Community Inclusion
The National Community Inclusion Initiative is a partnership between the Canadian Association for Community Living, People First of Canada and Provincial / Territorial Associations for Community Living, made possible through the financial support of the Government of Canada.
The purpose of the initiative is to promote the inclusion, full participation and citizenship of Canadians with intellectual disabilities and their families. Its goal is to ‘assist communities to develop the capacities they require to successfully include people with intellectual disabilities in ways that promote their roles as full citizens; to assist communities in becoming more welcoming and supportive of people with intellectual disabilities; in becoming places where people in all their diversity belong.’
The initiative is focused on affecting needed changes in policies and practices across community sectors, bringing innovation to these sectors through a process of changing values, policies, and/or practices at municipal, regional, and provincial/territorial levels so that the full inclusion of all people is strengthened.
The CI initiative, while focusing on policy and practice change, remains centered on community and on individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. The project ensures that they are fully, actively and centrally engaged in the process of informing and influencing practice and policy. Since its inception, the project has enhanced the lives of thousands of individuals and families in communities, large and small, throughout this country.
Download the 2010 Community Inclusion Brochure.
Newfoundland and Labrador
‘Meaningful and Active Partnerships’ is at the core of our Community Inclusion Initiative. Building on the results of extensive focus groups with individuals and their families, we are working closely with our partners to build inclusive communities.
One of the key messages from teachers and parents is the need for effective teaching strategies to enhance inclusion in our schools. We are working with the Department of Education to provide professional development to 150 school leaders. The primary intent of the professional development is to provide practical strategies to make classrooms more inclusive for students with intellectual disabilities. This partnership allows us to help them proceed with the adopted recommendations from the ISSP/Pathways Commission report.
With our support, the Department of Education has rolled out an Inclusion Pilot Project which focuses on all aspects of inclusion for 30 school communities. We are continuing to partner on professional development for teachers through workshops on Differentiated Instruction and co-teaching, which have been identified as concrete strategies for inclusive education students with intellectual disabilities and their parents have expressed a need for students to more fully explore post school options.
In response, we developed ‘Students Exploring Through (SET) Mentoring’, which is an in school opportunity to involve students who face barriers and help them explore future career, community, and post school options. This is achieved through meaningful and active partnerships with NLACL, the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, Employment Corporations, Nova Central School District and participating schools.
Individuals and families continue to express their concern about planning for the future. We are committed to improving the quality of life for the families we represent and we are achieving this by educating families about the Registered Disability Savings Plan. Families now have a sense of security when planning for the future, which will enable their sons and daughters to participate in all aspects of community life.
