History
Gateway Society
For thirty years Gateway Society Services for Persons with Autism has served adults and children with autism and pervasive developmental disabilities, and their families. This year Gateway Society proudly celebrates its history, its achievement of two successful CARF accreditations to date, and the development of new programs and services as we move forward into the next decade. Throughout Gateway’s thirty years Variety The Children’s Charity has been a stalwart and solid supporter. This unique partnership actually started in 1973 when Variety Club Vancouver Tent 47 sponsored a summer program for children with autism and provided capital funding assistance. Gateway House opened in 1976 in Ladner as a summer hostel and was operated by the Autism Society of British Columbia (formerly the Pacific Association for Autistic Citizens). In 1979 the hostel became a full time residential care home for adolescents with autism. The history of Gateway Society formally began when on November 22, 1978 Gateway House Society became a registered non-profit society and a provincial resource.
Gateway House, 1983
In 1980 Gateway began to receive funding from the Ministry of Health for psychiatric consultations.
In 1982 the Council for Exceptional Children awards Gateway for Outstanding Vocational Programming.
In 1984 the Family Care Home Program was established and is now known as Home Sharing.
In 1985 Variety Club of BC awards Gateway with a grant of $500,000.00 and an interest free loan for the establishment of Variety’s Gateway Residence which opened October 17, 1986.
In 1986 BC Lotteries donates for the new Gateway building and the opening ceremony for Variety’s Gateway Residence takes place.
In 1989 Gateway began to start to develop group homes for adults with autism and opened Chestnut House in Ladner.
In 1991 the Gateway Guesthouse opens (now Georgia House in Ladner) and the Ministry enhances service to families of children with autism and provides contracts for Behaviour Support Services Lower Mainland and North. Currently Gateway Society offers Behavioural Support Services to families from the Lower Mainland to the Yukon border.
In 1991, to better reflect the services and programs, our name was changed to Gateway Society – Services for Persons with Autism. In 2007 our mandate of persons we serve includes children and adults with a diagnosis of Autism; Developmental Disability with Autistic characteristics and/or Behavioural challenges; Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified;
Fragile X Syndrome; Asperger’s Syndrome; Rett Syndrome; Mucopolysaccharidoses; Tuberous Sclerosis; Phenylketonuria; Congenital Rubella Syndrome; Cornelia de Lange Syndrome; Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome; and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
In 1997 the Gateway Parent Advisory Group starts and has operated as the official advocacy and support group for families ever since.
In 1999 Crossroads Day Program is developed and is known as an outstanding program for adults with autism. In 2008-2009 Gateway Society will be developing its business plan to develop supported employment services for adults.
During 2002 – 2004 North Delta House operated as a residential program and offered a unique life skills program in 2005.
In 2004 Georgia House Residential and Day Program Services opens operating in two side by each apartments.
In 2005 Gateway achieves a 3 year accreditation status with no recommendations – an achievement to be proud of.
In 2006 Gateway is recognized by the Crisis Prevention Institute as an International Site of Excellence for the quality of NCI Instruction.
Gateway Society, Today
On June 2, 2008 Gateway Society receives notification of its second 3rd year CARF Accreditation.
In 2008 Gateway Society embarked upon an exciting partnership with Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) which will see the transformation of our current Children’s Residential Services into a provincial site of excellence and best practice. Short term acute stays in the Children’s Provincial centre will occur. Our behavioural and intervention approaches will continue to involve ABA and delivered by an interdisciplinary team. The focus of our new model will be through our outreach and support teams which will travel to and support children with autism, their families and service providers in the child’s home community. Behavioural consultation and support services, training and education including direct teamed support will be the features of this capacity building arm of service.
Gateway Parents' Advocacy Group (G.P.A.G)
In 1997-1998, a group of parents came together to facilitate communication and networking, and to advocate for continuation of Gateway’s specialized services. In 1999, Gateway’s Board of Directors gave the group official recognition as the group representing the parents associated with the Society and invited the group to appoint two of its members to positions on the Board to officially represent Gateway parents. The group continues to work with the Gateway organization in the interests of Gateway families and their children receiving services. |
