Centre for Independent Living in Toronto
{{Short description|Toronto disability charity}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Centre for Independent Living in Toronto
| formation = 1984
| image = Centre for Independent Living in Toronto logo.png
| 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.{{Cite news|last=Ferenc|first=Leslie|date=2013-11-27|title=Giving parents with disabilities the right abilities: United Way|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/11/27/giving_parents_with_disabilities_the_right_abilities_united_way.html|access-date=2021-12-13|issn=0319-0781}} 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.{{Cite news|last=Sarrouh|first=Maria|date=2021-07-08|title=New program helps people with autism overcome barriers in accessing COVID-19 vaccines|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/07/08/new-program-helps-people-with-autism-overcome-barriers-in-accessing-covid-19-vaccines.html|access-date=2021-12-13|issn=0319-0781}}
History and activities
In 1993, CILT Executive Director Vic Willey advocated that governments provide funding needed for home care services to people with disabilities.{{Cite book|last1=Lord|first1=John|title=Pathways to Inclusion - Building a New Story with People and Communities|last2=Peggy|first2=Hutchinson|publisher=Captus Press|year=2007|isbn=9781553221654|pages=113}}
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.{{Cite book|last1=Aubrecht|first1=Katie|title=The Aging–Disability Nexus|last2=Kelly|first2=Christine|last3=Rice|first3=Carla|publisher=UBC Press|year=2020|isbn=9780774863704|pages=97–99}}
CILT hosts the Parenting with a Disability Network.{{Cite news|date=29 March 2019|title=Why parents with disabilities often become advocates for themselves — and their kids|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/docproject/why-parents-with-disabilities-often-become-advocates-for-themselves-and-their-kids-1.5073533}}{{Cite news|last=Brosnahan|first=Maureen|date=2 May 2012|title=Parents with disabilities want support, not stigma|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/parents-with-disabilities-want-support-not-stigma-1.1168403}}
In 2019, CILT co-sponsored a campaign to draw attention to the way in which people with disabilities are excluded from common activities.{{Cite web|date=May 1, 2019|first=Bree|last=Rody|title=Spotted! An ad that puts you on the outside|website=Media of Canada |url=https://mediaincanada.com/2019/05/01/spotted-an-ad-that-puts-you-on-the-outside/|access-date=2021-12-13}}{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Rahul|date=2019-05-01|title=Toronto accessibility campaign calls for removal of barriers|url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9330353-toronto-accessibility-campaign-calls-for-removal-of-barriers/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Toronto.com|language=en-CA}}
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.{{Cite book|last=Galer|first=Dustin|title=Working Towards Equity Disability Rights Activism and Employment in Late Twentieth-century Canada|publisher=University of Toronto Press|year=2018|isbn=9781487521301|pages=244}}
People
- Wendy Porch, executive director{{Cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Brendan|date=2021-05-01|title=People with disabilities face confusion and other barriers to getting COVID-19 vaccines. A task force is|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/05/01/people-with-disabilities-face-confusion-and-other-barriers-to-getting-covid-19-vaccines-a-task-force-is-working-to-change-that.html|access-date=2021-12-13|issn=0319-0781}}
- Ian Parker, senior adviser{{Cite news|last=Spurr|first=Ben|date=2016-11-21|title=Bike lanes eyed as loading zones for those aiding the disabled|language=en-CA|work=The Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/21/bike-lanes-eyed-as-loading-zones-for-those-aiding-the-disabled.html|access-date=2021-12-13|issn=0319-0781}}
- Sandra Carpenter, former executive director
- Ing Wong-Ward, former associate director{{Cite news|date=6 July 2019|title='A mighty force has left us': CBC journalist and disabilities advocate Ing Wong-Ward dead at 46|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ing-wong-ward-death-journalist-advocate-1.5202768}}{{Cite news|last=Lee-Shanok|first=Philip|date=9 Dec 2016|title='More and more people' looking for barrier-free homes, Toronto real estate agent says|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hot-real-estate-may-need-to-be-barrier-free-1.3888318}}
- Vic Willey, former executive director
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.cilt.ca/ Official website]
{{Disability navbox}}
Category:1984 establishments in Ontario
Category:Disability rights organizations