East (L) and Fox (R) | Photo by B. Shakyaver
Community Living Ontario, along with its 119 local associations across the province, is celebrating Community Living Month, an annual awareness campaign that highlights the achievements of the Community Living movement.
Executive Director of Community Living South Huron, Katie Fox highlights the importance of this month.
For over 70 years, Community Living Ontario has been at the forefront of advocating for more than 100,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families in Ontario. The movement’s core mission is to foster genuine community inclusion, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has equal rights, respect, acceptance, a sense of self-worth, and opportunities for personal growth.
This years theme for Community Living Month highlights the importance of #AuthenticInclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
People with intellectual disabilities encounter challenges in various aspects of daily life, including personal care, language skills, and learning abilities, which often persist throughout their lives.
Steven East, Board Member of CLSH and Support Receiver, says Community Living has helped him in many different ways.
Despite facing stereotypes and assumptions, Community Living Ontario believes in celebrating the unique gifts and inherent value of each individual, emphasizing their essential role in building a complete and diverse community, which East says is important to keep within the community.
As Community Living Month comes to an end the CLSH invites everyone to join in recognizing and supporting authentic inclusion, making a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Written by: K. Milhomens
