Community Living Manitoba is dedicated to the full inclusion of persons of all ages who live with an intellectual disability. Living, working and learning in an inclusive community means that all people including those with an intellectual disability have a variety of opportunities to contribute to their communities.
Community Living Manitoba is a provincial network of 11 Local Branches working together with partners, families and governments. They seek approaches to support the empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of their lives.
An inclusive Manitoba in which people with an intellectual disability are valued equally and able to participate fully in all aspects of society.
The Manitoba Association for Community Living is a registered charity leading the way to building an inclusive Manitoba for individuals with an intellectual disability. We do this through strengthening families, defending rights, and transforming communities into places where everyone can belong.
We believe that individuals, families and communities benefit from the full citizenship of all people in all aspects of society.
We listen to and honour individual choices made by people with intellectual disabilities and work with them to promote their individual rights and dignity.
We build relationships based on honesty and trust. We hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve, our funders, donors and the public at large.
We seek knowledge and feedback, learn from our experiences, and always strive to make wise decisions through collaboration.
In September 2006, CLMB filed a formal complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission which stated that the Department of Families (Provincial Government) and the Public Trustee had systematically discriminated against persons living at the Manitoba Developmental Centre on the basis of age and disability.
In November 2009 the Commission affirmed that these organizations failed to provide a coordinated effort to plan for the transitions of MDC residents to the community and create community placement resources. CLMB continues to work towards the transition of all remaining residents and the closure of MDC by 2021.
The Future of the VPA: Recommended Amendments to the Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act
Building on a review of The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act, completed by the Public Interest Law Centre for CLMB in 2018, CLMB hosted The Vulnerable Person Act Think Tank in 2019. The attendees met to discuss possible solutions to shortcomings in the Act and its administration, and develop recommendations for changes. A formal submission of the resulting report was submitted to government and conversations continue.
CLMB supports the efforts of the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) in its efforts to guard against the impact that expanded access to MAiD would have for the equality, dignity and inclusion of people with intellectual and other disabilities.
"We face the very real prospect in Canada of intellectual disability becoming a justifiable reason to terminate a person's life under the system for medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Families are already reporting pressure from health professionals to have family members with more significant intellectual and other disabilities apply for MAiD." CACL
The final report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD) has been released, and there are serious concerns of the discrimination woven through the report and ignoring of people with disabilities and their allies.
To shed light on this issue, Inclusion Canada has released a video showing the mistreatment of Canada’s disability community by the AMAD committee.
The video highlights the disrespectful and harmful behavior of committee members towards our community.
CLMB in partnership with the Institute for Research and Development on Inclusion and Society (IRIS) has joined Newfoundland & Labrador and Ontario in the national Supported Decision Making Pilot Projects. Article 12 of the UNCRPD is the foundation of this work and reflects the international law that you cannot discriminate on the basis of a disability. This community based pilot project works on identifying issues that create barriers people with intellectual and other disabilities face in having equal right to legal capacity and the right to have control in their lives. As part of the pilot, we will consult with community leadership in disability supports, health care and hospitals, banks, businesses, police and the justice system, and government services.
The pilots will initially take place in Winnipeg and expand over time to other communities in the province. As well as facilitating decision-making assistance for pilot participants, the project will also increase awareness about decision making for the public through sharing lessons learned, and the project evaluation.
Community Living Manitoba has been providing funding support to People First of Manitoba for the past four years. People First is a self-advocate run organization that stands up for the rights of people labelled with an intellectual disability.
Through a partnership with Inclusion Winnipeg, CLMB is now providing individualized advocacy to adults who have intellectual disabilities, and to families of children who have intellectual or developmental disabilities outside of Winnipeg. You can now call our office and a referral will be made to the right person to assist you with resolving problems.
The Family Gathering (FG) grew out of a recognition of the importance for families to play a role in advancing inclusion in Manitoba and goals of re-vitalization and family-based leadership through engagement, breaking down isolation, and creating a vital community of parent/family member leadership in Manitoba. Through a grant from Federal Government, CLMB has been able to fund three Family Gatherings, in partnership with Innovative LIFE Options, Continuity Care, and Inclusion Winnipeg.
The 4th Family Gathering will be held April 17th and 18th, 2020, in Winnipeg (postponed due to COVID-19). It will again be rooted in the experience of parents/family members with two days of workshops organized around creating spaces that break down isolation and create solidarity. There will be sessions on creating a vision for the future of your child/family member as included citizen, the role of relationships in ensuring and safeguarding a positive future, and becoming an effective advocate.
CLMB helps to fund the Family Advocacy Network of Manitoba (FAN), a group of family members and support network members/friends of both children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, some of whom may have a physical disability. FAN advocates to government officials for systemic change and imparts awareness of the ongoing struggles and needs experienced by Manitoba families.
Families who contact FAN are provided peer support. They are informed of valuable resources and information and referred to disability specific organizations. FAN is continuing to reach out and grow their membership, particularly in rural Manitoba.
My Home my Community & Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) & Ready Willing & Able (RWA)
With the support of our donors, Community Living Manitoba continues to make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Together we are breaking down barriers and building the leadership of families, self-advocates and community supporters. This is only possible because of thoughtful contributions from people like you.
There are many ways in which you can get involved and help lend your support. We continue to change and adjust with emerging issues as resources allow.