May Is Community Living Month!

Community Living Month is a province-wide annual awareness campaign to recognize the accomplishments of the Community Living movement. This May 2025, join Community Living Ontario and our 124 local associations across Ontario as we show why authentic inclusion matters for people who have an intellectual disability and their families!

Join the Celebration!

May is Community Living Month, and as part of this year's celebrations, Community Living Ontario is thrilled to announce that our annual Shine a Light on Community Living campaign will be taking place on Thursday, May 1st, 2025!

As is tradition, the CN Tower will participate by lighting up in Community Living blue and green throughout the night beginning at sunset — note, however, that a standard light show will run for 5 minutes at the top of every hour, followed by another light show on the half hour. The night lighting will be visible by webcam on the CN Tower website: https://www.cntower.ca/live-views

We encourage all of our member organizations to ask their own local landmarks to join in by also turning their exterior lighting blue and green on May 1st. If you're not sure where to start, check out our template invitation letters, available in both English and French.

To share all the creative ways you find to participate, use the hashtag #ShineALight2025

We can’t wait to get Community Living Month 2025 off to a bright start with your help!

2025 Community Living Month Policy Forum Webinars

Join us in May for two webinars that will provide information on developmental services in Ontario, how many people are waiting for those services, and how insights from the community living movement can address longstanding issues in the sector.

Policy Forum Webinar #1: Understanding Developmental Services Spending and Waitlists in Ontario

Thursday, May 22nd, 1:00 – 2:00 Eastern

The Government of Ontario spends about $5 billion each year on services and supports for people who have a developmental disability. Despite this spending, tens of thousands of children, youth, and adults are waiting to access critical services.

Join Shawn Pegg, Director of Social Policy & Strategic Initiatives at Community Living Ontario, to learn about how funds are being spent by the province, how many are waiting for support, and what can be done to reduce developmental service waitlists in Ontario.

Register here

Policy Forum Webinar #2: What Community Living Ontario Believes, and Why

Thursday, May 29th, 1:00 – 2:00 Eastern

Since its founding in 1953, Community Living Ontario has developed and maintained a consistent yet evolving set of beliefs that continue to guide its work today. Our central belief – that people who have an intellectual disability belong in the community and have the same rights as all citizens – is reflected in specific policy recommendations on income security, housing, and education.

Join Shawn Pegg, Community Living Ontario’s Director of Social Policy & Strategic Initiatives, to learn about the development of our values and beliefs and how they shape our policy development and advocacy efforts.

Register here

On May 27th, 2025, Community Living Ontario will once again collaborate with Community Living Toronto and return to Queen’s Park for our annual Day at the Legislature event. This event presents an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, agencies, and other supporters to increase our visibility and meet with policymakers in the spirit of connection and collaboration.

We look forward to seeing those of you who will be joining us!

(Note: This event is only open to CLO members. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to your local member association.)

Check out this post to see highlights from last year's Day at the Legislature.

Member Organizations

Community Living Ontario has 124 member organizations spread across Ontario — visit our member page to find the organizations located near you and learn more.

Press

Interested in covering Community Living Month, but don't know much about Community Living Ontario? Check out our press kit for more background information and resources for journalists and media outlets.

VIEW MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

GO TO COMMUNITY LIVING ONTARIO'S PRESS KIT

What is Community Living?

The Community Living movement strives to promote authentic community inclusion for people who have an intellectual disability and their families. This includes the more than 250,000 people who have an intellectual disability and their families in Ontario who Community Living Ontario has been advocating for and with for over 70 years. Community Living Ontario envisions a society where people who have an intellectual disability belong and have equal rights, respect, acceptance, a sense of self-worth and opportunities for growth.

Want to learn more about our work? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions document, and read our latest Annual Report.

What is an intellectual disability?

People who have an intellectual disability face challenges in their cognitive functioning that affect areas of daily living, such as personal care, language skills, and learning abilities. They arise before adulthood and usually last throughout life. While intellectual disabilities can often be associated with negative stereotypes and assumptions, we believe that the gifts, uniqueness and innate value of each person should be celebrated, supported and acknowledged as essential to the completeness of the whole community.