Furthering Your Understanding Of Disability

Knowledge and understanding are the first steps to overcoming the barriers set for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

An intellectual disability is an accepted term used to describe a disability that significantly affects a person’s ability to learn and use information.

Other key points to consider are:

  • This disability is also commonly referred to as a developmental disability
  • An intellectual disability is often diagnosed in childhood and continues lifelong
  • Many people who have intellectual disabilities use different types of assistance to help with daily life

Individualization

People who have an intellectual disability often face service systems that categorize, group or label them. It is easy for someone’s individual goals, strengths and needs to get lost in such a system. Too often people who have an intellectual disability are left out of plans and decisions about their own life.

Individualization means that every person has unique capabilities, interests and needs. It means that a person is at the centre of all decision making and plans that affect them.

Two gentlemen posing for camera outside

The Freedom Tour Film by People First of Canada

The Freedom Tour is a powerful documentary that has been raising awareness about institutions both nationally and internationally. To capture the stories of those who lived in institutions, People First of Canada along with the National Film Board of Canada came together to produce this 58 minute film.

It has been since 2009 that the last three institutions in Ontario for people who have an intellectual disability have closed. At Community Living Windsor, we support the work of People First of Canada, People First of Ontario and all of the local chapters to ensure that we don't repeat the history of institutionalization in Ontario and dehumanize thousands of people along the way.