STRATEGIC PLAN
WHO WE ARE
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador (formerly The Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living [NLACL]) works with, and on behalf of, individuals with an intellectual disability and their families, advocating for people to live as full participants in their communities. We believe in equality, inclusion, and independence, and know that everyone deserves to be respected, and to belong. For the past 68 years we have worked to make things better for the 15,000 people in this province with an intellectual disability, as well as their family, friends, and communities.
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador adopted this new name at the meeting of the Board of Directors on September 18th, 2021 at the Capital Hotel, St. John’s, NL on a motion made by Mrs. Joan Stamp and seconded by Cristen Tizzard. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting Chaired by President Dennis Gill.
OUR PURPOSE
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador promotes:
1. the valued recognition of individuals with intellectual disabilities as citizens who have contributions to make to families, communities, and society.
2. the valued recognition of families as gateways to inclusive community life for people with intellectual disabilities.
3. the establishment and maintenance of social and economic support so that people with intellectual disabilities are welcomed and valued as full and self-determining members of the community.
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador is proud of its rich history and contributions toward shifting the perspective of intellectual disability. We have a vision of a province where every person with an intellectual disability is respected and has the support they need to be a contributing part of their community.
4. a vision of society that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive of the rights of all persons regardless of differences in intellectual or other abilities.
5. the elimination of discrimination based on disability, gender, age, culture, race, ancestry, sexual orientation, and other differences.
6. that individuals with intellectual disabilities and their family members should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable them to contribute towards the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities.
VALUES AND BELIEFS
• All members of the human family are full persons. Our human essence cannot be reduced to words, labels, categories, definitions, or genetic patterns. Every person is unique. No one can be replaced or copied. All persons are ineffable. (means sacred or beyond describing).
• All persons are entitled to respect. Respect requires recognition of and concern for the dignity of every person. Dignity is fragile. It must be protected from all harm.
• All persons have inherent dignity. Dignity belongs to us just because we exist. It is not something we earn or receive.
• All persons have inalienable dignity. Dignity cannot rightfully be ignored, diminished, or taken away.
• All persons have equal dignity. Dignity does not depend upon physical, intellectual, or other characteristics. Neither does it depend upon the opinions that other people have about these characteristics.
• All persons have inherent and equal worth. Our value as persons is neither earned nor accumulated. It is unrelated to health status or any genetic or other personal characteristic.
• All persons have inherent capacity for growth and expression. Every person has the right to be nourished physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
• All persons are entitled to equal access and opportunity. Equality demands protection from all forms of discrimination or harm, and access to the supports necessary to enable equal participation.
GUIDING PRINICIPLES
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to a future in which all individuals with a disability:
• grow up as a member of a family.
• learn together in regular classrooms, schools, and other educational settings.
• are supported to live in his/her own home.
• have the opportunity for meaningful employment.
• are empowered and supported in decision making that affects them.
• have a right to participate in meaningful activities, pursue a sense of purpose and achieve personal fulfillment; and
• have opportunities to form lasting and meaningful relationships.
OUR FOCUSED PRIORITIES 2024- 2027
During a strategic planning session held on September 19th, 2021, the members of Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador reviewed our work to date. They decided on the priorities for the next three years. In addition, there were a series of development meetings, one-on-one discussions, feedback from the Executive and staff, and editing review meetings, resulting in this final document guiding us in our work for the next three years.
At an Executive meeting on March 13th, 2024, it was motioned that due to the inconsistency of staffing, the new Executive Director, and the restructuring of the Board of Directors, Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador would prioritize the strategic plan and revise it to be introduced as a plan for the next three years beginning now in April 2024. (2024-2027)
The focused priority at the heart of our work is to support individuals in living in their own homes and in communities of their choosing. The exercised right to live in the community with support, if needed, is the central focus of Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador.
Organizational Strengthening
•Sustainability
•Diverse sources of Fundng
•Fundraising Plan
•Succession Planning
•Partnerships
•Disability Community Collaboration
•Communications Plan
•Human Resource Planning
•Finance Plan
Advocacy
•Supported Living
•Home Supports
•Accessibility Legislation
•Indigenous Community Outreach
•Community Education
•Sensitivity Training
•History Exhibits
•SupportedEmployment RWA
Strategic Work
April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027
Future Planning
•The Right to Decide
•RDSP/DTC
•Wills & Estate Planning
2024 - 2027
Inclusive Education
•IE Annual Award
•Participate In National Roundtable
•Update Transitions Guide
•Host Symposium
•Develop Exhibit Legal Reform
•Supported Decision Making
•Steering Committee Citizenship and Legal Capacity for All
•Roadmap for Legal Reform
ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING
Building on our 68 years of history, work, and learnings, we look to the next three years with a vision to strengthen our organization by exploring sustainability opportunities, planning for Board of Director’s succession, growing our partnerships, fine-tuning our processes and looking to the future needs to ensure Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador has increased visibility and presence in our Province.
➢ Exploring ways of sustainability and exploring diverse funding sources which includes a fundraising plan.
➢ Working to develop a succession plan for Executive Board and senior staff.
➢ Continuing to develop partners within the disability community and beyond to strength and grow the organization.
➢ Reviewing and updating Communications Plan.
➢ Reviewing and updating our living documents, not limited to the Constitution, ByLaws, Policies and Procedural Manuals.
➢ Reviewing our Human Resource needs and developing a plan in response to growth and development.
➢ Reviewing our finance plan to ensure adequate resources and supports available for continued growth and development.
ADVOCACY
Our advocacy work on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families will continue with focus on:
➢ Supported Living – working to ensure individuals are supported to live in a home of their choice with supports as required and/or needed.
➢ Accessibility Legislation – working in partnership with the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD) in the community work with families on the new legislation.
➢ Indigenous Community Outreach- working in partnership with our First Nations communities on the Island and in Labrador.
➢ Community Education – continuing with our In My Home…In My Community work with municipalities, local service districts, community boards and agencies, local associations and family networks.
o Develop Sensitivity Training
➢ Supported Employment through the Ready, Willing & Able Program.
FUTURE PLANNING
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes the need to work to build capacity with collaborative partners to ensure persons with intellectual disabilities develop the ways and means to live in the community when key supports are no longer available Our activities include:
➢ Continuing to support the work of the Right to Decide Project.
➢ Increasing our work to support individuals with the Disability Tax Credit.
➢ Continuing our work to support individuals with the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
➢ Continuing to work with families in Wills and Estate Planning.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes the tremendous work that has taken place to ensure our children are fully included in the mainstream education system and regular classrooms. To ensure this continues, we will:
➢ Continue to support families with school aged children.
➢ Continue to manage the Inclusive Education Award.
➢ Continue to participate in the National Roundtable on Inclusive Education.
➢ Continue to work with the Department of Education in planning and hosting an Inclusive Education Symposium.
➢ Continue to work with students in senior high to explore transitioning into the world of work and update the guide.
➢ Work to develop an Inclusive Education Exhibit to document the history of Inclusive Education.
LEGAL REFORM
Many people are needlessly falling into state care and restrictive living arrangements because of the lack of enabling legislation recognizing, under prescribed circumstances, the validity of trusting supporters enabling decision making. Many seniors and persons with disabilities, throughout our province, are faced with increased difficulty due in part to the unintended barriers caused by privacy legislation.
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador will:
➢ Continue to support the work of the ‘Steering Committee on Citizenship and Legal Capacity for All’
➢ Continue to engage with Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the acceptance of the IRIS Report, “A Roadmap for Reform in Newfoundland and Labrador” and the acceptance of Option A – Phased in fully inclusive decision-making capability approach to legal capacity, enabled by full recognition of supports and accommodations in law and policy: Would adopt a comprehensive approach to legally recognizing both independent and interdependent decision-making capability with supports and accommodations as required, and develop policy, guidelines, training, and community-based capacity to support implementation.
➢ Work with the Steering Committee and advocate for the legislative reform process by reforming the Mentally Disabled Persons’ Estates Act to provide a platform from which to build consistency and clarity in the province’s legal capacity regime.
➢ Work to ensure the establishment policy and guidelines for reasonable accommodation as it applies to the exercise of legal capacity; (as outlined in the IRIS Report).
CONCLUSION
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to adopt this Strategic Plan to guide work of the organization for the period covering April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador appreciates the support from the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the support under the Community Capacity Building Program and the services of Eleanor Dawson, facilitator
In attendance with Ms. Dawson were:
Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Board Members:
Dennis Gill – President Regrets: Marg Pike
Lori Moulton – Vice President Eugene Hickey
Una Tucker - Secretary
Dolores Flynn - Treasurer
Ray McIsaac – Past President
Joey MacKey – Labrador West Rep
Joan Stamp – Labrador West Rep
Joanne Stamp – Labrador West Member
Kem Young – Green Bay Rep
Cristen Tizzard – Green Bay Rep
Oz Gould – Northern Peninsula Straits Rep
Staff Members:
Hope Colbourne – Executive Director
Renee Rau – Community Liaison Coordinator
Taylor Cassell – Labour Market Facilitator
Nancy Andrews – SET Mentoring Coordinator
Maggie Millican – Community Engagement Worker