IDEAL-WAY and its founder, Robert Pio Hajjar, who was born with Down syndrome, are inviting the Ontario community to participate in a contest to recognize poets among persons with intellectual disabilities.
Poems will be accepted on any subject, in any style, to a maximum of 200 words. Interested individuals can submit their poetry online at www.ideal-way.ca .
Judging of the Ideal Poetry Contest will be chaired by David Davidar, president and publisher of Penguin Group Canada, and author of the novels The House of Blue Mangoes and The Solitude of Emperors. The Ideal Poetry Contest will open April 15 and end May 30.
"IDEAL-WAY is doing something that has never been done before, in a way that has never been tried before," said Davidar in a news release. "The organization believes persons with intellectual disability should be 'part of the community,' and not just 'in the community' and I support their endeavor to bring recognition to the unique gifts of these individuals." 
Founded in 2006, IDEAL-WAY was conceived by Pio Hajjar, who donated his life savings of $62.05 to help intellectually disabled people. As a spokesperson for IDEAL-WAY, Pio Hajjar participates in public speaking involving schools, corporations, churches and the public, stated the news release.
Ideal-Way.ca is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and positively improve mainstream social attitudes, in order to make all people with intellectual disability feel I.D.E.A.L: Included, Deserving, Equal, Appreciated and Loved. The organization was founded to build bridges joining those with an intellectual disability to mainstream society and to improve the lives of these people by creating and enhancing opportunities for mainstream community interaction. 
IDEAL-WAY.ca receives donations, including new and almost new household goods, and clothing. The organization also provides goods and services to relieve the effects of endemic abject poverty in the intellectually disabled community. In 2007, IDEAL-WAY donated over $100,000 of goods.
"When Rob (Hajjar) first approached me about creating an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of persons with an intellectual disability, I was not sure where to begin," said Addie Daabous, executive director of the organization, in the news release. "What I did know was that persons with intellectual disability have a rightful place in our communities and they have the capability to emotionally touch others. If we let them, they can be our teachers and lead us to what matters most."
"IDEAL-WAY.ca has been a real eye-opener for me," said Don Yeo, CEO, IDEAL-WAY. "Unlike any previous for-profit business either of us ever had, many persons, communities and organizations freely volunteered their valuable time and talents to help us move forward. Industry leaders approached us to become their partners. We are grateful for the support of  Penguin and Pearson Canada for supporting this literary initiative."
