Legacy Projects

Lasting Contributions to Independent Living

Legacy Projects are past Independent Living Canada initiatives whose value extends beyond their original timelines. They bring together the knowledge, resources, relationships and approaches developed through our work with people with disabilities, Member Centres and community partners. Each represents part of our shared history—and a foundation on which future work can build.

These projects have explored issues that remain central to Independent Living, including employment, literacy, healthy living, personal safety and community participation. Initiatives such as Navigating the Waters, Making a Connection: Literacy, Disability and Quality of Life, and Food for Thought show how the Independent Living Philosophy can turn lived experience into practical learning and action. Their approaches recognize people with disabilities as active contributors to the solutions that affect their lives.

A project's completion does not mark the end of its contribution. Its legacy may continue through a resource that supports learning, a partnership that strengthens community connections, or a program model that inspires local services. For example, Member Centres developed local and regional employment programs to carry forward work begun through Navigating the Waters.

By preserving and sharing these projects, we honour the people who shaped them and keep their learning available to others. Explore the reports, tools and stories in this collection to discover how past initiatives have contributed to our movement—and how their lessons can inform the continuing pursuit of choice, dignity, self-determination and full participation.