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Centre for Independent Living in Toronto

CILT

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What’s New

Research Opportunity: COVID-19 Impact on People with Disabilities

Published: February 3, 2021

Posted on behalf of the University of Toronto Master of Science in Physical Therapy program

Hello! Are you a person living with a disability that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? Would you like to share your experiences?

We are a group of students from the Master of Science in Physical Therapy program at the University of Toronto. We are looking for participants for a study we are conducting on how persons with disabilities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

By taking part in this study, you will have an opportunity to express how your daily life has been impacted by COVID-19, any challenges you have faced, how your support relationships have changed, how you perceive your value and visibility, and how you have managed to cope during this time. There will be a $30.00 honorarium to compensate participants for their time.

This will be used to understand the challenges persons with disabilities face during this time, what your needs are now, and to help with better planning for persons with disabilities during the recovery process of COVID-19 and future pandemics.

In order to participate, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older;

• Self-identify with a disability;

• Reside in Southern Ontario;

• Live independently with or without self-managed attendant services or other agency supports in the community;

• Be able to give informed consent to participate;

• Have access to a computer and internet,

• Be able to independently answer questions during a virtual 45-60 minute interview session.

Please note, the study aims to gather a wide range of experiences. As such, not all participants who contact us will be automatically selected to participate in the study. The research team will follow up with you regarding whether or not you have been selected as a participant.

If you would like to share your experiences with us you can contact COVID.PWD@utoronto.ca. Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!

CILT Remembers Michael Miceli

Published: January 29, 2021

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) offers our deepest condolences to the family and peers of Michael Miceli. Michael passed away in Toronto on December 22nd, 2020

For over 10 years, Michael was a valued part of the CILT community. He warmly engaged with his peers and non-profits at many of our independent living skills and social events.  A graduate of York University’s Critical Disability Studies Program, Michael was articulate in advocating for disability justice, including with government. He did so effectively over the past 2 years as a member of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC).

Michael was a very kind, outgoing and generous person and could have a conversation with anyone. He had Muscular Dystrophy and volunteered with non-profit causes over the years. Michael’s tireless pursuit of a world inclusive of people with disabilities inspired and rallied others to engage as allies with him.

Thank you, Michael, for all you have done to elevate our community’s issues and to shape a better world that includes everyone.

Anyone wishing to read or write memories of Michael on the Dignity Memorial website, can do so from the link: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/toronto-on/michael-miceli-9963470

PDN Event – The More We Get Together

Published: January 29, 2021

Join us for a free virtual Valentine’s Day circle time with songs, rhymes and stories to support bonding with your child, developing their early literacy skills and connecting with other parents with disabilities. All parents and caregivers who identify as having a disability and their children are welcome.

Date: Friday, February 12th, 2021

Time: 11am

Where: Virtually on Zoom

To register, please email rebecca.wood@cilt.ca or call 416-599-2458 ext 291. Please let us know about any accommodation or zoom support needs when you register for the event.

For more info, check out the flyer: The More We Get Together Valentine’s Day Song Circle 2021.

CILT Remembers Sylvia Draper-Fernandez

Published: January 29, 2021

Sylvia

On January 23rd, 2021, CILT lost our devoted and long-serving bookkeeper Sylvia Draper-Fernandez. Sylvia has been a member of the CILT family for more than 30 years, having served as our financial adviser since the very start of CILT.  Our deepest condolences go to Sylvia’s family and loved ones.

Sylvia’s wise counsel helped formalize CILT’s standing as a non-profit in the early days and her shrewd guidance helped CILT grow into what we are today. Sylvia was instrumental in developing and rolling out the Direct Funding Program across Ontario, and she was deeply involved in every expansion the program has received since its inception.

I have personally had the great pleasure of working directly with Sylvia since the start of my time as Executive Director at CILT in 2018. She was straight-forward and no nonsense and deeply and sincerely supportive of CILT and the work we do. I recall reluctantly phoning her while she was on holiday with her partner Rick in Florida and explaining that we had a time-limited opportunity to again expand the DF program but we needed her help. Sylvia did not even hesitate. She stepped-up, as she always did, and helped us to assemble yet another possible expansion budget. She joked at the time ‘Well at least I still get to have cocktails on the beach later!’ Even as CILT has transitioned into remote work as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sylvia remained equally committed to supporting us through everything this transition entailed.

Not only did Sylvia support CILT this way, but she was also equally devoted to supporting other non-profits who were trying to do good in the world.

Sylvia had a wonderful sense of humor and a very kind heart. She loved to talk about her family and she was very proud of the accomplishments of her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons. Sylvia’s laugh was warm and deep and would usually come at the end of a call, when the official ‘business’ was complete. We will all miss Sylvia very much. She was an incredibly wise and caring person, deeply devoted to her work, family and community.

Despite her importance to operations, Sylvia preferred to remain in the background, always attending CILT’s AGM and quietly mingling with staff and members. But her presence in terms of CILT’s accomplishments cannot be underestimated. In 2016, CILT presented her with an award, pictured above. The award is inscribed and reads: “Meritorious Service Award, Sylvia Draper-Fernandez, In recognition of over 30 years of outstanding contribution to the financial well-being of CILT and embodying the values of the Independent Living Movement”

Thank you, Sylvia for your dedication to CILT. We will remember you, always, as a dedicated champion for CILT and an outstanding colleague and friend.

Wendy Porch, Executive Director, CILT.

January 2021

CILT Peer Connect: Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 from 1pm – 2:30pm on Zoom

Published: January 22, 2021

In this session:

Guest Speaker: Dr Kaley Roosen

Topic: Body Positivity for Disabled Bodies

To register, please email rebecca.wood@cilt.ca

More about Kaley:

Kaley Roosen is disabled woman and a mother. She works as a Clinical & Health Psychologist at the Toronto Psychology Clinic (www.torontopsychology.com). There she offers anti-oppressive, disability affirmative psychotherapy to adolescents, adults and couples. Her scholarly work combines traditional clinical health psychology with critical disability approaches to explore the experiences of trauma, social and psychological embodiment/body image and eating disorders in disabled women and how disabled people access mental health services. She has been awarded the Body Confidence of Canada Award for her disability advocacy work and the Soroptimist Award for Women for her research on eating disorders and disability.

More about CILT Peer Connect: 

CILT Peer Connect is a biweekly peer support opportunity for adults with disabilities.  In every session we will check in and connect around how we are coping with stress and isolation as a result of COVID-19.  Please be ready to participate in activity and discussion and let us know if we can support with any accommodations.  CILT Peer Connect is presented with generous funding support provided by The City of Toronto, The United Way of Greater Toronto, and Independent Living Canada.

Upcoming CILT Peer Connect dates: Wednesday February 24 at 1pm, Wednesday March 24 at 1pm.  Topics to be announced.

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Pages

  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • What is Independent Living?
      • Independent Living: An Overview
    • Board of Directors
    • Empowerment
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    • Helen Henderson Literary Award
    • Vic Willi Legacy Fund
    • Donation
    • History
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    • Career Opportunities
    • Annual Report
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  • What’s New
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    • Items for Sale
    • Abuse Hotline
  • Programs
    • ASAC (Attendant Service Application Centre)
      • Attendant Services Overview
      • ASAC Application and Guide
      • Consumer Attendant Roster
      • Ontario Attendant Service Directory
      • PSW Education & Training Fund
    • Independent Living Skills Training
      • Independent Living Skills Workshops
      • Independent Living Skills Articles
      • Independent Living Skills Resources
      • Aging With a Disability
    • Direct Funding/Financement Direct (DF)
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Recent Posts

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  • Digital Storytelling at the Intersections of Queerness and Disability
  • Statement on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities
  • MOVIE NIGHT: A Vibrant CILT Holiday

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