About the Program
Operation Oasis began as a labour of love by Nancy Pollock in 1996 with a student research project in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University.
How it started
Families in the Hamilton region identified difficulties in accessing babysitting, companion and respite services for their children with special needs. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy students identified a desire for more opportunities to interact with families and children. Operation Oasis is a student run program that serves to match student respite providers from Rehabilitation Science programs in the Hamilton area with local families to help meet their respite needs.
How it works
- Parents provide Operation Oasis with information about their child’s needs and respite wishes.
- Students provide Operation Oasis with their qualifications and availability.
- Coordinators matches families with students based on location and suitability.
- The family and student are introduced via email and are then responsible for setting the terms and schedule of the respite engagement.
Please note: At this time, Operation Oasis is only able to help facilitate matching services for families and students in the Hamilton, Ontario area. It is also important to note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, both families and students will have different comfort levels with the respite services provided. Both parties should be aware of up-to-date public policies and negotiate arrangements that are comfortable across all parties involved.
