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About ADAO
The Anxiety Disorder’s Association of Ontario (ADAO) is a registered charity and non-profit organization based in Ottawa, Ontario. ADAO was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1997. The ADAO began as a community based initiative, with a primary focus on the experiences and perspectives of people who experience anxiety.
ADAO's mission is to empower, in an holistic way, the lives of those affected by anxiety through advocacy, education, research support and community programming.
The ADAO was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1999. The organization began as the APVA, the
Agoraphobia and Peer Volunteer Association, in April 1996. The APVA was created because there were no existing services for persons with agoraphobia, especially those who were severely agoraphobic. This should help you understand more about the ADAO and its focus: the ADAO began as a suffer-led and community based initiative, with a primary focus on the experiences and perspectives of sufferers themselves.
In its early stages the APVA was focused on developing its volunteer companion program for persons with agoraphobia and panic. However as the organization increased in size the APVA began to branch out into other areas of interest - developing various anxiety and panic management workshops, raising awareness of anxiety conditions through promotional materials, and constructing a quarterly newsletter for members. The APVA was also involved in promoting other services and programs for people with anxiety conditions within the city such as support group meetings, a twelve-week program (which has become the fourteen week anxiety management program), and a range of holistic therapies.
While the ADAO has incorporated more professionals and experts into its structure, board and programs, it still fundamentally remains an organization focused on the specific needs of people with anxiety from the perspective of those people themselves. It is an organization that recognizes a wide range of approaches to anxiety conditions and is very open to different treatment and management options. The ADAO is currently building a range of partnerships with other government, non-profit, and community based organizations.
As ADAO has evolved, so has its programming. Achievements include the successful operation of a variety of programs, including the Volunteer Companion program, in which volunteers provided support and assistance to individuals housebound by anxiety; the Peer Support Group meetings, which provided anxiety sufferers with a safe and non-judgmental environment in which to share their challenges and successes; the 14-Week Anxiety Management Workshop, a cognitive-behavioural program that assists individuals to self-manage their anxiety; the Youth Education program, which helped middle school students, parents, and teachers to understand and manage anxiety; and by introducing the Friends program to the Ottawa region. ADAO has also developed a Volunteer Companion Training curriculum as well as the 14-Week Anxiety Management Workshop curriculum, accompanying facilitator manual, and facilitator training program. ADAO has successfully promoted public awareness of anxiety through educational outreach in community and corporate settings; the toll-free information and education telephone line; and French and English Educational Guides about anxiety.
Currently the ADAO offers the following programs and services:
© Copyright 2010. Anxiety Disorders Association of Ontario. All Rights Reserved.
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