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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 1, 2013 | 6 Spotlight A G O O D T E A M "Connected to your Community" Clockwise from top left, Joelle Thomas, 10, and her uncle Sean O'Rourke. Thomas often spends time with her uncle, who has cerebral palsy, while he is adjusting to living independently for the rst time at the March of Dimes apartment complex in Oakville. Thomas helps her uncle, who uses a power wheelchair, set up his scanner in his new home. The youth assists O'Rourke put on his hat for their daily walk by the lake; drink juice while on the walk; and is excited as her uncle operates the elevator independently. At bottom of page, Thomas and O'Rourke share a laugh at a recent barbecue hosted by the Gregory Gittings Better Living Fund at the March of Dimes building. photos by Hannah Yoon ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Joelle helps her Uncle Sean with life in Oakville by Hannah Yoon Oakville Beaver Staff Joelle Thomas loves acting, taking photos, playing on her iPad, and making lemonade, but she's not your average 10 year old. Thomas loves hanging out with and, at times, taking care of her uncle Sean O'Rourke. O'Rourke has cerebral palsy. It's caused mainly by damage to the motor control centres of the brain, resulting in limitations of movement. In O'Rourke's case, complications occurred during his birth. Today, as an adult, he uses a power wheelchair for mobility. O'Rourke recently moved to Oakville after having lived in Etobicoke and Mississauga. After the death of his mother, who was his primary caretaker until she died last fall at age 93, Sean was left homeless. His name was put on the emergency list for a nursing home and, while waiting, he lived at the home of his sister, Sheila Thomas. However, when O'Rourke moved into a nursing home earlier this year, he discovered the facility was not accessible -- as a result, O'Rourke rarely left his room. As a result, O'Rourke and his sister immediately began to search for assisted living. Through March of Dimes, O'Rourke moved into Oakville's Jean and Howard Caine Apartments on Robinson Street in early July. From the beginning, Thomas was there to help her uncle adjust. The youth goes for walks with him, helps him with snacks and assisted in setting up his home. Thomas loves going to the lake with her uncle, and makes sure they stop at the nearby pharmacy to get a drink. Adjusting to a new home and new life is always dif cult, but Thomas is helping her uncle with the transition. NEIL OLIVER Volume 51 | Number 91 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Regional General Manager Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Halton Region Editor in Chief ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor