioned that this new agency was starting up. I applied and was hired.”

“I was working at the first two residences (IA) had,” he remembers. “There was the home in Westmount and an apartment by Groat Road. I did that for a while.” I ask him if he remembers climbing in through Sheila’s window to get her door unstuck, because – as it turns out – that was Mike. “I do indeed remember that,” he chuckles.”

“One of the first things that I noticed when I started with IA was that many of the individuals had not been on holiday. With the support of IA and my team,  I was able to arrange a holiday to Banff for some of our individuals. It was a  wonderful experience as we booked a big Budget Van and another staff and I drove to our hotel in Banff. We helped these individuals experience the hot springs,  the gondola, and the sights and sounds of the Banff Park. For many of them, it was the first time they had taken a holiday in their entire lives.”

“The other thing that I consider a highlight was the birthday parties that we would have for all of the individuals. I love birthdays and I felt that it was important to do our best to make this a special day for our individuals. We worked with the individual to pick their favourite restaurant and then we would invite all to come.  I remember 20 to 30 people coming to a private room at the Royal Fork buffet where we enjoyed a wonderful meal, exchanged gifts, and had a slice of homemade birthday cake. We always had opportunities to gather together and socialize.” 

Mike took a two-year hiatus from IA but returned when Christine suggested the Supported Independent Living (SIL) division of IA. Mike now currently manages the SIL division.

Alonia Estrada

Alonia Estrada has been with the agency for 23 years. Currently working as a Team Leader in Sheila’s home, she remembers the early days working with Christine. “We had to fax all the log notes at the end of the day,” she laughs. “You’d wait, and then if a fax came back you’d be like, oh no, I did something wrong!”

“I was actually trained in accounting in the Philippines,” she says, “I was hoping to go back to school but when you get (to Canada) you have to work to afford things like rent. Back then, in 1996, a Healthcare Aide position was really popular – I took a course and got hired immediately at another Edmonton agency.” IA wound up taking on the individuals from the home Alonia was working at in 1998 and Alonia came with them. “I went for an interview with Christine – both my sister and I. I think they meant to hire my sister full time but the position wound up going to me instead! In 2000, I started team leading in one of the west end homes and I just went on from there!”

“I’ve stayed for so long because I enjoy working with the individuals, making a change in their quality of life,” she continues. “The technology has changed over the years. There are so many more gadgets now. Individuals have their tablets. Now, we staff also have online training – in-house training. You used to have to sign up for courses with other companies to take the med admin course. Computers in the houses – the (online med system) is wonderful.”

Alonia remembers taking individuals on holidays. Her fondest memory was taking one of the individuals to Disneyland. It had been a lifelong goal and Alonia helped make this dream come true. “That was a lot of work! Going through the airport security, getting her out of her wheelchair so they could look under her cushion. Helping her on the plane. She had Celiac disease as well so I had to watch everything she ate! But when she got to Disneyland, she was so happy there! You could see it on her face how overjoyed she was.”

“I’ve learned so much. The mentoring I’ve received here has been so valuable. It can be tiring at times. It can be stressful. But I go to bed happy – I enjoy it here.”

Alicia Farala

Alonia’s sister, Alicia Farala, also still works with Independent Advocacy. And she still works with one of those individuals from the first early days. And she also remembers to the exact date when she started. “March 1 next year, it will be 23 years,” she says.”

“I came here as a nanny in 1986. I first started in the field with another agency. IA took over for some of the individuals. I applied and was accepted.”

I ask Alicia what it was like back then and her memories echo Christine’s. “There was no CET back in those days! You would just drive the individuals around in your cars. But management was always good at guiding us with the new standards.” Alicia also appreciates how IA has been with implementing technology. “It’s so much better with being able to fill out your documentation online, do med admin online. The computer helps make everything quicker than before.”

23 years is a long time to stay at any job. I ask her what kept her here with IA. “IA is a nice company to work with. I found everyone to be so supportive. The management does a good job mentoring and guiding us. There are so many resources they make available for staff. Online training, crisis training…there is so much.”

She also has a cherished memory of supporting an individual to go on vacation in British Columbia. “We took the train to Vancouver. We stayed in a hotel together and took the ferry to Victoria. He was having so much fun. At one point, he turned to me and said, Alicia, it is my first time to see Victoria. You could see how happy he was.”

“I enjoy the individuals and learned a lot from Christine. I’ve known them for so long, I see these individuals as my family.”

Teresa Schoenberger

“My actual career choice was to be a nurse,” says Teresa Schoenberger, “But I don’t like needles.”

A 20-year veteran of Independent Advocacy, Teresa originally enrolled in the Rehabilitation Practitioner program at Grant MacEwan. She had her eye set on working with children. “I had 4 practicums. The last one, I said, I’ll take one with adults at Independent Advocacy. And…well, here I am!”

“It was the values, the beliefs that I shared with IA,” she says. “I figured it was an opportunity to get a position in the field I was going to school for. Christine had a real hands-on approach. I remember having a difficult incident once and she very encouraging. Her approach was more like, ‘make yourself a cup of tea and go sit outside.’”

“I knew I didn’t agree with an institutional approach. I would hear stories about other agencies from the other people in my program and I thought, you know, this agency is much more in line with my views. I really appreciated how I was mentored and treated by the agency.”

“The early days were different. Everything was on paper. Schedules and staffing were done differently. However, the individual’s needs have always been at the forefront. The management was never afraid to roll up their sleeves and lead by example.”

Teresa feels a deep connection to her chosen field. “I enjoy what I do. I enjoy seeing people progress. I enjoy making a difference in someone’s life. It may take a while to see a change, but when you do, you realize that it’s because of the engagement that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s the little changes you see over time that are so rewarding. The way individuals open up, respond. The positive changes – I watched one individual recently go from being closed off and resistant to supports to being able to ask for help. To see us as being there for them.”

Teresa also loves the practical experiences with the individuals and the day-to-day adventures. “I enjoyed the day-trips, the holidays, with individuals. To see them light up when they are doing something they truly enjoy.”

In 20 years, she has seen a lot of smiling faces.

In Closing

There have been many wonderful people involved with IA over the 30 years it has been in business, both individuals and staff. Though the work  obviously has its ups and downs, many choose to stay – often for years on end – because of the tangible difference this work makes in people’s lives. Many individuals who would never otherwise get to hold a job, to experience festivals or concerts or holidays, to live in clean, attractive, and stable homes, to see and be seen in their communities – they get to do so because Independent Advocacy exists today. Christine feels enriched by what she started all those years ago. “I would say that I learned far more from the individuals than they ever learned from me,” she says. 

So here's to 30 years and here’s to another 30 years more! A huge thank you to everyone who has ever received or given supports with IA! It would not exist without you!

A special thank-you to Teresa Schoenberger, who after so many years of service is moving on to new opportunities in her life. We wish you all the best Teresa!