Inclusion Encourages Understanding

Cindy Sheppard
CARING MATTERS
Published Thursday March 6th, 2008
Appeared on page C8

A testimonial about the New Brunswick Association for Community Living by a parent who's been there: "NBACL has been there through every step of our family journey. They have connected us with other families who share our experiences. They have provided us with information about how we can ensure Aimee has the best possible future and they have also offered programs and projects that have made a positive impact on the way we approach each milestone of our daughter's life."

The ACL is a lifeline for this family and others with members, both children and adults, with intellectual disabilities. It links community organizations to these families. It is not a disability services agency, and it does not have clients. It is an agency which works with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. The ACL works to ensure those with intellectual disabilities have the option to choose supports required to live a meaningful life and be valued as contributing members of their communities.
Like all people, those who use ACL's services aspire to reach their goals and fulfill dreams. They want jobs, independent living, friends and social activities. ACL staff work to ensure these goals can be achieved with the necessary supports.

About 21,000 New Brunswickers have an intellectual disability. Seventy to 80 percent of adults with an intellectual disability are either unemployed or underemployed even though they are capable of working once they have the right supports in place. Maybe better employment of these people is an answer to New Brunswick's impending labour shortage.

The ACL was founded in 1957 by parents who wanted their children to have the right to an education. These parents had been told the prevailing wisdom of the day: their children were not eligible for an education; and would not be permitted social interaction and friends in their community school. They were heartbroken. In 1957, a group of them decided to fight these stereotypes and exclusion. From that group grew the ACL. In the 60s, their mandate was services, the 70s saw the focus on community-based services, the 80s focused on human rights of those with intellectual disabilities. In 1986, inclusive education was legislated. Now all children are entitled to receive an education in their local neighbourhood schools. By the 90s and today, the focus is on community participation and development.
Inclusion is not just about children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It is about people in the community learning about and accepting people who are different. Today, the ACL works to ensure everyone is offered equal quality of life.

An important goal of the ACL is to get rid of labels. The agency advocates we are all people first and should not be recognized by our disabilities but by our talents, achievements and abilities. It recognizes everyone has something to offer to a community.

Among the agency's programs are the Families United Network and the Seniors United Network. Anyone interested in learning more can attend a breakfast entitled "Changing Lives, Changing Communities Tour" which takes place each month. For more information on the breakfast, call 453-4400.

Cindy Sheppard is the executive director of the Fredericton Community Foundation. Her column profiling Fredericton's non-profit agencies appears Thursdays. Please send comments to letters@dailygleaner.com.