Community Living Ontario

Community Living is a simple concept that is complicated only by prejudice and unequal rights. It means involvement with our neighbourhoods and communities, meaningful work and play, belonging and contributing. People with intellectual disabilities desire and have the rightr to participate in all these activities and experience the pleasures and accomplishments of everyday life.

Essex County Association for Community Living

Community Living is the realization that people with intellectual disabilities can live meaningful contributory lives in communities rather than government operated institutions. A meaningful life as part of the community includes:

• being employed and able to provide for at least some of one's own needs
• children are educated in regular classes rather than duplicate, segregated classes
• families are assisted to support their family member rather than finding themselves compelled to rely exclusively on government funded services.

The words "Community Living" reflect the growing understanding that the right to live a fully integrated life within the community -- to live, to go to school, to work, to enjoy recreation and leisure, and to be active in retirement -- belongs to all.

The name of agency includes the phrase "community living" because of our belief that having an intellectual disability should not be permitted to act as a barrier to full participation in all elements of an enlightened and free society.

Community Living Oakville