How One Mother Found Support She Could Trust for Her Family

For years, Sharon has been caring for her two adult children with developmental disabilities.

Like many caregivers, she was balancing countless responsibilities every day: supporting her children's goals, helping them navigate daily life, and making sure they had the care they needed to thrive.

At the same time, Sharon was managing her own autism, chronic health challenges, and mental health struggles.

Eventually, it became too much to carry alone. "I think I just kind of burned out. The candle just had no more to give."

When respite funding became available through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), Sharon knew she needed support. The challenge was figuring out where to find it.

"That was the first question. Where do I go?"

Like many families looking for developmental disability support services, Sharon wanted something affordable, reliable, and person-centred. More importantly, she wanted to find someone her children could genuinely connect with.

Finding the Right Match

When Sharon first began searching for support, she quickly learned that finding the right attendant wasn't always easy.

Consistency and reliability mattered, especially for adults with developmental disabilities who often thrive when relationships are built over time. "You want someone who understands your family and who follows through."

Over time, Sharon worked with several attendants, but it wasn't until she was matched with Tammie through Whimble that things truly clicked. "Tammie is a godsend."

What stood out immediately wasn't just Tammie's professionalism. It was the genuine connection she built with Sharon's family.

From the beginning, she took the time to get to know Sharon's adult child as a person, understanding their interests, goals, communication style, and what mattered most to them.

Building Trust Through Consistency

For Sharon, trust is one of the most important parts of receiving support. "Trust and loyalty are such a huge part of this engagement."

That trust wasn't built through a single interaction. It grew through consistency, reliability, and attention to the small things that make a difference.

Whether it was helping them remember medications, supporting daily routines, encouraging healthy habits, or simply being present, Tammie showed up in ways that helped Sharon feel confident that her children were in good hands.

"I feel safe having them in the same space as Tammie." That confidence gave Sharon something she hadn't had in a long time: peace of mind.

Supporting Independence and Community Participation

One of their goals is to participate more actively in the community.

With Tammie's support, they’ve been able to spend more time doing the things they enjoy while building independence and confidence along the way. Together, they've attended movies, gone out to eat, taken classes, gone for walks, and worked on everyday life skills.

For Sharon, what stood out wasn't just the activities themselves, but how they were chosen. "It really has to be what the client wants."

Instead of focusing on a checklist of tasks, Tammie focused on the client’s interests, preferences, and personal goals. That person-centred approach helped them feel empowered and supported in ways that felt meaningful to them.

Meeting People Where They Are

Every person with a developmental disability has different strengths, needs, and communication styles. Sharon's two children are no exception. While one child enjoys social activities and community involvement, the other prefers less interaction and more independence.

What impressed Sharon was how Tammie adapted her approach to each person rather than expecting them to fit into a predetermined model of support.

"Having someone understand our behaviours and who we are has been a tremendous help."

For Sharon, this demonstrated something important: great support is about meeting people where they are.

More Than Respite Care

While Whimble's support has made a meaningful difference for the children, Sharon is equally clear about its impact on her own life.

After years of caregiving, she finally had someone she could rely on. "Having somebody take on a majority of that role has been super, super helpful."

For the first time in a long time, she was able to focus on her own well-being, attend therapy appointments, and begin recovering from years of burnout. "It has been a tremendous help in my healing."

That support allowed her to step back from constantly managing every detail and trust that her children were still receiving the care they needed.

A Relationship That Feels Like Family

Over time, the relationship between Tammie and Sharon's family became something more than a service arrangement. Through shared experiences, mutual trust, and genuine care, Tammie became an important part of their support network. "We love her to death."

For Sharon, this is what meaningful disability support looks like. It's not just about filling hours or completing tasks. It's about finding the right person. Someone who understands the client, respects their goals, and helps them build a life that's meaningful to them.

A Clear Recommendation

When asked what she would say to someone considering Whimble, Sharon didn't hesitate.

"I have nothing bad to say about Whimble." What she values most is the combination of flexibility, responsiveness, and the effort Whimble puts into finding the right match for each client.

For Sharon's family, that match made all the difference. "It really has been a godsend."

And for a caregiver who had spent years carrying everything on her own, finding support she could trust created something invaluable: confidence, relief, and the space to heal.

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