Dear Editor:
Recently parents of special needs sons and daughters were informed of the permanent closing of ARC Industries in Guelph, which was a devastating decision for us as parents and our sons and daughters.
My son has been attending ARC for over 30 years, so this will cause a big hole in his everyday life. This is his social life, a day doing activities he enjoys, seeing friends, learning skills, etc. He is one of many who are not capable of holding down a job in the community, doing volunteer work or taking part in most community activities.
Before the Liberal government decided to close most of these facilities in Ontario, ARC Industries was a well run place for our sons and daughters. Since the changes, I was assured by two government officials that ARC would NOT be closing and my son would always have ARC to go to.
The staff are doing their best at this time of the pandemic, but when it is over, what then for those who still need a day program to go to? This was not a well thought out decision. People like my son will be vegetating at home.
While visiting my son last week he said “I want to go back to ARC.”
Those who sit behind desks, hold meetings and make these decisions don’t recognize the special place ARC has been to our sons and daughters and have made unqualified decision to take this away from our sons and daughters.
Sylvia Quinn,
Guelph