Supporting a Family, Building a Community

“It has been a lifesaver in so many ways...The help and support of Manitoba Possible has become our family support.”

Pictures of Ella and family/friends in Polaroid style frames. The leftmost picture features Ella and her brother Simon with Jaylene and Jenna-Lee Irwin, the middle picture features Ella and her family bundled up outside on a snowy winters day, and the rightmost picture is a selfie of Ella, Jacqueline and Simon.

Jacqueline Monteith is very thankful she trusted her ‘mother’s intuition’ when her daughter Ella was 18 months old. Jacqueline, a high school teacher in Northern Manitoba, felt that Ella was not developing as a child should at her age. Despite being told by many doctors and other healthcare professionals that everything was fine, Jacqueline followed her gut instinct and moved back to her home in Winnipeg to pursue additional developmental checks for Ella.

Ella, Jacqueline and Simon huddle together to take a picture.

Jacqueline’s intuition was right. Ella was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss at three years old. This diagnosis was not what Jacqueline was expecting, but looking back she realized that Ella was very good at hiding her hearing loss. Ella would grab her mom’s cheeks every time Jacqueline spoke; lip reading disguised as a cute toddler gesture. Ella spoke well enough that Jacqueline could understand “Ella’s language” and communicate with her, but no one else could.

 With this diagnosis, Ella became a client with the Communication Centre for Children (CCC) at Manitoba Possible. At CCC, Ella was connected with various professionals including a Speech Language Pathologist and ASL Specialist who helped open up the world of communication to Ella and her family. They assisted with learning American Sign Language (ASL) and working with a speech-language pathologist to help Ella participate equally and fully in her home and community. Her CCC team also connected the family with Jaylene and Jenna-Lee Irwin. This sister duo were Ella’s first respite workers who also happened to be recreation facilitators for children and youth who are Deaf and hard of hearing at Manitoba Possible.

Ella stands proudly outside in summer, her hands on her hips and hair in pigtails.

Today, Ella is a funny, bright, energetic thirteen-year-old with tons of creativity and light to share with everyone. Jaylene and Jacqueline both agree Ella is the most empathetic child they have ever met. She wears her heart on her sleeve, always very concerned if someone is not well. Jaylene believes “Ella sees the world differently, opening our eyes to so much more.”

Through the unexpected loss of Ella’s father when she was five to present day, Jaylene, Jenna-Lee, Ella’s CCC team and Children’s Service Coordinator at Manitoba Possible have become a second family to the Monteiths. Ella’s team provided respite so Jacqueline could keep her job, take a break with friends, attend ASL classes or catch up on housework. They also made sure Ella and her younger brother Simon were involved in every Manitoba Possible program available to Deaf and hard of hearing children and their siblings, from Fun and Sign events and summer camps, to music therapy. These vital programs would not be possible without the incredible support of Manitoba Possible donors like you.

 “Ella strongly identifies as being Deaf and thrives in the Deaf community” says Jaylene. “Giving her the opportunity to connect with peers outside of school, participate in programs that bring kids together where they can maintain relationships and build a stronger identity in the Deaf community is amazing.”

Manitoba Possible Deaf and hard of hearing recreation programs focus on reducing isolation, strengthening social skills, and providing an opportunity to connect with Deaf peers and role models.

While bilateral hearing loss was Ella’s first diagnosis, Ella has several challenges that she faces every day. Ella has global cognitive delays of 5+ years, epilepsy, ADHD and more. Jaylene observes that “Ella thrives in an environment that supports both oral language and American Sign Language and an environment where she can be her total and complete self. Having Deaf adults and older youth to look up to has been huge for her development.” You can provide this life changing experience to more children and youth like Ella by supporting Manitoba Possible this holiday season.

One particular moment that stands out for Jacqueline was Ella receiving an adaptive alarm clock funded by Bell MTS Employee Charity Trust through Manitoba Possible’s Assistive Technology Program. The alarm clock provides vibration instead of sound, giving Ella the independence to set the alarm herself and wake up on time to start the day. Ella wrote and presented a speech at a thank you event, a gesture that was completely voluntary. Jacqueline recalls “she wrote her speech, got up in front of the group, read her speech and loved that!”

The impact of your generosity to Manitoba Possible allows staff like Jaylene and Jenna-Lee to expand programming to more children and youth like Ella across the province, providing not only a recreation experience but a critical social environment. Donor contributions are also the exclusive funding source for Assistive Technology like Ella’s adaptive alarm clock, providing independence to children, youth, and adults with disabilities in Manitoba.

 Together, we can provide access to resources and supports that enable all Manitobans to participate fully and equally in all aspects of life.

Thank you for sharing in this giving season.