What is Independent Living Nova Scotia Association?

Independent Living Nova Scotia Association is a registered charity supporting persons with disabilities to make informed choices about how they want to live their lives, through programs and services that promote Independent Living. The organization supports persons with any kind of disability, or a combination of disabilities, and is managed by a Board of Directors, most of whom have disabilities themselves. Founded in 1992, Independent Living Nova Scotia Association runs the only Independent Living Resource Centre in Nova Scotia, and is one of 28 Independent Living organizations across Canada. The organization’s former names were Independent Living Resource Centre, HRM and Metro Resource Centre for Independent Living.

 

What does Independent Living Nova Scotia Association do?

It helps consumers (persons with disabilities):

• Live their lives the way they want
• Break through barriers
• Develop their skills
• Stay in control of decisions that affect them
• Find the services and contacts they need
• Get information that is useful and clear

 

What is Independent Living?

Independent Living (IL) is an international movement that enables persons wth disabilities to remove social and environmental barriers to full citizenship. Independent Living provides persons with disabilities control and choice within the community.

Like the sailor in our logo, persons with disabilities gain the knowledge and skills to chart their own course and face the challenges of their own life journey.

The movement follows these four Independent Living principles:

• Consumer direction—Independent Living respects the right of persons with disabilities to set their own goals and make their own choices.
• Cross-Disability Representation—Independent Living services are available for persons with any range and number of disabilities.
• A Strong Community Base—persons with disabilities can identify issues in their own communities and lives.
• Integration and Full Participation—Independent Living supports persons with disabilities to participate in all aspects of community life: economic, social and cultural.

 

Our Mission

Independent Living Nova Scotia Association supports persons with disabilities to make informed choices about their lives. We do this by providing programs and services that support Independent Living.

 

Four themes weave the fabric of our programs and services:

• Information, Referral and Networking—through the information service, library and educational programs, persons with disabilities get up-to-date information to make informed choices about disability issues and services. We answer questions by phone, mail and email, or in person. We have a toll-free line in Nova Scotia: 1-877-310-ILNS (4567).

• Peer Support—We offer conferences, social events and activities to bring persons with disabilities together to share experiences and learn from each other. Activities include weekly drop-ins, spring danceathon, December gala dinner-dance and summer picnic.

• Independent Living Skills—through workshops and training sessions, persons with disabilities gain the skills needed for living independently in the community, from healthy and active lifestyles to employment support.

• Research and Community Development—We conduct research to identify existing and emerging needs and initiate pilot projects to meet them. Several of our programs, such as the transition program for youth with disabilities, have emerged from research and pilot projects, sometimes delivered in partnershp with other community-based organizations.

Several signature programs demonstrate how Independent Living Nova Scotia Association has created innovative services to respond to changing community needs. Click on their corresponding links on the left navigation menu to learn more about each program.