People with an intellectual disability and their families face systemic barriers to critically-needed community services and supports that make inclusion possible. A lack of community leadership, knowledge about inclusive policy and practice, as well as outmoded service approaches are underlying factors.
Living in the community is a right of all Canadian citizens – people with an intellectual disability have the equal right to live in typical houses in community, where they can choose where and with whom to live and exercise choice and control over their life. Safe and inclusive communities include people with a disability having access to a range of community supports and services, including assistance necessary to prevent isolation or segregation from the community.
All people with an intellectual disability are fully included in their communities, have full access to health care and other public services, and are safe from violence and abuse.
A national initiative for transforming housing and supports for people with an intellectual disability.
Current Work
My Home My Community (MHMC) is a national initiative of Inclusion Canada, People First of Canada, and our member organizations. MHMC helps deliver on shared priorities for increasing affordable housing, reducing poverty, improving access for Canadians with disabilities to needed community services, and growing inclusive social infrastructure through innovative social and financial investments. This is because MHMC is about more than housing. It forges new linkages between residential and community support agencies, adults with intellectual disabilities, families, financial institutions, housing developers, community networks designing safer and more inclusive communities, thought leaders, and government partners.
Together, we are confronting the barriers to access that have left people with an intellectual disability outside of affordable housing markets and community access for generations. Efforts like these will help break the cycle of poverty and exclusion that affects so many people with disabilities.
Inclusion Canada is an active member of the Alliance for an Inclusive and Accessible Canada, a coalition of national disability organizations supporting the Government of Canada in their work developing new federal accessibility legislation in Canada.
The Right to Live in Community Task Force, a partnership of Inclusion Canada and People First of Canada, produces the Institution Watch national newsletter, works to further deinstitutionalization in Canada, and advises Inclusion Canada on its work in this area.
Click here for resources on housing and safe and inclusive communities.
