Caring for our youth and adults, together.
A network of multicultural families and caregivers of youth and adults living with developmental disabilities, open to all who share the journey.
We are caregivers - family members, friends, and neighbors supporting youth and adults living with developmental disabilities in the Waterloo Region and the GTA. Rooted in our racialized, immigrant and newcomer communities, we came together to strengthen social connection, share culturally relevant resources, and stand beside one another.
What we do
Three ways we show up for one another.
Peer support
Caregiver-to-caregiver connection from people who truly understand the weight and the joy.
Resource sharing
Adulthood planning, program services, funding, employment support, advocacy and much more
Social connection
Belonging for families who often carry this journey in isolation.
Who we walk alongside
Families and caregivers of youth and adults with developmental disabilities from diverse cultural communities including racialized people, immigrants, and newcomers who deserve support that understands them.
supported
We connect with caregivers in the languages they speak at home. We aim to add more languages as we grow our membership.
“If you want people to understand you, speak their language.”
The barriers we’re here to address
Silence and shame that keep families from seeking help.
Services that overlook the realities of racialized families.
Information rarely offered in the languages families speak.
Little that is culturally relevant when navigating developmental services.
New, emerging, and growing with care
We’ve worked diligently to gather members and bring caregivers together, informally sharing resources with connected families.
Our hope is to formally share these resources and unite more caregivers so no family has to navigate this path without a community behind them.
Needs Assessment Survey
MCC is conducting a needs assessment survey in the Waterloo Region and the GTA to better understand the experiences, priorities, and challenges faced by our network.
The responses will be pivotal in guiding our strategic direction. Feedback on preferred languages for resources, the topics caregivers want to know more about, the barriers they face accessing support, and the peer connection they’d value most will help us tailor our activities to the real needs of our community.
The results will directly inform how MCC develops its resources and activities including which languages to translate materials into, which topics to prioritize in culturally relevant education, and what to discuss in our meetings. By letting the findings guide our planning, we’ll ensure every effort is community-driven and responsive to our caregivers’ needs.
Our path forward
We’re growing step by step over the coming year — from listening to our community, to building resources, to bringing caregivers together.
Listen
Launch our needs assessment survey and learn what our community needs most.
Build
Develop culturally relevant resources and begin our virtual “Caregiver Chai” gatherings.
Connect
Host our first in-person gatherings and share resources with families.
Grow
Keep bringing caregivers together and reflect on the difference we’re making.
Practical help, organized by what you’re facing
Adulthood planning
Preparing for the transition into adult services and life.
Passport funding
Guidance on applying for and using passport funding.
Financial & benefits
Navigating ODSP, caregiver tax credits, and benefit programs your family may qualify for.
Legal & planning
Plain-language explainers on power of attorney, guardianship, and future planning.
Your own wellbeing
Support for caregiver burnout, counselling options, and culturally responsive mental health care.
Volunteer With Us
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”
Spread the word
Tell other families, share our resources, and help us reach caregivers who feel alone.
Partner with us
Are you an organization or provider? Let’s connect families to culturally relevant support.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Reach out to connect with our network, share what you know, or simply be heard. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Caregiver Connection
The Ontario Caregiver Organization