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FAQ

What is an intellectual disability?
A person who is born with an intellectual disability is a person who has impaired learning. Whether caused genetically as with Down syndrome, developmentally, or at birth, a person with an intellectual disability is born that way. There are no environmental or immunological causes of an intellectual disability, other than a brain injury acquired through an accident.

What is your mission and vision statement?
Our mission statement is: Community Living Toronto changes the lives of people with an intellectual disability by giving them a voice and supporting their choices where they live, learn, work and play.

Our vision statement is: Community Living Toronto is a recognized leader offering a full range of personalized supports and services to people with an intellectual disability and their families. We set the benchmark for excellence, innovation and accountability in the developmental services sector. Our vision for society is one where everyone belongs and we help each other reach for our dreams.
 

What programs do you have? Do you work with children or adults? 
Community Living Toronto works with both children and adults and provides a variety of programs and supports that are aimed at maximizing a person's independence. Our programs are person-centred, geared to each individual's needs. For detailed information about our services, visit the sections dedicated to either children, youth, adults or family.

How many staff and volunteers do you have in the agency? 
The Association has approximately 1,100 full-time, part-time and relief staff working at over 70 program locations across Toronto. We also have over 800 registered volunteers who provide support to Community Living Toronto and people with an intellectual disability. 

What kind of qualifications do the counselors have who are working in the community with your clients? 
Full time staff have a College diploma or a University degree in a discipline related to the Social Services field. 

Do you have summer camps that people with disabilities can attend? 
Community Living Toronto owns and operates Shadow Lake Centre, a recreational facility located at Musselman's Lake, near Stouffville. The camp operates year-round and accommodates both adults and children with varying needs. For more information, visit www.shadowlakecentre.ca. 

Do you receive money privately or from the government? 
Community Living Toronto receives the bulk of its funding from the Province of Ontario. We also receive funds from the United Way of Greater Toronto, and conduct fundraising events and campaigns that solicit funds from corporations, foundations and the public. 

Is Community Living Toronto a part of Community Living Ontario or the Canadian Association for Community Living? 
Community Living Toronto is a member of both the Ontario and Canadian Associations for Community Living. These two federal and provincial bodies are not service providers, but are advocacy bodies that lobby government at their respective levels and create awareness for Community Living associations across Ontario and Canada. The Canadian Association is also part of the Roeher Institute, a research facility on intellectual disabilities. 

For more information about either organization, please click on the links below:

Community Living Ontario
Canadian Association for Community Living

Is Community Living Toronto a part of any religious organization? 
Community Living Toronto is not affiliated with any religious or political organization. 

Do any staff members have live-in arrangements at the group homes or do they do shift work? 
Live in staff require part of the living space for their own use. Community Living Toronto prefers that persons with an intellectual disability use available residential space. As a result, most of our group homes employ staff who work shifts and do not live at the residence.

How many staff members are there in a group home? 
Community Living Toronto presently has approximately 50 group homes that support over 200 persons who have an intellectual disability. Staffing patterns in Community Living Toronto homes are affected by the size of the home and the needs of the people living there. The number of staff available at a group home site varies according to needs of the residents at the site. In homes in which residents require little support, a typical staff pattern might be 1 staff for 5 people, Monday to Friday, with no overnight support and a few hours of support on the weekend. Residences that serve people with very high needs have more staff support available. A typical staff pattern for high need persons is 1 staff to 2 persons with an intellectual disability during waking hours and one overnight staff.
In addition, in some locations extra staff is added for times when needs are greater. For instance, in some homes an extra staff is available between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. to help support residents prepare for the day. 

Do you have people who speak different languages or who provide interpretation services working for you? 
Community Living Toronto does have an interpreter pool, comprised of staff and volunteers, who will provide interpretation services. Contact your regional Membership Coordinator for more information. 

Do you have art classes or music groups? 
There are several organized art and music groups at locations across Toronto. Contact your region for a location nearest you.