Abode Respite Services Inc. was founded by Heather McCann in loving memory of her sister, Hannah McCann, who was born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Through Hannah, Heather learned that communication extends far beyond words and that love knows no barriers. As Hannah’s big sister, Heather experienced the world of disability through deeply personal eyes and quickly recognized how limited and inadequate the available supports were.
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The McCann family understood the importance of planning for Hannah’s future as a person with a disability and dreamed of creating “Hannah’s House”—a place where she could thrive as an adult. Tragically, Hannah passed away at the age of 10, and with her went what the family believed was that dream.​
In adulthood, Heather found her way back to the world of disability services. She enrolled in the Developmental Services Worker program at St. Clair College, where she strengthened her professional skills and rediscovered her passion for supporting people with disabilities. Heather went on to work throughout Chatham-Kent and Windsor–Essex, but she became increasingly unsettled by what she witnessed—particularly what happened behind closed doors.
​​Heather came to understand that every person with a disability is someone’s “Hannah.” Determined to create the kind of place she would have wanted for her own sister, Heather brought the dream back to life. This vision became Abode Respite House.​
Founded in 2017 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2019, Abode Respite has grown into a true home away from home for families in the community. What began as a sister’s promise has become a place where individuals are supported with dignity, autonomy, and respect—where adulthood is meaningful, exciting, and filled with purpose and opportunity.
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The Disability Pride Flag has become a staple at Abode. The disability pride flag was created by Ann Magill, a disabled woman and advocate, to represent and celebrate the diversity, strength, and unity of the disability community. Originally designed in 2019 and updated in 2021 for accessibility, the flag features a black background with five stripes of different colors—each representing a broad category of disability: sensory (blue), intellectual and developmental (yellow), invisible and undiagnosed (white), physical (red), and psychiatric (green). The black background honors those lost to ableist violence, discrimination, and neglect. Magill’s design was created to give the community a unifying symbol of pride, visibility, and resilience.