Before Adam’s family connected with Easter Seals Alberta’s Family Resource Centre, their days were defined by limits.

Adam, now nine, lives with Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, scoliosis, and the effects of leukemia he battled in his first year of life. He has weak muscles, tires easily, and can’t walk long distances. Safety is a constant concern as he doesn’t understand danger and can run off without warning.

Outings were stressful and exhausting. A trip to the park or even a medical appointment meant Mona, his mom, had to juggle keeping Adam safe, carrying his belongings, and caring for his younger sister. The barriers were so overwhelming that more often than not, the family stayed home. Simple joys like fresh air, playing outside, or visiting friends felt impossible, leaving the family isolated and cut off from the world around them.

Everything changed when Mona connected with the Easter Seals Alberta Family Resource Centre. Through the Family Resource Centre’s equipment loan program, Adam received a specialized stroller, large enough to support his needs, sturdy enough for outdoor adventures, and secure enough to keep him safe.

“We stayed home a lot,” Mona says. “I couldn’t manage both kids safely on my own. We missed out on so much. The stroller provides him with a comfortable place to sit and rest while we’re on the go, allowing us to focus on managing our time and getting to appointments on schedule”.

Now, Adam can go places without the barriers that once held him back. With the stroller, he is safe, he can enjoy his childhood, and he no longer has to face challenges just walking out the door.

Thanks to the stroller, Adam’s family could finally take a vacation something once impossible. It’s more than equipment, it gives Adam inclusion, his sister a childhood, and his parents peace of mind, so they can share life’s simple joys together. They can enjoy the park, attend appointments with less stress, and take part in everyday life.

The Family Resource Centre is more than an equipment loan program, it’s a lifeline. Families come to us for tools, resources, and guidance that help them live without limits and turning barriers into freedom.

As a hub for every stage of life, from early childhood to adulthood, families know they can reach out with any question and find compassion, expertise, and real solutions.

We walk beside families through big milestones, whether it’s applying for Guardianship and Trusteeship, navigating programs like Family Supports for Children with Disabilities, Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped or preparing for the transition into adulthood. With your support, families feel less overwhelmed and more empowered and able to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.

At the Family Resource Centre, families don’t just find answers, they find hope.

With your help last year, the Family Resource Centre empowered more than 22,000 Albertans through equipment support, scholarships, guardianship and trusteeship services, and family assistance. Right now, more families are waiting for the freedom and independence the Family Resource Centre provides.

Your gift can open that door and change a life forever.