Building Emotional
Well-Being for People with Intellectual Disabilities
People with intellectual disabilities often experience significant loss and life changes, yet they remain one of the most underserved populations when it comes to grief and emotional support. Changes in living situations, routines, relationships, or the loss of loved ones can deeply affect emotional well-being and may lead to feelings of sadness, isolation, or depression.
The Compassionate Grief Centre partners with local organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities to provide accessible, compassionate counselling. Individual sessions are offered on-site, once a week, in familiar and comfortable environments, reducing barriers and creating a sense of safety and trust. Participants are supported at their own pace and are free to talk about whatever matters most to them.
Our current partners include Vocational Training Centre, Key Industries, and L’Arche. Through these partnerships, we help foster emotional well-being, build trust, and support an improved quality of life for the individuals we are honoured to serve.
L’Arche Saint John is a welcoming community in Saint John, New Brunswick where adults with intellectual disabilities share life with assistants in supportive, home-like settings that foster belonging, friendship, and growth. The organization offers programs such as McKim House—a residential home where members live and connect daily—and Creative Connections, a vibrant arts-focused day program that encourages self-expression and community involvement. L’Arche also runs L’Arche Connects, a supported independent living program helping adults develop the skills and confidence to live more independently in their own apartments. (larche.ca)
The Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in the Saint John region is a non-profit charity supporting adults with intellectual and physical disabilities by offering tailored programs that build life skills, confidence, and independence in a respectful, community-oriented environment. Its hands-on activities include employment and life-skills classes, job coaching, thrift-store social enterprises like the Second Chance Online Thrift Store, and community participation opportunities that help participants gain real-world experience and meaningful connection. (vocationaltrainingcentre.ca)
Key Industries in Saint John, New Brunswick is an employment-first agency dedicated to empowering adults living with intellectual and other disabilities through personalised support, skill development, and community engagement programs. They offer a range of services including pre-employment training, job-readiness and coaching, personal and social development activities, and community connection experiences that help participants grow confidence, independence, and meaningful participation in work and life. Key Industries also provides specialized support for individuals with complex needs and operates social enterprises that reinvest in its mission of opening doors to opportunity. (keyindustries.ca)
