Canadian Independent Living Centres: impact on the community

There is now widespread interest in developing social policies and practices that are grounded in principles of independent living. The Independent Living (IL) paradigm reflects a shift in thinking away from traditional approaches to supporting persons with disabilities. Independent Living Centres (ILCs), which started in the early 1970s in the United States, and in the 1980s in Canada, are now a major force in the promotion of the IL concept worldwide. The guiding principles of these consumer-driven centres include: promoting an empowerment philosophy that incorporates consumer control/self-direction over decision-making; offering cross-disability support; providing options/choice and flexibility; and encouraging inclusion and full participation. Despite their prevalence, a surprisingly limited body of research exists on the impact of ILCs. A survey was used to investigate the impact of ILCs in Canada on their communities of interest (groups connected to the ILCs). Surveys were sent to formal organizations, informal groups, and family/friends. A final response rate of 52.6% was achieved (111 of 211 surveys returned). Overall, moderate to good levels of familiarity, involvement, and impact were found. The results affirmed the importance of independent living centres to individual empowerment, community change, and the IL movement.