Advocacy Resources
On these pages, we have put together information that we hope will be of interest to self-advocates. Please keep in mind that this is a growing section and we need your input to make it better. If you have any resources, information or stories to share, please get in touch.
Self-Advocacy Articles
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these articles. If you do not have it, click here to download the program.
- How Do You Feel About That? - This article talks about how self-advocates can deal with our feelings - especially anger - in useful, constructive ways.
- Happy Father's Day, Ed Roberts! - Ed Roberts - who is often called the 'father of the independent living movement'- was paralyzed from the neck down at age 14. He faced a life of segregation and exclusion, but was not about to accept it. He spent his life breaking down barriers. Read his story here.
- Anne Stafford 'Light Up the Future' Bursary - Read about our 'Light Up the Future' bursary, awarded each year to one or more self-advocates who are pursuing post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship program.
- Other Resources - Visit our links pages for more information resources.
"What makes a powerful difference in our lives is the same kind of power that everybody wants in their lives. We want access to inclusive schools, opportunities to real work for real pay and the right to live in a place that we can call a real home.
… I asked people to close their eyes for a couple of minutes and just imagine what it would be like for them if they were told every day, "You can't learn, you can't make friends." What if you had nothing but paid people in your life and nobody else was in that picture? It does not mean that paid people are bad but if all we have in our lives are services, then we don't have access to other relationships that can really enrich our lives in so many different ways."
A quote from renowned self-advocate, Patrick Worth
Anne Stafford 'Light Up the Future' Bursary
In 1993, Community Living Ontario marked its 40th anniversary with a huge, candle-topped birthday cake. The candles represented not only a celebration of Community Living Ontario's past achievements but also a commitment to the future through education. This commitment is reflected in the form of a Community Living Ontario-sponsored bursary, established at that birthday celebration in 1993.
Each year since then, Community Living Ontario has awarded bursaries to one or more self-advocates (people who have an intellectual challenge / developmental disability) pursuing a post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship program.
The bursary is named in recognition of one of our most spirited friends, former Community Living Ontario staff member Anne Stafford. The bursary is funded through voluntary contributions made by staff members, along with money raised through a staff-sponsored raffle at the annual Community Living Ontario conference. The selection panel includes Anne Stafford and former presidents of Community Living Ontario.
For more information and details about the bursary, click here.
If you are currently receiving services from Community Living Kawartha Lakes and would like to apply for the Anne Stafford 'Light Up the Future' Bursary, we can help you with your application. Please send us an email or call (705) 328-0464.
