Nothing exemplifies the Independent Living principle of “consumer control” more than the Board of Directors of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT), Inc.
CILT is one of a very few disability organizations in Toronto that is controlled completely by persons with a disability.
Consumer control means that CILT is controlled by consumers with a disability. Those who are members elect the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting according to the directions set out in the By-Laws. For example, CILT’s By-Laws state:
ARTICLE 19: NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
- A “disabled consumer” is defined as a person having a disability such that, as a result of their disability, the person experiences attitudinal, structural and/or systemic barriers to full integration into society.
- The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a board of twelve (12) directors until changed by special resolution. The majority of the board shall be made up of disabled consumers and the positions of President and Vice-President shall at all times be a disabled consumer.
Our current Board of Directors is over 80% disabled consumers.
Meghan Hines, Chair
Jacques LeBlanc, Vice Chair
Warner Clarke, Secretary
Stefanie Marinich-Lee, Treasurer
Don Barrie, Director at Large
David Demchuk
Julia Gonsalves
Rod Ioi
Neil Mercer
Fady Shanouda
Maayan Ziv