My name is Marla Zapach and I am a certified Creative Grief Support Practitioner who works exclusively with the intellectually and developmentally disabled community in Alberta.

I recognise that this sector of society deals with cumulative and complex grief stemming from many facets of life. They have little to no resources and very few services exist tailored to their specific needs. When grief becomes chronic, it limits one's ability to grow, thrive and make sense of the world.

This support is a personal quest to help others through the lessons my brother Andrew, who had Down Syndrome, taught me. By supporting these individuals through the various losses they experience, they will grow resilience, autonomy and agency. There are few people focusing on this community and thus they remain invisible, suffering in silence. Thus, I feel moved to engage and participate with them.

My work is undertaken on a voluntary basis and I receive no salary. The funds donated will be used to pay for my travel and supplies used to assist them work through my tailored grief and loss support program.