www.ilcanada.ca
email: info@cailc.ca

 

Breaking Down Barriers - An Independent Living Centre

www.breakingdownbarriers.org
email: info@breakingdownbarries.org
 

disABILITY Resource Centre for Independent Living

www.drcil.org
email: drcil@vianet.ca

 
Kingston

Independent Living Centre of Kingston
www.ilckingston.com
email: info@ilckingston.com
 

Kitchener-Waterloo Region
Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region

www.ilcwr.org
email: info@ilcwr.org

 

London
The Independent Living Centre London and Area
www.ilcla.ca
email: pquesnel@odyssey.on.ca

 
Ottawa
Ottawa-Carleton Independent Living Centre
www.oilrc.com
email: info@oilrc.com

Parry Sound
RISE -- Parry Sound Independent Living Centre
http://www.risercil.org
email: riseadmin@cogeco.ca

 
St. Catharines
Niagara Centre for Independent Living (NCIL)
http://www.abilityforlife.ca

email: reception@abilityforlife.ca

 
Sudbury
Independent Living Resource Centre Sudbury
www.ilrcsudbury.ca
email: reception@ilrcsudbury.ca
 

 

Thunder Bay
Independent Living Resource Centre Thunder Bay

www.ilrctbay.com
email: info@ilrctbay.com

 

Toronto
Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) Inc.
www.cilt.ca
email: cilt@cilt.ca

Bent
www.bentvoices.org

Bent is a disability news and lifestyle e-zine written by and for gay and lesbian consumers (subtitled "a journal of cripgay voices").

 

 

 

The Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf is an organization aims to serve the needs of deaf culture throughout the country. Particular attention is given to Deaf literature, heritage resources, performing arts, visual arts and sign language. The Web site is bilingual, and has subpages devoted to Deaf culture in each province and territory.

 

 

The Creative Spirit Art Centre is a studio that encourages people with disabilities to showcase their creative talents through art. The site includes information on the centre's history, fundraising events and resources. Art samples are also posted.

 

 

 

Crip College is a cross-disability Web forum created by a paraplegic consumer from Calgary. He invites other consumers to share their experiences on this site, and to provide others with knowledge, resources and tips they've gathered along the way. A message board, links, photos, personal anecdotes and stories are included.

 

 

Deaf Planet, created in conjunction with a new television
series, uses American Sign Language as a teaching tool for Deaf students, aged 8 to 12. Young visitors to the site can watch the TV episodes of Deaf Planet, but can also discover more about the sciences, all the while using ASL in a fun, vibrant environment.

 

 

 

DEAFWEEKLY is a new weekly e-zine to help people keep up with news in the Deaf community. It reports on news stories from around the world, including education, science, technology, arts and sports stories for anyone interested in Deaf issues. The Web site offers visitors to read the current issue or to subscribe free of charge.

The Glass Eye: Disabled Photographers of Ontario
www.flickr.com/groups/glasseye/

The Glass Eye is place for people with disabilities living in Ontario to gather online to share their photographs and discuss photographic topics.

 

 

The Institute on Disability Culture's mission since 1994 has been to promote pride in the history, activities, and cultural identity of individuals with disabilities throughout the world. The purpose of this site is to provide information, and to share examples of disability culture. This site is currently entirely text-based.

 

 

The International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers (IGODAP) is a collective of artists and performers who identify as being disabled or having a disability. This Web site, based in New Zealand, is a great way for consumers around the world to connect and share news, ideas and inspiration. Consumers wishing to become members of IGODAP can register online.

 

 

 

The Sexuality and Disability Webliography is a section of the Wellness and Disability Initiative Web site of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities collects material on healthy sexuality and disability. Full text, personal Web sites and book abstracts are included. Various disabilities are covered, from arthritis to spinal cord injury.

 

 

VSA Arts is a US-based arts organization showcasing the work of artists with disabilities from around the world (including those at the Creative Spirit Art Centre). An online art collection is featured, along with membership information, news articles and updates on the latest exhibits at their North American and international affiliates.

 

1800Wheelchair.com was founded in 1999 to provide a community where mature adults and their caregivers can better connect with their families, find products that they may need, or find that special someone. Most Web sites address the needs of the younger population and tend to ignore the concerns and interests of the older generations.

 

 

 

KINO Mobility provides accessible transportation solutions for seniors and persons with disabilities from simple driving controls to full van and minivan conversions with state-of-the-art electronic mobility controls, hydraulic wheelchair and scooter lifts, manual & electric wheelchair ramps, taxi and community transit vehicles. Rental charge is $125/day.

 

 

 

Viewpoint Mobility is the producer of one of the best-known wheelchair-accessible minivans in North America, the Vision. The Vision, showcased on this Web site, is a rear-entry, lowered floor modification engineered to make Daimler-Chrysler, Ford and General Motors minivans barrier-free.

 

 

 

The ErgoChair for Little People is a product that may be of interest to consumers with dwarfism and/or osteogenesis imperfecta. The ErgoChair adjusts so that the back-rest supports your back while at the same time allowing your knees to bend at the edge of the seat. You can also adjust the height of the chair to raise up to a standard height desk or lower to a reduced height desk.

 

 

 

The Gimp Store is a consumer-designed and operated business specializing in "crip humour." The store produces and sells bumper stickers, buttons, clothing, mousepads and other merchandise categorized by disability. Online orders are accepted. Warning: some of the humour is dicey, and may not be for all tastes.

 

 

 

Dolomite Home Care Products is dedicated to helping people with disabilities live more independently by distributing high-quality mobility products that suit many different needs. Products include bath lifts, shower commodes and walkers.

 

 

 

Kutaways makes coats that are tailor-made for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs. The coats are made of Yukon fleece, and are designed to maintain the quality of living for "people in motion." Orders are accepted by phone or email.

Join Opportunity Information Network (JOIN) 
www.joininfo.ca
 
The Job Opportunity Information Network (JOIN), for Persons with Disabilities is an initiative of Service Providers who deliver ODSP Employment Supports in the Toronto Region. This network assists Persons with Disabilities to find work and assist employers to recruit qualified candidates to meet their hiring needs.


The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

 

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is intended to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and help them to become more independent. The ODSP has two parts: Employment Supports provides the supports people with disabilities need to get and keep jobs, and Income Support provides financial assistance to people with disabilities.

 

Workplace Essential Skills Partnership (WESP)
www.workink.com
www.ccrw.org (CCRW)
www.cnib.ca (CNIB)

The WESP is an employment program designed to provide job seekers with disabilities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) the opportunity to enhance their employability in preparation for a variety of labour market sectors.

 

WORKink is a virtual employment resource centre directed by the Canadian Council of Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), in collaboration with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) and  provincial/territorial partners. WORKink's mission is to facilitate communication and provide resources to enhance the equitable and meaningful employment of people with disabilities.

 

211 Toronto is the website for the 211 Toronto information service, featuring the online edition of the Blue Book Directory. 211, operated by Community Information Toronto, is a community helpline that can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 

 

The Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres
(CAILC) is a national umbrella organization which consists of local autonomous Independent Living Resource Centres (ILRCs). Each ILRC is community-based and controlled by and for persons with disabilities. CAILC is controlled by the individual ILRCs and its responsibilities mainly consist of providing support, training, networking with government and non-government organizations, and information dissemination.
 

 

The Canadian Abilities Foundation (CAF) Web site, home of EnableLink, the Directory of Disability Organizations in Canada, the National Employment Services Directory, the CAF Forum, over forty issues of archived articles from Abilities Magazine - and the list goes on! If it has to do with disability in Canada - chances are you'll find it here.

 

 

 

Canada Pension Plan Disability pays a monthly benefit to people with disabilities who have contributed to the Plan and who meet the eligibility requirements under Canada Pension Plan legislation. The Plan also pays monthly benefits for their dependent children. 

 

 

The Income Security Advocacy Centre works with and on behalf of low income communities in Ontario to address issues of income security and poverty. Many of its clients are consumers with disabilities living in Ontario. The centre's Web site offers information on its publications, including its analysis of ODSP (see below).

 

 

The Directory for Accessibility is a comprehensive resource listing contact information for disability organizations and services, compiled by the Ontario March of Dimes. Search categories include Barrier-Free Design, Barrier Removal, Job Accommodation, Transportation, Adaptive Devices, Independent Living and Sensitivity Training.

 

Linkable is an online portal that provides access to personal Web sites maintained by people with disabilities. It was created by an American consumer and war veteran with a disability who sought to get advice and peer support through the Internet.
 

 

The Paths to Equal Opportunity is an online resource maintained by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship. Its purpose is to help businesses and service providers make their buildings, products and services accessible to consumers and employees with disabilities. The site is also used by the Ministry to meet the information needs of managers, HR professionals, employers, businesses, service providers, manufacturers and internationally-trained workers committed to equality and diversity.
 

 

The Self-Help Resource Centre of Ontario is a comprehensive array of resources and tools for anyone looking for and/or  wanting to start up a self-help group.
 

 

Disability WebLinks is a collaborative Federal/Provincial/Territorial project undertaken by Ministers responsible for Social Services and developed in consultation with representatives from the disability community.
 

 

Accessibility Ontario provides up to date information on the activities of the new Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. It features hundreds of links and valuable resources for people with disabilities, business, and organizations with obligations under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001.
 

 

The Canadian Health Network offers a special section on people with disabilities to provide key information, answer FAQs about the health of people with disabilities, explore related issues such as violence prevention, relationships and alternative health practices, and browse a collection of resources on social issues.
Get clicking and get healthy!

 

 

The Virtual Reference Library (VRL) is a service from the Toronto Public Library, Ontario's largest public library. VRL is designed to deliver reference and information services through the use of advanced information and telecommunications technologies.
 

 

The ADP Web site is managed by the Ont. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It includes frequently asked questions and an up-to-date list of items that can receive financial coverage under ADP for consumers who have income supports from ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program). Items covered by ADP include communication devices, hearing aids, visual aids, prosthetic devices, tracheotomy supplies and wheelchairs. 
 

 

Developed by CAILC, Literacy for Independent Living (LIL) is the first bilingual and centralized online library housing literacy information and resources useful for people working with adult learners with disabilities. It includes information on assistive devices and disability awareness.
 

 

Health Status & Health Care in the Disability Community in Canada is a report released by researchers at Queen's University (Kingston) and the Ont. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The population-based research focuses on people with disabilities as consumers of health products and services, as well as the influence from primary care professionals, educators, researchers and policy-makers at both the provincial and federal levels. The entire report can be read at this Web site.
 

 

D.O.O.R. 2 Adulthood is aimed at young consumers with disabilities who are about to make the transition to adulthood and independent living. The site includes a database of services, resources, tips and strategies about making the transition. It also has an e-discussion group and an e-newsletter. (Full name of site is Disability Ontario Online Resources for Transition to Adulthood.)
 

 

Handspeak explores sign languages and other forms of "langculture" for the deaf. It also focuses on other visual languages, communication, cultures and arts. On the site there are sign samples, articles, resources, directories of books, videos, interpreters, artists and crafts.
 

 

Canadian Disabled Individuals Association (CDIA) is a Vancouver-based organization focusing on pertinent disability issues. Their Web site features Web polls, classified ads and a photo gallery. It also offers a free Webcast on frequent information updates on new government programs, employment opportunities and community events.

 

Sunny View School Discussion Group is for people who attended the school for children with disabilities, located at 450 Blythwood Road. The group, started by a school alumnus on the Yahoo network, is a place to share old photos, memories, and insights about your time spent at this school. Discussions about disability advocacy and the independent living movement are also welcomed.

Housing Connections

 

 

ARCH is a community-based legal clinic and resource centre for the Province of Ontario, dedicated to defending and advancing the equality and rights of persons with disabilities.

 

In recognizing the dignity and worth of persons with a variety of disabilities, ARCH promotes the full social justice of persons with disabilities, and their realization of equal opportunities and full participation on an individual and systemic basis. ARCH operates on the following principles:

www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_disabilitymatters 

 

Disability Matters is a CBC News column featuring three writers, each with a different disability. They all write about living with a disability, and how they view awareness and attitudes toward disabilities in Canada. The column deals with the rights of people with disabilities, eliminating inequality and discrimination, and issues of self-help and consumer advocacy.

 

 

 

A bimonthly web-zine of international disability news and views.

 

 

 

Moving On is a disability news and lifestyle series, broadcast nationally by CBC Television and provincially by TVOntario since 1998. It is the only TV show in North America devoted to people with disabilities, and disability-related concerns. The show's Web site provides episode summaries and links to the people, products and services that are profiled.

 

 

 

A monthly, US-based magazine written by and for people with disabilities, NM is one of the leading publications dedicated to disability culture and lifestyle. NM also provides a forum for sharing life experience, for learning what works in daily life, and for networking and becoming part of a community.

 

 

 

Ouch!... "that site for disabled people" is a disability news web-zine operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and staffed by reporters and columnists with disabilities. The main aim of Ouch! is to reflect the experiences and thoughts of people with disabilities, and to present alternative viewpoints on issues that are important to PWDs. It also aims to expose the absurdities of the portrayals of PWDs from the mainstream media by tapping into the realities of life in the British and international disability communities.

 

 

 

Ragged Edge is the US-based Web-zine that is at the forefront of it all, with news, disability policy, analysis and critiques.

 

 

 

360: The Accessible Lifestyle is an online magazine that pledges to "challenge the traditional views of people in wheelchairs." The e-zine provides a forum for sharing experiences, inspiration and a sense of humour. Registration is free.

 

The Inter-University Disability Issues Association (IDIA) is an association of disability service providers from Universities throughout Ontario. The IDIA encourages Ontario universities to share ideas and strategies to overcome issues and problems, allowing students with disabilities a chance to succeed in post-secondary education.

 

 

 

The Ontarians with Disabilities Act Committee is a voluntary coalition of individuals and community organizations who have united to secure the passage in Ontario of a new law which would achieve a barrier-free society for persons with disabilities.
 

TASH is an international association of people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates and professionals fighting for a society in which inclusion of all people in all aspects of the society is the norm.

Aphasia Institute
www.aphasia.ca

Aphasia Institute is an education and learning centre that provides innovative solutions for people living with aphasia and their caregivers.

 

The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)  is a consumer-directed, university affiliated centre dedicated to research, education and information dissemination on disability issues. The CCDS is guided by the philosophies of independent living and community living, emphasizing human rights, self-determination, interdependence, equality, a cross-disability focus, and full and valued participation in the community.

 

 

Disabled Students and Multiple Policy Innovations in Higher Education

 

This is a project being carried out jointly by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland, UK. It aims to examine how multiple policy innovations in higher education interact with policies aimed at wider access for disabled students, assessing the impact of both sets of policies on the participation and experiences of disabled students. The Web site includes reports and papers from the project in downloadable form. The project is expected to last from April 2000-July 2003 (with extension to September 2003).

 

 

 

The History of the Disability Rights Movement is a historical exhibition hosted by the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC, USA. The exhibit, which opened July 6, 2001, chronicles the progress made by Americans with disabilities towards civil rights, beginning with disabled veteran and parent organizations, and continuing up to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Though the exhibit focuses strictly on the American disability movement, it may be of interest to those curious about its history, and how it has made an impact around the world.

 

 

 

Self-help organizations of disabled people who work for equal opportunities, self-determination and self-respect. Offers training materials, technical assistance and information on personal assistance, advocacy, access, legislation and peer support.

 

 

 

Disability Policy and Studies in the US and France.

 

 

 

The Disability History Project is a community history project and we welcome your participation. This is an opportunity for disabled people to reclaim our history and determine how we want to define ourselves and our struggles. People with disabilities have an exciting and rich history that should be shared with the world. Please email or mail us anything that you would like to see become part of the Disability Social History Project, including your disabled heroes, important events in disability history, and resources.

 

 

 

The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD)  is an organization that promotes, supports and enables Canadians with disabilities to lead active, healthy lives.

Web site includes details of upcoming sport and paralympic activities and events across the province, as well as resources and advocacy information. Visitors can also subscribe to a bi-monthly newsletter (available both in print and email formats). The site can also be read in English, French and text-only formats.

 

 

The CEWHA is a nationwide, volunteer-based hockey league for youth and adults with disabilities, where games are played in a regular season. The mission of the CEWHA is "to provide a quality hockey program for all persons with disabilities who have limited upper body strength and/or mobility, who could significantly benefit from the use of an electric wheelchair in competitive sport."

Rondeau Provincial Park
www.rondeauprovincialpark.ca
email: michelene.myers@mnr.gov.on.ca
Phone:519-674-1750

Nestled deep within the heart of Carolinian Canada lies Ontario's second oldest Provincial Park. The park has wheelchair accessible campsites, trails, and washroom facilities. Rondeau's Carolinian forests are home to such southern species as Tulip-tree, Sassafras, Virginia Oppossum, Yellow-breasted Chat and the endangered Prothonotary Warbler. Rondeau is unique in the amount of this rare habitat that it protects - no other provincial park in Ontario holds as much.


The Mix Community Club
www.mixcommunityclub.com

The Mix Community Club is the only nonprofit social club providing social entertainment that is organized and produced by people with disabilities for the entire community.  The Mix is socially integrating the mainstream society with the disabled community through their monthly events and dances.  The Mix also provides mobile events, regional event support, entertainment services, workshops and registered social programs.  Children, teens, students, adults, families and seniors with and without disabilities are all an important part of what makes up The Mix. 


Toronto Sledge Hockey - Providing Access to Canada's National Sport
www.torontosledgehockey.com

The City of Toronto, Bloorview Kids Rehab, and Variety Village have teamed up to bring Sledge Hockey back to Toronto.


WindReach

 

WindReach is a recreational farm located in Whitby that is completely wheelchair accessible, with barrier-free apartments for overnight accommodation. The farm is run by a consumer with a disability, and is part of the WindReach Recreational Village.

 

Accessible Portugal is a tourism company that operates out of Lisbon.  It organizes tours of Portual that are accessible to persons with mobility disabilities and their families.


Access to Travel

 

Access to Travel, a resource from the federal government, provides information on accessible transportation and travel across Canada, with the aim of making accessible travel easy and enjoyable. The development of this Web site was spearheaded by Transport Canada, in partnership with other federal government departments, provincial governments and non-profit associations.

 

 

 

Based in Pennsylvania, Accessible Journeys specializes in designing accessible holidays and escorting groups on accessible vacations exclusively for slow walkers, wheelchair travelers, their families and friends. It offers an accessible travel newsletter, a listing of equipment and accommodations rentals, upcoming vacation packages and more.

 

 

 

Access Victoria is the Accessible Accommodation and Resource Guide for Disabled Travelers in Victoria, B.C.

 

 

 

Baan Khun Daeng: Accessible Holidays in Northern Thailand offers people with a physical disability an accessible place to stay. "Khun Daeng" -- the Thai nickname of consumer/resident Karsten Blokker -- has experience and knowledge about organizing trips and activities for wheelchair users planning to visit Thailand.

 

 

 

Bed & Breakfast Online's official website. Billed as "Canada's Bed and Breakfast Web Server," they provide a list of places with temporary holiday accommodation. Many (but not all) of the B&Bs listed have wheelchair accessibility.

 

 

 

Gimp on the Go is an American-based site run by and for consumers, featuring a host of travel tips and resources. One section of the site includes travel reviews written by consumers on various destinations around the world. Vacation planners are invited to submit any accessibility-related inquiries to the editors (by email). Consumer inquiries and feedback can also be posted on one of the site’s bulletin boards.

 

 

 

The Mersey River Chalets is a four-season wilderness resort located in the woods of Nova Scotia (S.W. of Halifax). All the chalets at this resort are wheelchair accessible. The resort has wide nature trails, specially-designed wharfs, a wheelchair swing, roll-in showers, tipis with accessible washrooms and a hydraulic lift. There is also a restaurant and opportunities for recreational and sports activities. (Trivia: three of the resort developers have physical disabilities.)

 

 

http://www.wheelchairaccessibleholidayhomesfordisabledpeople.com/

Villa with wheelchair access in Thailand with swimming pool, jacuzzi and includes a manual pool hoist. Accommodation adapted for wheelchairs.

 

Wheelchair Accessible Transit

 

Wheelchair Accessible Transit provides door-to-door wheelchair transportation to consumers in Toronto and the surrounding regions. The vehicles are converted mini-vans and extended size passenger vans. The Web site features photos of its vans and service rates.

 

 

 

Wunago Travel is a new online travel resource recently profiled by Abilities magazine (Spring 2004). Wunago has a database and search engine where people can read up on accessible hotels, lodges, inns and bed-and-breakfasts around the world. It also provides information on nearby accessible attractions and activities. Consumer testimonials are included.


Israel 4 All
www.israel4all.com

Israel 4 All provides accessible tourism services in Israel for travellers with physical disabilities or special needs.