History
Calgary SCOPE Society is a non-profit agency committed to providing a wide range of high quality, innovative services that support people with disabilities to be respected, contributing members of Calgary's communities.
Our History
The Calgary SCOPE Society (SCOPE) was set up in the early 1980s to work with people who were "falling through the cracks" between a number of service systems-people who have a dual diagnosis of developmental disability and mental illness, often with accompanying severe behavioural issues. The commitment of the agency has been to work beside people whose ability to stay in the community is in jeopardy and to ensure that they can continue to be active citizens in their communities.
Over the past two decades, SCOPE has significantly expanded its work to include support across the lifespan for people with disabilities who have complex needs and their families.
Programs such as counseling services for individuals, families and small groups was introduced in addition to family and child support are offered through two programs: Gateways and Outreach. Each program offers families information and skill building activities to improve the quality of life for the individual and family who is supporting the child.
Additionally, in the 1990s, SCOPE originated a number of community development initiatives. This work began in seniors' communities called Journeys (working with seniors communities to successfully include older people with developmental disabilities) and has continued with development of arts (disability arts/Picture this...film festivals, mentorship in the arts, contact dance workshops), self-advocacy (Disability Action Hall/Speak Out, community planning retreats and many more projects and programs. Community development projects/programs are grassroots, arise out of issues identified by community members, work across a variety of communities and often create very innovative solutions to community problems.