Mind Forward Brain Injury Services (previously Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services)

Alright place to visit

This is Phil, 5+ stars. Amazing case workers and staff, I had abi injury and I’m now registered with there program

Mind Forward has compassionate staff who care about the clients and focus on the specific needs and care plan of each individual. They provide case management, day programs and courses, and social drop-in. They also have an excellent Supported Independent Living (SIL) program for home support for those who can live independently with help. Case management assists clients by connecting them with important services such as transportation, financial support programs, employment, and counseling. They are very professional in their approach to care, and very knowledgeable in their field. They listen to their clients, and act on suggestions for change when they can, in order to improve their services to the community. The clients they serve all have different needs and are at different levels of functioning both physically and cognitively. Some clients have visible disabilities, whereas others have invisible disabilities. Some clients have been in accidents, others are recovering from strokes, and there are those who acquired their brain injuries from medical conditions such as tumors, etc. A lot of what they do is practical -- they provide classes to help relearn skills such as kitchen prep and different levels of cooking skills, they have active programs like yoga and walking groups, and they offer courses on different types of writing (e.g., creative writing, script writing, poetry). They also offer music classes for different instruments and levels, vocal, as well as fun groups like karaoke, drama, creative arts, and games groups. Some additional valuable classes they've offered include memory class to help improve recall and provide additional tools to improve daily functioning, Adulting 101 (home economics and maintenance, meal planning, budgeting, etc.), managing stress, and courses that provide knowledge about brain injury (including courses on concussion for the community). During the pandemic, they're using Microsoft Teams to keep clients connected with them and each other, so they don't feel so isolated. They are running social groups online on different days. Overall, this is a great organization that has been very helpful and life-changing for many people as they work through brain injury rehab.

I find that My forward is a wonderful place where you could connect with other people with brain injuries. The clients at this facility able to utilize the Facility to engage in social groups and interact with clients. However, one of the staff members at the Windsor Hill facility Violet has shown to be very disrespectful, rude And uses her power over the clients negatively. For instance, for the Covid vaccine which we know has its limitations but, it is very helpful for people with disabilities. She has told multiple clients that the vaccine is harmful for them, she refers to the conspiracy theory with Bill Gates and says that is why His wife left him, She said that the government is trying to keep track of you so they put the substance in you to chip you, She refers to an example that her sister got the covid vaccine and she has been in pain ever since knowing that the clients get influence easily and are not able to distinguish that this is just her opinion and not a fact. She has yelled at other brain injury clients who have come to Windsor Hill because they showed up at the wrong time. She has a negative opinion of me because I have a husband and my best friend is a guy So, she has tarnished my name by saying why doesn’t she go call her husband why is she calling you And other things that I do not pay attention to. The final incident that has got me stirred up is that I was calling to check on my friend because he came back from a trip. One of the clients at Windsor Hill answered the phone and I heard her in the background saying oh just hang up just hang up. As the Dial tone sounded I was disgusted that a Staff member that is supposed to be compassionate towards people with disabilities were not have the discipline and patience to talk to them and tell them that sorry this is the wrong time to call.

Unfortunately, this organization consists of very disrespectful, unprofessional site supervisors. There are very good managers, but if you get caught with the passive aggressive ones who abuse their power/title it makes life very frustrating. Minimal work-life balance, managements contact staff at all hours of the night via text on personal phones whether on or off shifts. Nepotism is dominant throughout the organizational especially with management and frontline staff. Open door is a thing within the organization, however, management then uses those open door conversations to discipline staff if what being discussed goes beyond what the manager is willing to hear and discuss professionally. Under certain management, staff are placed in unfair working conditions taking on disproportional work loads. Clients in the organization are great but as mentioned previous, some members of management would benefit from management training and should be held accountable for their fluent disrespect towards staff. specifically management of colour towards staff of colour. When complaints are brought forward and staff human rights are violated staff is expected to accept consequences with an open arm and management is not held responsible.