Tuesday February 9, 2021 

The Hamlets at Westsyde strives to deliver the best person-centered care possible for all residents including our young adults. We are not all seniors here at the Hamlets. We range from the ages of 19 to 65 and manage a variety of disabilities and co-morbidities such as: multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, mental health disorders, down syndrome, osteoporosis, epilepsy, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, stroke, and autism spectrum disorders.  Living as a young adult with a disability has its challenges... the Covid-19 pandemic has made some challenges even more difficult. The young adult’s program at The Hamlets at Westsyde is looking forward to the development and implementation of an arcade room. Through fundraising and communal donations, we want to generate a space where us young adults can play, laugh, socialize, and escape. 

Let us imagine a day where the pandemic doesn’t exist. It’s a Saturday afternoon and you decide you’d like to go to the local arcade and have some fun. For someone who walks through their life without a disability this seems like an easy task. A young adult with a disability must consider transportation, cost, accessibility and more - and sometimes its not so simple. For one of us, navigating an outing could look like this: 

I want to go to the arcade today: 

• Do I need a companion to go with me?


• How do I get there? I cannot drive and need transportation. Can I take the public bus? Only if it has  Wheelchair lift and accessible spots, if not then I need to take HandyDart (Public transportation for people with disabilities). HandyDart needs to be booked in advance. How far in advance? Do I have a pass  (50$/month), or do I need a one-way ticket (2$) or a round trip (4$)? Can I afford that fare?  


• Is the arcade accessible to me? Is there a wheelchair ramp or enough room for a walker? Can I get around the space easily? Are there wheelchair accessible bathrooms?


• Are there games I can play with one hand? Are there games accessible to wheelchairs? • How much sensory stimulation (noises, smells, lights) can I manage today?


• Can I afford the entrance fee/pay for tickets?


• Do I need money for food? Do they accommodate my dietary needs? 


• What if I need to leave suddenly? Is there a safe space for me? Can I get home quickly and safely? 

All these questions are ones a young adult experiencing a disability needs to ask before we can have a fun day at the arcade. That is a lot of factors to take into consideration. And that is without factoring in Covid-19. 

In the world we live in currently, places deemed non-essential (arcades included) are closed and we are not allowed to leave our home due to government-mandated safety regulations. The one-year mark of Covid-19 is almost here, and we still have not been able to enjoy the things we used to. We are now living in a time where we must adapt and create our ‘new’ normal. Having an arcade space in our own home eliminates the barriers mentioned above and brings back some normalcy to our lives. Importantly, it will bring back fun and excitement,  increasing our quality of life.

With the communities’ support we can achieve our goal. This arcade space is for us unique young adults. We are given the autonomy to include items that are developed for our specific needs wants and desires. These items include:

• Fresh, bright paint 


• Arcade themed wall décor 
  
  
  
  • Neon signs 
  
  
  • Posters 
  
  
  • Big sign with our chosen arcade name 
  
  
  
  


• Coloured strip lighting 


• Quiet computer space 


• Jukebox  


• Café  
  
  
  
  •  Popcorn machine 
  
  
  • Water cooler 
  
  
  • Old-style candy machine 
  
  
  
  


• Accessible Games:  
  
  
  
  • Industrial sized arcade games such as: Buck Hunter, Galaga, Tetris, Frogger, Street Fighter, Burger  Time, racing games 
  
  
  • Other games such as: Basketball toss, Wack-A-Mole, Pinball, Skee-Ball, magnetic dartboard, Claw  machine 
  
  
  • Table-top games such as: hockey, foosball, pool, poker mat (or a four-in-one version) o Table for playing cards and board games 
  
  
  
  

This pandemic has been one of the most difficult challenges we have and potentially will have to face. We are reaching out asking for your help to break through the barriers and increase our quality of life through this new arcade room. 

The arcade is important to us because: 

“It will get me out of my room to socialize and play games.” – Deb Farquharson  

“Breaks the monotony and makes our house feel more like a home.” – Jennifer Shelstad

“Gives us something to look forward to.” – Curtis Luck 

Thanking you in advance for all of your support. 

Sincerely, 

The young adults at The Hamlets at Westsyde

With your donation(s) comes the Levels of Sponsorships. These levels include: