As a single mother, Donna Trella’s story goes back almost 30 years to the birth of her daughter, Dove.
A traumatic delivery resulted in both physical and developmental disabilities, but Donna was determined to give Dove the same opportunities that were available to other children.
Donna founded Reach for the Rainbow, a non-profit organization committed to the inclusion of children and young adults with disabilities into mainstream society.
Through this organization, tens of thousands of children with disabilities have attended summer camps, while offering much-needed respite for parents and care givers.
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“I don’t think any mother ever stops doing anything…it just gives me breathing space, it’s just a nice feeling to know that they are taken care of,” said parent Debbie Petrushchak.
Harbourfront Centre has been partnering with Reach for the Rainbow since 1998, providing one-to-one counsellor support to campers so that they can discover their full potential.
For autistic siblings Findlay and Gilby, summer camp has been a game changer as they get to meet other children.
“They get a little extra attention and those staff who are just kind of in charge of making sure that they get integrated into the program,” said Harbourfront Centre Camp Coordinator Assistant Nate Callens. “Not just being at camp, actually in there and doing their activities with everyone else.”
“Many opportunities available to children with challenges, don’t necessarily follow the one-to-one model, but we do, and parents have the confidence in our program. They know their children will not only be accepted, will not only be loved, but they will be safe,” said Trella.
Reach for the Rainbow is a pioneer in this area, and has provided an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of not only children, but their parents as well.
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