Centre for Independent Living in Toronto explained

Centre for Independent Living in Toronto
Formation:	1984
Headquarters:	Toronto
Leader Title:	Executive Director
Leader Name:	Wendy Porch
Website:	https://www.cilt.ca/

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) is a not for profit organization that supports people with disabilities and addictions.^[1] In 1993, CILT advocated to the Government of Ontario for financial support. The aim was to provide support to people with disabilities to pay for their own home care. By 2012, their advocacy succeeded and they were given responsibility for administering such a system. In the early 21st century CILT advocated against ableism and for better support for people with disabilities and improved access to COVID-19 vaccines.^[2]

History and activities

CILT was founded in 1984.

In 1993, CILT Executive Director Vic Willey advocated that governments provide funding needed for home care services to people with disabilities.^[3]

In 2012, CILT started managing a $1.7 million per annum government-funded program called the Self-Managed Attendance Program. The program initiated a new way of support people with disabilities by giving them the funds needed to hire home care.^[4]

CILT hosts the Parenting with a Disability Network.^{[5] [6]}

In 2019, CILT co-sponsored a campaign to draw attention to the way in which people with disabilities are excluded from common activities.^{[7] [8]}

In 2021, CILT's executive director became the inaugural chair of the Toronto Accessibility Task Force on COVID-19.

CILT's paper "CILT: Empowerment and Independent Living" is cited in Dustin Gale's 2018 book Working Towards Equity Disability Rights Activism and Employment in Late Twentieth-century Canada.^[9]

People

• Wendy Porch, executive director^[10]
• Ian Parker, senior adviser^[11]
• Sandra Carpenter, former executive director
• Ing Wong-Ward, former associate director^{[12] [13]}
• Vic Willey, former executive director

External links

• Official website

Notes and References

1. News: Ferenc. Leslie. 2013-11-27. Giving parents with disabilities the right abilities: United Way. en-CA. The Toronto Star. 2021-12-13. 0319-0781.
2. News: Sarrouh. Maria. 2021-07-08. New program helps people with autism overcome barriers in accessing COVID-19 vaccines. en-CA. The Toronto Star. 2021-12-13. 0319-0781.
3. Book: Lord. John. Pathways to Inclusion - Building a New Story with People and Communities. Peggy. Hutchinson. Captus Press. 2007. 9781553221654. 113.
4. Book: Aubrecht. Katie. The Aging–Disability Nexus. Kelly. Christine. Rice. Carla. UBC Press. 2020. 9780774863704. 97–99.
5. News: 29 March 2019. Why parents with disabilities often become advocates for themselves — and their kids. CBC.
6. News: Brosnahan. Maureen. 2 May 2012. Parents with disabilities want support, not stigma. CBC.
7. Web site: May 1, 2019. Bree. Rody. Spotted! An ad that puts you on the outside. . 2021-12-13.
8. Web site: Gupta. Rahul. 2019-05-01. Toronto accessibility campaign calls for removal of barriers. 2021-12-13. Toronto.com. en-CA.
9. Book: Galer, Dustin. Working Towards Equity Disability Rights Activism and Employment in Late Twentieth-century Canada. University of Toronto Press. 2018. 9781487521301. 244.
10. News: Kennedy. Brendan. 2021-05-01. People with disabilities face confusion and other barriers to getting COVID-19 vaccines. A task force is. en-CA. The Toronto Star. 2021-12-13. 0319-0781.
11. News: Spurr. Ben. 2016-11-21. Bike lanes eyed as loading zones for those aiding the disabled. en-CA. The Toronto Star. 2021-12-13. 0319-0781.
12. News: 6 July 2019. 'A mighty force has left us': CBC journalist and disabilities advocate Ing Wong-Ward dead at 46. CBC.
13. News: Lee-Shanok. Philip. 9 Dec 2016. 'More and more people' looking for barrier-free homes, Toronto real estate agent says. CBC.