{"id":18,"date":"2022-01-16T20:50:49","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T20:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:51:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:51:57","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<h3><a name=\"joindre\"><\/a><br \/>\nContact us<\/h3>\n<p>Phone: 450-266-1566<br \/>\nAddress: 112-370 rue de la Rivi\u00e8re, Cowansville, Qu\u00e9bec, J2K 1N3<\/p>\n<p>General manager: Maurice M\u00e9nard<\/p>\n<p>Activities and Communications coordinator: Danielle Brulotte<\/p>\n<p><strong>Send us an email<\/strong><br \/>\n<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-461\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-461\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"461\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18\" data-token=\"3b5f40e691f7d65c99a15124415b3354\" data-token-time=\"1777491409\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\"><div id=\"wpforms-461-field_0-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-id=\"0\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-461-field_0\">Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-461-field_0\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][0]\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-461-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"1\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-461-field_1\">Email address <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-461-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1]\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-461-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"2\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-461-field_2\">Message<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-461-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" ><\/textarea><\/div><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"461\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"url_referer\" value=\"\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-461\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending ...\" data-submit-text=\"Send\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Send<\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/wpforms-lite\/assets\/images\/submit-spin.svg\" class=\"wpforms-submit-spinner\" style=\"display: none;\" width=\"26\" height=\"26\" alt=\"Loading\"><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container --><br \/>\n<a name=\"apphbm\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>APPHBM &#8211; Family partner<\/h3>\n<p>The Association de Parents de Personnes Handicap\u00e9es de Brome-Missisquoi (APPHBM) is a non-profit organization that brings together parents of youth or adults 12 years of age and older who have an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder. We serve members in the greater Brome-Missisquoi region of 21 municipalities.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; float: right;\"><a style=\"text-align: right;\" href=\"#page\">To the top<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"mission\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Our mission<\/h3>\n<p>Provide parents, families, guardians, caregivers and loved ones of children, adolescents or adults living with an intellectual disability and\/or autism spectrum disorder or other disability (under 18):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>support and services they need to deal with their own realities and challenges. Among the following activities, but not limited to: reception, listening, reference, advice, representation, accompaniment, information, training, school daycare, respite, etc.<\/li>\n<li>appropriate activities, services and support, with the aim of promoting their development, development, autonomy and social participation. Activities, but not limited to: daytime activities, sports and therapeutic recreation, development of various skills and abilities, integration, inclusion and social participation, support, integration and inclusion at work, development of a social network, transition from school to working life, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To raise awareness among the general population, the community, school and business community, as well as the health and social services network, about the realities and needs of families, as well as the realities, needs and potential for social participation of people living with an intellectual disability and\/or autism spectrum disorder or other disability (under the age of 18).<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; float: right;\"><a href=\"#page\">To the top<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"historique\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>History<\/h3>\n<p>The APPHBM has been in existence since <strong>1982<\/strong>. Its work has been based since the very beginning on the volunteer work of parents of people with disabilities and their willingness to work together to help each other and to advance the causes that are dear to them.<br \/>\nIt all began in <strong>1981<\/strong>, designated \u00abAnn\u00e9e Internationale des personnes handicap\u00e9es\u00bb. To contribute to this event and to respond to the request of several parents, the Cowansville Volunteer Centre agrees to sponsor a project to create an association of parents of people with disabilities. For example, the Centre de b\u00e9n\u00e9volat, in collaboration with the Commission scolaire et l\u2019\u00c9ducation des adultes, presented the project to the Ministre de l\u2019\u00e9ducation, who accepted it. The first meeting of the Association took place on <strong>November 5, 1981<\/strong>: 15 parents are present. In December 1981 a provisional board of directors was formed. In <strong>May 1982<\/strong>, the Association obtained a charter from the Quebec government for a non-profit association. The association then began to create activities such as \u00abVivre Pleinement\u00bb and \u00abJeux et sports collectifs\u00bb. Following training for caregivers of disabled children, the respite-keeper service was set up and maintained assiduously until <strong>1994<\/strong>. Between <strong>1987<\/strong> and <strong>1990<\/strong>, a telephone information service was created to answer questions from parents.<br \/>\nIn <strong>1984<\/strong>, a real battle began to obtain speech-language services in the region. The Association urged the Commission scolaire D\u2019Avignon to become more involved in the issue and raise awareness of the issue among parents and teachers. At the annual general meeting on <strong>May 17, 1989<\/strong>, Mr. Claude Beauregard, coordinator of THE GAPHRY, informed the meeting that a new project presented by the director of the Granby CLSC had been selected.<br \/>\nIn <strong>1991<\/strong>, the project in question led to the opening of the Centre Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie de R\u00e9adaptation, which would allow several children to benefit from speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.<br \/>\nIn <strong>2000<\/strong>, the APPHBM sponsored the social \u00abClub les copains\u00bb which aims to allow members aged 16 and over to enjoy leisure activities on a regular basis, to integrate into a strong social network and at the same time to offer parents moments of respite. In the same way, in <strong>2004<\/strong>, the APPHBM set up the \u00abClub des g\u00e9nies\u00bb to provide activities for young people aged 6 to 15.<br \/>\nIn <strong>2009<\/strong>, the APPHBM came back to life after a period of floating and a year spent reorganizing itself. New members are involved in the Board of Directors and intend to bring the Association closer to its members. A three-year grant from the Fondation Butters allows the Association to provide respite services to parents of people with disabilities.<br \/>\nThis period <strong>2009 &#8211; 2012<\/strong> is a key period for the Association, which is stabilizing and strengthening its achievements as well as its partnerships with the community and with stakeholders in the regional health network. A program of lectures on topics of interest to parents of intellectual disability and \/ or autism spectrum disorder people also emerged during this period.<br \/>\nIn <strong>2012<\/strong>, our Association is experiencing a new momentum and celebrates its <strong>30 years of existence<\/strong> with a renewed dynamism, notably by the hiring of a coordinator of intellectual disability and\/or autism spectrum disorder activities specializing in therapeutic leisure activities and by the gradual implementation of several innovative projects, in collaboration with the school and community circles. Examples include Saturday respite-youth days, respite-youth weekends, a Ministry-recognized outreach\/volunteer program for high school students, adult community workshops, a new after-school daycare for 12-21 year olds!<br \/>\nAround <strong>2012<\/strong>, in order to complement its service offer to 12- 21 year-olds and their parents, the APPHBM is starting a new project during the summer school holidays, namely: a &#8220;Specialized Day Camp&#8221;. This program, which has had a precarious start, increases its participation from year to year. Thanks to grants from the City of Cowansville, Minit\u00e8re de la Famille,, Employment-Canada and the support of the management of Massey-Vanier High School, which agrees to lend the space and equipment required for certain activities that can be carried out. In 2019, we had 516 participations spread over 35 days, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>2013<\/strong>, the APPHBM entered into service agreements with CSSS La Pommeraie (following the framework) to offer daytime activities to adult users in &#8220;maintenance of achievement&#8221;. These agreements allow us to create as a Parent Association the kind of day activities we want for our children and to assign competent staff to them. The success of the project at the Vignoble de l\u2019Orpailleur encourages us to continue in this direction. Sometime later we moved to the Hameau l&#8217;Oasis \/ Auberge la Belle verte. Following the sale of this property, we had to relocate. From March to December <strong>2017<\/strong>, we occupied two premises: the centre communautaire John-Sleeth and the Fabrique Saint-Andr\u00e9 in Sutton.<\/p>\n<p>In January <strong>2018<\/strong>, our La Cl\u00e9 des D\u00e9brouillards program moved to a 4 \u00bd apartment located in a duplex on J-A Deragon Street. Participants were more than happy to finally have a place of their own that they could decorate and leave their mark on. The administration office was located a few blocks away.<\/p>\n<p>February 27, <strong>2020 <\/strong>: the <strong>Covid-19 <\/strong>pandemic arrives in Quebec. Our activities had to be cancelled for several months. Unfortunately, many families have noticed a deconditioning in our participants with vulnerabilities. The return to activities was therefore more than expected. Sanitary measures were put in place for the health and safety of all. It is with great joy that we were able to meet again.<\/p>\n<p><strong>April 2021<\/strong> : in order to centralize our facilities, we were lucky enough to find a very nice and large room (# 111) for our Cl\u00e9 des D\u00e9brouillards activities and a second room (# 112) in the same building for our administrative office. We are now located at 370 rue de la Rivi\u00e8re, in Cowansville. From the first day, we could see the impact on the faces of our participants who find themselves in this beautiful place, all lit up and all in the same room.<\/p>\n<p>Also because of the pandemic, the loan of premises to Massey-Vanier High School (school activities and day camp) as well as to the CRDI rue des Textiles (Saturday respite) forced us to question ourselves. <strong>December 2021 <\/strong>: the demand from parents for respite and from our participants for outings in the community, led us to the conclusion that renting 4 new premises (107 &#8211; 108 &#8211; 109 &#8211; 110) had become a necessity. So we moved all our equipment to the same place. From that moment on, it became much easier for the workers to organize activities and to help each other.<\/p>\n<p>In <strong>2022<\/strong>, our Association celebrates its <strong>40th <\/strong>anniversary ! How proud we are to be part of this great team. To celebrate, we offer you 5 videos with touching testimonials. See on the home page.<\/p>\n<p>In the fall of <strong>2023<\/strong>, we&#8217;re excited and proud of a new Wow project: the creation of a magnificent multi-sensory room. With its many possibilities, this completely soundproof space is an immediate invitation to relaxation. The result will be a host of benefits for our participants and caregivers.<\/p>\n<p>Our association is committed to offering quality services in order to respond to the desire of parents who want their children, now adults, to have rich and busy lives where they can blossom and be happy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The APPHBM, more than ever a partner of families, involved in its community!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; float: right;\"><a href=\"#page\">To the top<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"conseil\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Our Board of Directors<\/h3>\n<p>The APPHBM is a not-for-profit organization formed by letters patent under the third part of the Companies Act on May 14, 1982. Its Board of Directors currently consists of six (6) volunteer directors, parents of people living with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and other active members of the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, the day-to-day management of the Association and all its services and activities is the responsibility of our Managing Director Maurice M\u00e9nard.<br \/>\nHere are the board members who were elected at our annual general meeting, Tuesday, June 3, 2025<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jean Robillard, President<\/li>\n<li>Jacqueline Lemoine, Vice-president<\/li>\n<li>Nathalie Robitaille, Treasurer<\/li>\n<li>Mimi Sandra H\u00e9bert, Administrator<\/li>\n<li>Maurice M\u00e9nard, Administrator<\/li>\n<li>Rosanne Lavoie : Administrator<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please note that Danielle Brulotte (Activities + communications coordinator) is designated as the secretary for the Board of Directors meetings.<\/p>\n<p>The Board of Directors held nine (9) regular meetings during the year.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; float: right;\"><a href=\"#page\">To the top<\/a><\/div>\n<p><a name=\"dons\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Donations<\/h3>\n<div><strong>June 2025<\/strong>: With the generosity of the Butters Foundation, we were able to provide 20 families, members of the APPHBM, with food baskets worth $250.<br \/>\nTHANK YOU to the Butters Foundation for thinking of our members !<br \/>\nThanks also to IGA in Cowansville for adding food items, boxes, and free delivery.<br \/>\nAnd finally, thank you to our Board of Directors volunteers : Mimi Sandra H\u00e9bert and Jacqueline Lemoine for their efforts and for packing the food baskets.<\/div>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border: none;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 5px 10px 5px 5px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-688 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons4-sm-300x144.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons4-sm-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons4-sm.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 5px 10px 5px 5px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-685 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons1-sm-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons1-sm-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons1-sm.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 5px 10px 5px 5px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-687 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons3-sm-297x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons3-sm-297x300.jpg 297w, https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons3-sm.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 5px 10px 5px 5px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-686 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons2-sm-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons2-sm-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dons2-sm.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; float: right;\"><a href=\"#page\">To the top<\/a><\/div>\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Contact us Phone: 450-266-1566 Address: 112-370 rue de la Rivi\u00e8re, Cowansville, Qu\u00e9bec, J2K 1N3 General manager: Maurice M\u00e9nard Activities and Communications coordinator: Danielle Brulotte Send us an email APPHBM &#8211; Family partner The Association de Parents de Personnes Handicap\u00e9es de Brome-Missisquoi (APPHBM) is a non-profit organization that brings together parents of youth or adults 12 &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/about-us\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;About us&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-18","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18"}],"version-history":[{"count":70,"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":709,"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18\/revisions\/709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apphbm.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}