Brief History about Independent Living at a Glance

CILT operates on the philosophy of the Independent Living movement which was developed in response to traditional rehabilitation services models. Our aim is to develop and implement dignified social services that empower individuals rather than create dependencies. We encourage people with disabilities to take control of their own lives by exercising their right to examine options, make choices, take risks and even make mistakes.

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1982-85

Formation and Incorporation:

A Community Committee comprised of key advocacy and disability service representatives was formed in the early years to look at what was needed in Toronto to make things work for people with disabilities. There was a myriad of services but no-one knew about them;

Eventually a needs survey was conducted verifying that what disabled people Toronto wanted was an Independent Living Resource Centre;

Until CILT became incorporated, the Community Occupational Therapy Association (COTA) was our sponsoring agency. Even once we had Corporate status, Health and Welfare Canada needed to be convinced that we could be a financially accountable organization;

We then contracted an accounting firm called Progressive Accounting Services which had an impressive track record of accounting for community-based non-profit agencies;

By 1986, we were completely independent of COTA;

New projects begin – such as surveying the network of Literacy Programs in Toronto for Access resulting in a report; the Radio Connection began, as a means of getting the word out to ever increasing numbers of often isolated people with disabilities;  new funding by City of Toronto, Health and Welfare Canada;

Woodeden Consumer Conference: Birth of Direct Funding program (DF); for the first time there was serious attention paid to the idea of giving people with disabilities a grant of money so they could hire, train and manage their own attendants rather than provide money to an agency that was supposed to dispatch attendants to People With Disabilities;

In response to inquiries for attendant services throughout Ontario the first edition of the Attendant Services Directory was produced; 

The first ever TV show focused on disability issues in cooperation with CBC. Eventually this show evolved into MOVING ON which is still viewed on CBC Television today;

1991

Health and Welfare Canada cutbacks begin. This forces CILT to find other sources of Funding for core programs;

The Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services funds the Independent Living Skills Training Program offering stable support for this program;

CILT Newsletter redesigned and launched.

1992               

1st Edition of Independent living and participation in Research – a criticial analysis published and The Literacy Book published;  Youth Connection started;

1993               

The Directory of Accessible Restaurants was developed; 

24 Hour Newsline was established to ensure that print disabled individuals still had the means to ensure access to information; 

Direct Funding in Ontario Pilot (DF) begins; A tri-ministry initiative (Health, Community and Social Services and Citizenship) along with significant disability community players and operated by CILT;

Full United Way Membership granted giving us credibility in a whole new forum;

Award Winning Abuse Prevention Video produced and Youth and Disability Abuse Prevention project completed;

Project Information Centre (PIC) operated for MOH transferred to CILT from another local disability organization that ended. PIC coordinates applications for managed attendant services in Toronto.

CILT By-laws updated.

1997               

First Official Evaluation of the DF Pilot was done by the  Roeher Institute. The results of this evaluation were extremely positive showing that direct choice, control and flexibility of attendant services contributed positively to health status;

4th Edition of Attendant Service Directory produced as well as the Annotated Abuse/Prevention Bibliography;

DF gets full program status approved by MOH;

CILT United Way project funding recived to expand the Parenting with a Disability Network and publish a resource Directory for Parents with a Disability.

2nd  Edition of Independent living and Participation in Research – a criticial analysis published

Human Rights Policy (anti-discrimination and harassment policy and procedures) developed and implemented;

The Parenting Book for Persons with a Disability published;           

United Way funding received to develop operational model for Nurturing Assistance.

CILT is a participant in the HRDC - Navigating the Waters project; an employment project for people with disabilities;

CILT developed a new system for keeping internal program activity statistics;

Anti-Racism implementation plan developed;

Nurturing Assistance: A Guide to Providing Physical Assistance to Parents with a disability  published;

New website (www.cilt.ca) launched;

DF Program – massive recruitment drive reaches 700 persons;

Project Information Centre becomes the central clearing house for all applications for managed attendant services in Toronto;
 

2003               

DF Program – Full ~ 700 participants in Ontario; 

New on-line resources developed i.e. the  “Directory of Attendant Services in Ontario (formerly the Greenbook)”; and the Attendant/Consumer Job Roster-CAR (Consumer Attendant Roster);

New Library system developed.

An expansion is announced for managed attendant services in Toronto which significantly increases the workload for PIC;

At our 20th Anniversary AGM CILT launches the Consumer Attendant Roster or CAR (a website matching site for those looking for attendants with those looking for work),  the Student Attendant Service Fund (SASF) a contingency fund established to enable persons with disabilities who require attendant services at College or University to attend College or University;

New website launched August 15th 2005;              

Data-base reform project (Wizard - i.e. web based data base program) developed to improve capacity and ease of statistics creation and analysis.

2006

New data-base system implemented.

2007 

Gateway to Cancer Screening Project begins, and Human Right Monitoring Project begins.

2008

Safe Engaged Environment Disability begins; moved to new office location in December of 2008.

2009

CILT marked its 25th anniversary with two significant new initiatives. One; We entered into a partnership with the Access to Entertainment (A2E) program allowing the first 1000 disabled people in the greater Toronto Area to have the $20 fee waived to get or renew their A2E card.  This was made possible through a donation of the Dickson Play Fund which CILT administers to A2E. We also launched the Rebel Wall initiative. We produced several profiles of pioneers from our community who are no longer with us as a reminder to younger or newer people with disabilities the legacy that these folks left behind.

CILT also marked the 15th anniversary of the Direct Funding program. A special event was held at the Downtown Sheraton to recognize this significant milestone.’

2010

CILT recognizes the 20th Aniversary of the Diners Club.
Formal Strategic Planning process begins.