Member IL Centre Profiles
IL Centre Resource Map
Listed below by year founded are all the Member IL Centres.
We asked each Centre to answer 6 questions in their own words to create this Resource Map.
Click on each Member Centre name to expand the profile information.
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- Founded in 1982 as one of Canada's first Independent Living Centres, we've supported people with disabilities for over 40 years with resilience and adaptability. Despite government and societal changes, we continue to deliver key programs—including Attendant Services, Direct Funding, and our Community Resource Program—while staying responsive to evolving needs. Our commitment to independence and choice remains at the core of everything we do.
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- ILWR is known for supporting people with disabilities across four (4) programs: Attendant Services, Community Resource, Direct Funding, and the Access Fund.
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- We want our centre to be known as a trusted leader in supporting and championing Independent Living for persons with disabilities through self-directed programs and services. Our goal is to continue growing while serving as a key resource on inclusion and disability issues, delivering impactful programs like Attendant Services and the Community Resource Program.
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- PWD aged 16+
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- Peer support and information & networking are core to our centre's impact. We build community through inclusive social activities and provide one-on-one guidance from staff with lived experience, helping individuals navigate barriers and access essential resources to live independently.
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- it is an ongoing challenge to secure adequate and consistent funding, especially for our Community Resource Program. Youth in Motion: A safe, inclusive space for young adults (16–24) with disabilities to connect, build friendships, and prepare for independent living. Through a mix of virtual meetups, in-person sessions at Communitech, and a free summer retreat, participants engage in games, crafts, discussions, and shared experiences. The program fosters personal growth, peer support, and lasting connections in a fun and supportive environment.
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- I believe our centre's greatest strength is the unwavering passion and dedication of our team. Everyone at ILRCC genuinely cares about our clients on a personal level. This deep care drives us to tailor our programs in ways that not only support our clients' goals but also challenge them to grow and reach their full potential. Our motivation to create a positive, inclusive, and opportunity-rich environment stems from this shared commitment.
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- Our centre is known for providing personalized, inclusive support that goes beyond programs. People come to us for life skills training, social connection, and help navigating funding, respite care, and interpreter services. Whether clients know what they need or not, we guide them every step of the way to help them thrive.
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- We want to be known for always doing everything we can to meet each individual's needs with compassion, empathy, kindness, and grace. Our hope is that everyone who walks through our doors leaves with a positive impression, feeling seen, heard, and supported.
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- The largest demographic we currently support is adults between the ages of 30 and 40 with mental and cognitive disabilities. In addition, we work with a significant number of Deaf clients, though this group spans a wider age range. Our programs and services are designed to be adaptable and inclusive, ensuring we can meet the unique needs of all individuals who come through our doors.
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- I believe we truly excel in Independent Living (IL) skills development. Our approach is flexible and inclusive—we understand that each client is at a different stage in their journey and requires support that is tailored to their unique strengths, challenges, and goals. We emphasize hands-on learning and provide space for trial and error, allowing clients to grow without fear of judgment.
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- Some emerging gaps or needs include: enhancing ILRCC's social media presence, working toward developing a comprehensive, user-friendly website that consolidates relevant and current information on local resources in Calgary, more accessible mental health services, transitional supports (ex: high school to adulthood)
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- unwavering commitment to the Independent Living (IL) philosophy and consumer-led structure— “for people with disabilities… by people with disabilities.”
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- The most in-demand services are the Direct Funding (DF) program—which allows Ontarians with disabilities to hire and manage their own attendants—and the Attendant Service Application Centre (ASAC), a centralized access point for attendant services in Toronto and York Region. CILT also offers skills training, peer support, service navigation, disability inclusion training (IDE+A), parenting support, and facilitates the GTA Disability Coalition.
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- CILT's evolving vision is working to support the social and economic equity of people with disabilities. We will continue to advance the Independent Living principles of empowering people with disabilities to lead and make decisions about their own lives. We have also taken significant steps to incorporate equity practices to support our goals of diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- CILT primarily serves adults with physical disabilities in the GTA and across Ontario through the Direct Funding (DF) program and the Attendant Service Application Centre (ASAC). These programs support thousands of consumers. Beyond DF and ASAC, CILT reaches a broader disability community through initiatives like IDE+A (disability inclusion training), the Parenting with a Disability Network, and Independent Living skills training, peer support, and service navigation. Newcomers are an audience we are trying to reach out to more but not there yet.
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- Independent Living skills development is a central pillar for CILT. From the Direct Funding (DF) program that allows people with disabilities to manage attendant care to our Core programs that empower consumers on how to direct their own lives.
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- Accessible and affordable housing, povery reduction, comprehensive data of PWD and their struggles
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- Our greatest strength is our ability to adapt while staying rooted in the Independent Living philosophy. Guided by lived experience, our small, dedicated team fosters inclusion, peer connection, and a welcoming space. We continuously evolve through participant feedback to keep our programs responsive and relevant.
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- We're known for being a safe, accessible space where people can connect to community, resources, and support that meet them where they're at. People often come to us for help navigating systems, disability-related barriers and services, and for peer support. We're also recognized for our Essential Product Cabinet, which provides community members with necessities in a way that respects dignity and choice. In addition, we're well known for our employment programs, which support a wide range of participants in building skills, gaining experience, and finding meaningful work opportunities.
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- We want to be known as a hub for disability leadership, community building, and systemic change, where people not only access support but also co-create programs, shape local advocacy, and influence broader conversations around disability justice. We also hope to grow our rural and Indigenous outreach, ensuring our services reflect the full diversity of the communities we serve.
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Our largest demographic includes adults with disabilities who are navigating poverty, isolation, and system complexity. Many participants are living on fixed incomes, dealing with housing insecurity, and seeking connection, advocacy, or help with day-to-day needs.
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- We excel most in Peer Support and Skill Development. Whether it's informal connections through drop-in activities or structured support around system navigation, our participants consistently reflect how meaningful it is to talk to someone who understands disability from lived experience. We are intentional about creating low-barrier spaces where people can share, listen, and grow together.
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- We're seeing growing need in areas like mental health support, cost-of-living relief, and access to safe, affordable housing. Many of our participants are also facing digital exclusion, which limits access to services and isolation. There is also a need for culturally relevant programming, especially for Indigenous and racialized disabled people. Lastly, more people are expressing interest in systems change and want to get involved in advocacy but need support to do so accessibly.
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- Direct funding, lending library, women's programs
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- Accessible yoga post move, community centre type feel, better outside space
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Homeless people, mental health, physical, 40-70yo,
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- Info and referral, income support, encompasses many services
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- Lack of beneficial services, mental health lacking, housing resources, lacking rehab centres, lacking accessibility, financial inequality and lacking resources to get financial assistance
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
- What is your centre's greatest strength?
- What is your centre currently known for? What do people come to you for?
- What would you like your centre to be known for in the future?
- What is the largest demographic your centre is currently serving?
- Which of the four core pillars do you feel your centre excels in most, and how?
- What emerging needs or gaps are you currently noticing in your community?
English
Français