enVision celebrates 70 years of working in the community

For 70 years, enVision Community Living has been building connections in the Southeast by serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.

“It’s quite an achievement for the organization. I think it’s exciting…But I think that’s the nice thing about anniversaries, it gives you that chance to reflect and be proud of the things that have been achieved,” said executive director Jeannette DeLong, noting the responsiveness of the organization to what was needed by the people it serves was something that stands out in her mind as she looked back on the history of enVision.

The non-profit started as a small group of families who felt that their children should be allowed to enter the public school system, something that wasn’t allowed for people with intellectual disabilities in 1956, and for the next 10 years, the organization functioned as a school.

In 1973, the first residence was established in Steinbach, Kindale Manor. The young adults who lived there were either returning to the community from an institution or were leaving their parents’ home.

The 60 years following its role as a school, enVision branched out and established the department of supported independent living, residential services, day services, and employment services under the Eastman Employment Services banner.

“It’s very much driven by if one thing is possible, then what’s the next thing? And so, it’s not just this desire to be changing all the time, it’s that we learn things about what people are capable of and what the community is capable of and open to it. And then you find that opportunity, and you open the door and walk alongside people as they go through the door to participate in opportunity,” said DeLong, noting the driving force behind the organization are the families of its 300 clients and the 400 staff members who work at the non-profit.

DeLong said that enVision is not about the staff or the organization itself, rather it’s about opening doors for people.

“But we also can’t do that unless the community is open and receptive. You know, there still is some discrimination that happens against people who live with an intellectual disability, people not being accepted. It’s helpful if the community is curious about people, if they meet somebody to have them get to know them,” she said.

DeLong shared that all enVision clients want is to belong and to be accepted, and a place where they can use their skills and learn new skills as well.

“You know, people aren’t looking for highly complex things in their life. They’re looking for a good life that’s got good relationships and a good way to exercise your skills and to achieve something, to fulfill their purpose, to figure out what their purpose is, each person as an individual, and to be able to find a place where they can fulfill that,” she said

enVision has also supported its clients to hold down a variety of community-based jobs in retail, the service industry, working in offices, and it also helps clients with volunteering.

In 1980, enVision established Kindale Industries, which offered vocational training, but it shuttered last year due to a decline in clients, layoffs of staff, and a desire from its clientele to have more community-based services.

“And we had already been hearing for over 20 years that people wanted more community-based services. They wanted access to something. You know, we have a few generations of kids who’ve gone through the school system in an integrated setting, and then as adults they were shifted to a segregated model.

“And so people want to be part of participating and contributing to community. And so it took us a while to figure out how to do that. So now, we’re pleased that we’ve been able to take that step,” said DeLong.

Going forward, the organization has begun looking at technology as a way to help people with learning disabilities become more independent and to participate in community life.

“And so, technology in terms of communication aids, or technology in terms of helping people to keep track of their schedules and know what’s coming up, and helping people if somebody has tasks in their job that they need to do, but they need a little bit of extra help or prompt, figuring out how does technology help with that,” said DeLong.

Recently, enVision established a digital lending library, which was bought using a grant from the Steinbach Community Foundation in 2025.

Although enVision is a non-profit charitable organization that gets government funding, its needs are still not being met.

“We do get government funding for sort of the basics of our services, but we still have to do quite a bit of fundraising to bridge that gap from the basics to innovation and new things and making sure that people have a good quality of life. And so we do ask for the public to help a few times a year…some specific projects sometimes, and sometimes just generally,” said DeLong.

In June enVision will hold its AGM and its Family Day barbecue, with a pickleball fundraiser in July, followed by DSP Recognition Week in September and Light It Up! NDEAM in October. It’s annual anniversary gala will be held in November.