The Canadian Association for Community Living is one of Canada’s ten largest charitable organizations. With over 40,000 members across Canada, it works with and on behalf of people who have been labelled mentally handicapped and with their families.

The mission of the Canadian Association For Community Living is to develop a welcoming, supportive community for all Canadians. Whether one has a mental handicap, develops one, or cares about someone with a handicap, the work of the Canadian Association for Community Living will ensure that people with mental handicaps are given the assistance they need to be active members of the community.

In a truly integrated society, divisions between people dissolve and the winners are each of us individually and collectively.

“I dream of Daniel taking an apple to his teacher, of seeing him in a school play, and of him bringing home his report card. These are very ordinary things, but for the family of a child (with a mental handicap), these are dreams that bring unexplained joy.” L. Carson, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

“My personal views on integration have greatly changed. I sometimes wonder who is truly handicapped. Mandy accepts us all with our limitations and narrow-mindedness and we accept Mandy for what she is: a child who is funny, determined, and in my view, extremely courageous.” The mother of Mandy’s best friend in Saint John, New Brunswick.
 

1. Robert, Sandra, and Robin shop for groceries in their local supermarket. Happiness is being self-supporting and having "keys of our own". 2. Harold William and Margaret enjoy a backyard barbecue with neighbours and friends. They are living successfully in the community after residing in institutions for many years.

“Amanda will live a normal life. I think we can provide her with the education and the know-how ... we want her to be able to go out on her own, get a job, possibly get married and lead a normal life, because she is a normal person. She is just a little slow in learning things....” Tom Henke, Relief Pitcher, Texas Rangers, whose daughter, Amanda, has Down Syndrome.

“If all the support systems are in place and the teacher’s focus is positive, teachers and students alike grow and benefit from the (integration) experience.” Margaret Murray, teacher.

“When I was younger they put people like me in institutions, not on jobs. Since I was a slow learner, no one gave me a chance. Now I have a job that I really love and my boss is happy because I am good at my work. People called mentally handicapped can do a lot of jobs very well when someone gives them a chance.” Barry Smith, Usher, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Ontario.

“I am Peter Park. I existed in an institution for 18 years. I started living in 1978. I feel that I would never have made as many friends as I have if I existed in an institution. I work and got married after a while; now we live happily and can use resources in the community that anyone can.” Peter Park, People First of Canada.

Thanks to the generous support of Horn Abbot Ltd. this profile was made possible.