All it takes is “Hi”
from a story by Cameron Orr, Smithers Interior News

Leona Barendregt is a hard working 26-year-old. Her time is split between three jobs, some of which she has had for nearly a decade, and in 2007 she took courses at the Northwest Community College studying computers. She also likes to boast about her large family (she has three sisters and seven brothers).

As easy as she makes life seem, she has her share of challenges. Leona is part of a tight-knit group of people in Smithers who have a developmental disability. Leona’s is Down Syndrome, and she is helped by a vast support network of friends and family.

Down Syndrome is, in scientific terms, a condition where a person has extra genetic material, causing delays in a child’s development. Problems associated with it vary but a scientific definition of a condition doesn’t tell the story of a young woman who seems to be having the time of her life living in Smithers.

“I love it here,” said Leona, noting that she has lived in Smithers her entire life.

Some of her large family forms the basis of a support group, which meet with her about four or five times a month.They help her out as she plans out her future and right now are helping to raise funds to get her an apartment in town.

She is a busy person, especially when you include the fact that she’s a Special Olympic athlete in bowling, curling and swimming.

Smithers has opened its arms to her and she says that nothing is out of reach to her, and everyone has been very friendly. That view of the community is shared by Leona’s big sister, Clara Hofsink, who also runs the Recreation and Social Development program at the High Road Service Society.

“The help that the community has been giving has just been phenomenal,” she said.

Her program helps develop socialization and friendship building for persons with disabilities. “The opportunities that they’re having through this program are just endless,” she said, pointing out that participants get to ride horses and skate.

The number of people who drop in fluctuates, partially determined by the particular activity planned for the day, but runs between 10 to 15 people each morning. That’s a number, said Hofsink, that is increasing.

People are referred to the program by Community Living BC. While the public at large has become very supportive, there was an adjustment period when the group first started getting out into the community.

“I feel, when I first started going out in the community, you can see apprehension with the public, they’re not so sure where they stand with the individuals,” she said. “Once we do it on a regular basis it’s amazing how the community has been warming up to the individuals.”

In a report she provided at High Roads’ recent annual general meeting, she said that the individuals are very blessed to live in Smithers.

Hofsink is also pleased with CLBC’s Start with Hi initiative, which encourages all British Columbians to say “hi” to a person they see regularly who has a developmental disability.

“I support [the initiative] 100 per cent,” said Hofsink. “My other sister, she at one point said to me, when she came away from church a few of times, ‘If only they would say ‘hi’ I’d be happy. Nobody says ‘hi.’”

“So when I hear this it really warms my heart to hear how they’re trying to implement a program like that because it does mean a lot to them when people say ‘hi’ and not stare.”