Salvation Army Residential Support Program Helps Client with Autism Thrive

For over three decades, Arpi Tokmak and her family have dedicated most of their time to taking care of their son Sam, who has autism. After much consideration, the family came to the difficult decision to start looking for a long-term living solution for Sam. The Salvation Army’s Broadview Village in the Greater Toronto Area offers a residential support program, which provides appropriate living arrangements and support for individuals experiencing developmental disabilities.

“The staff has been wonderful from start to finish. They went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable with the move. They understand Sam’s needs and wants, and we are grateful he has a second family at Glencairn,” Arpi said.

“We are grateful he has a second family at Glencairn.”

Sam’s limited ability to communicate often leads to frustration. Arpi has tried to manage Sam over the years, as best she can.

“When he is happy, he is like a big teddy bear, very loving and attentive,” Arpi said. “But the problems arise when he is not happy. He can’t communicate with you. He can’t say ‘I want this’. He gets angry, and it snowballs from there.” Sam’s frustration sometimes causes him to be aggressive.

For the past four months, Sam has resided at Broadview Village’s Glencairn Campus near Angus, Ont. Arpi believed the rural setting would offer Sam a calm and serene environment. She is happy with the staff’s exceptional dedication to meeting Sam’s needs.

The Tokmak family has always been close-knit. For this reason, Glencairn’s staff worked to ensure a smooth transition for Sam. In the year leading up to the eventual move, they spent time getting to know him during regular visits to his Toronto home.

“It’s nice to know that Sam is happy there.”

Since moving, Sam has shown a significant overall improvement. He went from being dependent on his family to becoming more independent. He takes part in lots of activities and does his laundry now. He has a routine, which helps him to consistently manage his behaviour.

“It’s nice to know that Sam is happy there,” said his brother, Alex.

Seeing Sam move out was not easy for anyone in the family; however, they are happy to see the remarkable progress Sam has made in such a short period, and they are confident the move will help the overall enrichment of his life.

Though living apart, Sam maintains regular contact with his family through facilitated visits, video calls, and thoughtful gestures like sending postcards from his field trips. Arpi has also received Valentine’s and Mother’s Day cards from him.

As Sam continues to progress, Arpi eagerly looks forward to spending quality time with him again.

“Further down the line, I intend to bring him home for weekends to spend more time with us,” she said.

The Salvation Army’s Broadview Village provides support and services across the Greater Toronto Area for adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges through housing, residential and day support, and spiritual care programs.

By Juan Romero