Canadians with disabilities have worked at the community level to develop Independent Living Centres. This began before the IL Movement was formally recognized by the Federal Government back in the mid 1980s. Joining with their peers with a common vision for Independent Living, consumers have worked tirelessly to enable our growing network of Centres to flourish.

So how does an Independent Living Centre get started? Many will say it is not easy but the outcomes in the lives of people with disabilities and in the broader community are significant when a vibrant and responsive IL Centre emerges.

A core group of consumers who fully embrace Independent Living will form a Steering Committee. The primary responsibility of the steering committee is to lead the process to determine how an IL Centre could benefit the community. This is done through a feasibility study. Principles of Independent Living are also embraced at this stage of a Centre's development. Indeed, ensuring that the steering committee is comprised of a majority of people with diverse disabilities sends a strong message to the community of the cross disability and consumer controlled elements of the Centre.

The Steering Committee focuses on determining how an IL Centre will strengthen and benefit the community. Involving people with skills and knowledge about living with a disability is very important. It is also important to have people with experience working on a community-based Board of Directors. Everyone should work together to build his/her understanding of IL philosophy and to know the role that an IL Centre plays in the community. Further, starting an Independent Living Centre is a task which requires lots of time, energy and skills so it is important to involve diverse and committed individuals in the community who share the vision for the Centre.

All of the activities of the Steering Committee including its composition, the development of the community consultation process and public education remain led and controlled by people with disabilities at the community level. Independent Living Canada maintains a supportive role to groups who are pursuing membership. Through regular dialogue and communications, Independent Living Canada can help to facilitate peer support and mentorship from other Centres and help to build the Committees sense of participation with the national Movement.

A resource guide is available to developing groups entitled Citizen Engagement Tool: A Guide to Community Consultation for the Development of an Independent Living Resource Centre (2004)

Citizen Engagement Tool -  Cover & Table of Contents PDF

Citizenship Engagement Tool - Manual PDF