Independent Living Canada

Independent Living Canada is celebrating a number of important milestones including our 25th anniversary as the national voice of Independent Living (IL) and our 10th anniversary as the lead organization in Canada promoting the United Nation's (U.N.) International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Here are just a few highlights of the past 25 years… January 2012

The growth of the consumer movement in Canada in the 1980s created a complete paradigm shift for Canadians with disabilities. Out of it developed a new appreciation of people with disabilities as being important citizens with abilities, as well as a new philosophy regarding the role of service providers and of people with disabilities as empowered consumers. October 2011

Why Disability Organizations Must Continue to Work Together. An interesting paradox regarding the broad objective of independent living (IL) is that we can only achieve this by working together, supporting and caring for each other. This is true at every level of the work we all do, whether it is locally, provincially or nationally. A fundamental strength of the IL movement is the capacity, willingness and need to collaborate, cooperate and support each other. The whole of the IL movement in Canada is infinitely stronger than the sum of its parts, when we work together. July 2011

It has been well documented that Canadians with disabilities have low literacy rates. In fact, they make up a disproportionate amount of the 48 percent of Canadian adults who function at the two lowest literacy levels. March 2011

Independent Living Canada (IL Canada) recently released a book titled Impact: Changing the Way We View Disability. This publication highlights the history and impact of the Independent Living (IL) movement in Canada. Here, author John Lord describes how the book project evolved and how IL continues to be a vibrant movement. In June 1980, I attended the International Rehabilitation Congress in Winnipeg. Some people say this event marked the beginning of the IL movement in Canada. It was here that I first met early leaders Allan Simpson and Henry Enns. They understood the historical significance of this event. Henry Enns later said, upon reflection, “Never before in the history of humanity had people with disabilities from all over the world come together to share their experiences.” December 2010

Introducing Independent Living Canada’s New National Director -Louise Bergeron. Ten years ago, when I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, a form of arthritis that can affect any system in the body, I thought my life as I knew it was over. Life did change—lupus affected my joints, skin, brain and eyes, and caused pain and fatigue to the point where I was obliged to stop working. But it has also opened many new doors. The door at Independent Living Canada has been the latest to open. My vision for the future of the organization is to build on the great work already begun by those who have come before me—Traci Walters, the outgoing National Director; the board; the dedicated staff and all the IL Canada Centres across the country. September 2010

While in Vancouver for the Accessibility Showcase on March 9th, I received an unexpected email from HRSDC inviting me to come to the United Nations on March 11th. Anticipating final confirmations from provincial governments, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was (hopefully) going to announce Canada’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Representatives from the two main disability groups responsible for Canada’s participation in the development of this international treaty, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) and the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), were also invited. May 2010

In March 2007, the Public Health Agency of Canada approved funding for Independent Living Canada’s “Food for Thought” project. The initiative aimed to educate Canadians with disabilities about sound nutrition; create accessible tools and resources on healthy eating and nutrition; and use food to connect people, encourage physical activity and reduce isolation. March 2010

August 2009

Every year, we have a major national event in Ottawa to focus attention on the contributions of people with disabilities and to remind the federal government of their responsibilities to support Canadians with disabilities. But right from the beginning, we also wanted to involve consumers, communities and our Independent Living Centres across Canada in this day of action and celebration. February 2009

December 2008