Member Centres

Accredited IL Member Centres 

An Independent Living Member Centre (IL Member Centre) is a non-profit, consumer controlled, and community-based organization that has achieved the level of Accredited Member Centre with IL Canada. Membership in IL Canada is limited to organizations wishing to promote IL Canada objectives and whose application for membership has been approved by the IL Canada Board of Directors. Accredited Member Centre is the only category of membership.

Expected Ethical Practices of Member Centers

Consumer Control

The philosophy of IL promotes the rights of people with disabilities to examine choices, make decisions, take risks, make mistakes, and take responsibility for their own lives. IL Member Centres must maintain a Board of Directors that consists of no less than a 51% representation of persons with a disability forming self-governance.

Cross Disability

IL recognizes that persons with different disabilities have different needs. At the same time, the IL philosophy insists that consumers’ right to have choices, make decisions, make mistakes and take responsibility for their own lives applies to all persons with disabilities. IL Member Centres will maintain an approach that is inclusive of all persons with any disability and endeavor to ensure that the combined sum of all programs and services have a cross-disability approach.

Community Based

IL calls for a community-based approach to service development, delivery, evaluation and promotion. This commitment to meeting unmet needs is the principle of non-duplication of services. IL Member Centres must endeavor to develop program and services to meet specific consumer –identified gaps in their operating areas. Augmenting an existing service or program available in your area to best meet the needs of an IL Member Centre’s consumer is not considered a duplication of service.

Participation and Full Integration

The Independent Living philosophy calls for the integration and full participation of persons with disabilities in their communities. Member Centres must provide programs and services developed within the following 4 Core Pillars of Service:

1. Information and Networking
2. Peer Support
3. Independent Living Skills Development
4. Research and Community Development

Find your closest Independent Living Member Centre and get involved!