Community Living Ontario
Encyclopedia
Community Living Ontario (formerly known as the Ontario Association for Community Living) is a charitable organization
in Ontario
, Canada
which states that it "works with communities to include people who have an intellectual disability
in all aspects of community life." It advocates for the rights of people who have an intellectual disability focusing on topics such as employment, schooling and housing. For many years, it has sought to move people with an intellectual disability out of institutions and into the community with appropriate supports. Its current executive director is Keith Powell and current president is Debbie Rollier. Past president David Barber was awarded the prestigious Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
in 2008 for his advocacy
on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.
It is a federation of more than 115 local associations, with more than 12,000 individual members, and along with other provincial associations is a member of the Canadian Association for Community Living.
group whose efforts to secure funding, space and teachers led to the public system taking over the education of children with intellectual disabilities. The first President elected for the association was Lillian Hunt, and the Ontario Association for Retarded Children is formally incorporated
on April 27, 1953. Eight years later, they would air a telethon on the now-CTV
-affiliate CFTO-TV
in Toronto. The telethon would be the channel's first broadcast.
In 1987 the name of the organization was changed to the Ontario Association for Community Living. In 1988 the Association’s logo showing a big person supporting a small person was replaced with the current abstract logo and finally, in 2002 the name changed to its current status of Community Living Ontario.
2008 was a year of unprecedented growth in the modern era of the Community Living Ontario organization, adding eight new association members and filling the notable void of representation that was lacking in the Ottawa
area. Keenan Wellar, co-founder and CEO of LiveWorkPlay
(now known alternatively as Community Living Ottawa) said the move was about communicating more effectively with the public to change attitudes around the rights of people who have an intellectual disability. “We can’t do that by ourselves. It doesn’t make sense,” Wellar said. “It only makes sense to join a bigger family that has similar values.”
In 2009 Community Living Ontario and its local associations celebrated the final closure of the province of Ontario's three remaining mass institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. Local associations including those in St. Marys and Ottawa held their own ceremonies. The de-institutionalization public awareness campaign generated significant media response, such as editorials that appeared in the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Ottawa Citizen.
One of its key positions is to promote inclusive education so that people with intellectual disabilities can "go with their neighbourhood friends, to their neighbourhood schools where they further their growth and development together.". One of its projects is to work in consultation with schools to promote inclusion and integration of people with disabilities. The organization has also been involved in political advocacy on the issue of integration.
Another key position was the removal of institutions. Since 1959 Community Living Ontario has been advocating for the removal of institutions when the Association successful advocated the plans for a proposed institution at Cedar Springs, reducing it from 2,400 to 1,000 beds.
After that the Association advocated to close institutions in Ontario and have been successful. In 2009 Minister of Community and Social Services
Madeleine Meilleur
proclaimed the closure of Rideau, Huronia and the Southwest Regional Centres, the remaining opening institutions in Ontario.
On April 1, 2009 Community Living held its 10th Annual Day at the Legislature, where close to 300 people – including people who have an intellectual disability, their families and friends, volunteers, and staff of Community Living associations, and other community advocates – joined together at Queen's Park to celebrate the closures and the dawning of a new era in Ontario.
In advocating for de-institutionalization one of Community Living Ontario's current concerns is the trend toward placements in nursing home
s. According to Professor Patricia Spindel, a senior adviser to the organization, people with intellectual disabilities are being funneled into nursing homes because the beds are "relatively cheap" as compared to more appropriate housing.
Community Living Ontario was also an important contributor to Bill 77, the "Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act" of 2008. Seven of the fifteen recommendations made by the organization to the Government of Ontario
were adopted. "We're very encouraged to see the concept of social inclusion named in this legislation,” said Dianne Garrels-Munro, president of Community Living Ontario.
The Community Living movement is celebrated in Ontario every May with Community Living Month, highlighted by Community Living Day in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which states that it "works with communities to include people who have an intellectual disability
Intellectual disability
Intellectual disability is a broad concept encompassing various intellectual deficits, including mental retardation , deficits too mild to properly qualify as MR, various specific conditions , and problems acquired later in life through acquired brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases like...
in all aspects of community life." It advocates for the rights of people who have an intellectual disability focusing on topics such as employment, schooling and housing. For many years, it has sought to move people with an intellectual disability out of institutions and into the community with appropriate supports. Its current executive director is Keith Powell and current president is Debbie Rollier. Past president David Barber was awarded the prestigious Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship is an honorary medal produced by the Canadian Province of Ontario. It was established by the Government of Ontario in 1973 to recognize people who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well being of their...
in 2008 for his advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.
It is a federation of more than 115 local associations, with more than 12,000 individual members, and along with other provincial associations is a member of the Canadian Association for Community Living.
History
It was founded in 1953 as the Ontario Association for Retarded Children, a government lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
group whose efforts to secure funding, space and teachers led to the public system taking over the education of children with intellectual disabilities. The first President elected for the association was Lillian Hunt, and the Ontario Association for Retarded Children is formally incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
on April 27, 1953. Eight years later, they would air a telethon on the now-CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
-affiliate CFTO-TV
CFTO-TV
CFTO-DT, broadcast on channel 9 and cable 8, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media. Currently branded as CTV Toronto, it is the flagship station of the CTV Television Network, and was one of the charter members of the network when it was launched in 1961. It...
in Toronto. The telethon would be the channel's first broadcast.
In 1987 the name of the organization was changed to the Ontario Association for Community Living. In 1988 the Association’s logo showing a big person supporting a small person was replaced with the current abstract logo and finally, in 2002 the name changed to its current status of Community Living Ontario.
2008 was a year of unprecedented growth in the modern era of the Community Living Ontario organization, adding eight new association members and filling the notable void of representation that was lacking in the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
area. Keenan Wellar, co-founder and CEO of LiveWorkPlay
LiveWorkPlay
LiveWorkPlay is a Canadian charitable organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in Ottawa in 1995 by the husband and wife team of Keenan Wellar and Julie Kingstone, LiveWorkPlay was originally known as the Keen Learning Centre for Youth and then the Special Needs Network...
(now known alternatively as Community Living Ottawa) said the move was about communicating more effectively with the public to change attitudes around the rights of people who have an intellectual disability. “We can’t do that by ourselves. It doesn’t make sense,” Wellar said. “It only makes sense to join a bigger family that has similar values.”
In 2009 Community Living Ontario and its local associations celebrated the final closure of the province of Ontario's three remaining mass institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. Local associations including those in St. Marys and Ottawa held their own ceremonies. The de-institutionalization public awareness campaign generated significant media response, such as editorials that appeared in the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Ottawa Citizen.
Advocacy
The organization has been noted as "one of the most influential advocacy groups in Canada" for people with intellectual disabilities.One of its key positions is to promote inclusive education so that people with intellectual disabilities can "go with their neighbourhood friends, to their neighbourhood schools where they further their growth and development together.". One of its projects is to work in consultation with schools to promote inclusion and integration of people with disabilities. The organization has also been involved in political advocacy on the issue of integration.
Another key position was the removal of institutions. Since 1959 Community Living Ontario has been advocating for the removal of institutions when the Association successful advocated the plans for a proposed institution at Cedar Springs, reducing it from 2,400 to 1,000 beds.
After that the Association advocated to close institutions in Ontario and have been successful. In 2009 Minister of Community and Social Services
Ministry of Community and Social Services (Ontario)
The Ministry of Community and Social Services in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for social services such as welfare, and disability insurance and community service programs around issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, spousal support, adoption, and assisted housing for...
Madeleine Meilleur
Madeleine Meilleur
Madeleine Meilleur is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and is a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Background:...
proclaimed the closure of Rideau, Huronia and the Southwest Regional Centres, the remaining opening institutions in Ontario.
On April 1, 2009 Community Living held its 10th Annual Day at the Legislature, where close to 300 people – including people who have an intellectual disability, their families and friends, volunteers, and staff of Community Living associations, and other community advocates – joined together at Queen's Park to celebrate the closures and the dawning of a new era in Ontario.
In advocating for de-institutionalization one of Community Living Ontario's current concerns is the trend toward placements in nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
s. According to Professor Patricia Spindel, a senior adviser to the organization, people with intellectual disabilities are being funneled into nursing homes because the beds are "relatively cheap" as compared to more appropriate housing.
Community Living Ontario was also an important contributor to Bill 77, the "Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act" of 2008. Seven of the fifteen recommendations made by the organization to the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
were adopted. "We're very encouraged to see the concept of social inclusion named in this legislation,” said Dianne Garrels-Munro, president of Community Living Ontario.
The Community Living movement is celebrated in Ontario every May with Community Living Month, highlighted by Community Living Day in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
.