Family Reflects on Impact Five Counties Has Had On Their Lives
From left, former Five Counties client Laura and her mom Linda.
Laura Viscardis doesn’t mince words when she describes where she would be without Five Counties Children’s Centre.
“I’d still be stuck at home with my parents,” Laura says, matter-of-factly. “Sorry, Mom. No offense.”
Sitting beside her daughter at the kitchen table of Laura’s apartment in East City, Mom Linda Viscardis laughs heartily. She is not offended, because Laura believes the legacy of the Children’s Treatment Centre helped shape Laura’s mantra: I want to be independent, not dependent.
“We were so blessed to have Five Counties Children’s Centre in our life,” Linda notes. “It’s not even a typical place. It was our home away from home.”
As Five Counties celebrates 50 years in 2025, stories like the Viscardis family’s show that early treatment services can have a lifelong impact. In her case, Laura was diagnosed shortly after birth with a rare genetic difference that affected all facets of her development. When Laura was 20 months old, she was referred to Five Counties because she wasn’t reaching typical milestones for her age, like crawling, sitting, playing, talking, and sleeping at night.
“In the early years, we weren’t sure Laura would walk independently or communicate with words,” Linda says. “We could not envision what benefit she would get from school, or whether (Laura) would ever enjoy any level of independence.”
When she was referred to the Children’s Treatment Centre in 1986, Laura began receiving occupational, physical and speech therapies. Eventually, she also joined in recreational activities. She continued receiving services at Five Counties until 2003, when she turned 19 and aged out of services.
Linda credits Five Counties with helping her daughter to walk, talk, socialize with friends, and become more independent. “It changed our trajectory,” Linda says.
Laura remembers that speech support at Five Counties didn’t just happen during therapy sessions. When she first started going there, she was part of a daycare program. One of her favourite memories is riding “Hub’s bus” to preschool. Even before she could have simple conversations, “he taught me songs on the bus, and I’d sing them,” she says.
In school, Laura was integrated in regular classes and got support when she needed it. She graduated from high school at age 17, together with her peers. After graduating, she received a bursary which she used to create a presentation called, All About Me.
Laura shared it with schools and organizations to show what people with disabilities can accomplish when they have a vision and the right support.
In 2009, on her birthday, Laura moved out of her parents’ home into her own apartment. She still lives on her own today, with help from several support workers through the week. Although the pandemic brought her 15-year paid job to an end, Laura continues to volunteer in the community. Her motto — I want to be independent, not dependent – is proudly displayed on a piece of artwork in her apartment called Bella Vita, which means “beautiful life” in Italian. This artwork illustrates what’s important to her, what she’s capable of, and how others may support her in reaching her goals.
“Five Counties helps children with disabilities achieve more because we want to help them live independently. For me, it’s made a huge difference,” Laura says.
Linda agrees, based on her own family’s experience and the nine years she spent serving on Five Counties’ board of directors.
“The strategies I learned at Five Counties really helped me as a parent too,” Linda says. “Our family found acceptance, no judgment, and support and knowledge and connections. So many good things came out of our time at Five Counties.”
Laura shown with long-time (and now retired) Five Counties pediatrician, Dr. Mary Thain.
Category: General News