When Rachel’s son was diagnosed with a rare disease during the pandemic, many of the supports her family relied on vanished overnight. But the Niagara West YMCA in Grimsby stayed open and ready to help.
“The YMCA was still open and thriving,” she says. “So, we joined the YMCA and utilized their pool for hydrotherapy for my son every single day.” For the past five years, Rachel has been a dedicated member, and the Y has become an essential part of her family’s journey.
“For any parent, raising children takes a village,” Rachel reflects. “But when you’re raising a child with a disability, you need a whole community.”
What stands out most to Rachel is the inclusive environment at the Grimsby Y. She has two sons, one able-bodied and one with a disability, and finding programs that accommodate both has often been a challenge. “At the Y, they can participate together. I don’t have to split my kids up. They’re both able to thrive in programming together.”
Rachel has also seen other families embrace that spirit of inclusion. “I’ve had parents of able-bodied kids ask if they can join in the same programs so they can learn more about inclusion. That makes me emotional, to see people show up with open hearts, ready to learn and connect.”
When they launched the first-ever wheelchair basketball camp, 15 kids in wheelchairs participated. Instead of judgment, she saw people cheering, saying things like, ‘This is wicked!’ It was heartwarming to see how much mindsets are changing.
Rachel was told there wouldn’t be space for her family in the community, that they’d be better off staying home. But she didn’t accept that. “I’m a bit of a disrupter,” she laughs. “I wasn’t okay with that.”
The staff at the Niagara West YMCA welcomed her family with compassion and commitment. “They didn’t just help us, they advocated with us. They helped create more support, not just for my family, but for other families too.”
Today, Rachel’s kids run through the YMCA’s doors in Grimsby, straight into the arms of staff who have become like family.
“It’s just so beautiful what you can do and build at the YMCA.”