Our History

Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region was founded in 1981 by parents of children with developmental disabilities, as a way to build friendship and nurture community in Waterloo Region. We now serve over 2,000 adults and children with developmental and physical disabilities.

In 2021, we celebrated our 40th anniversary! Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region was officially incorporated on April 1, 1981.

Celebrating 40 Years of Service

Our newest documentary captures Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region’s history, our present and our dreams for the future from the founders, people we support, families, staff and Board members. Thank you to everyone who shared their story and was involved in the creation of this film. Thank you to Sorbara Law for your generous support as the sponsor of this film.

What EAFWR Means to Me

We invited the people we support, families, staff, support providers and the wider community to share what Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region means to them. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed messages to this video.

40th Anniversary Infographic

This infographic highlights key highlights and milestones from over the past 40 years.

Click on the image below to view the infographic

Virtual Celebration

On December 3, 2021, we hosted a virtual celebration for our 40th anniversary which included the premiere of our film, messages from staff, and a look at our history, our present and our dreams for the future.