Abbreviation CACL Type non-profit Legal status charity | Formation 1958 (1958) Registration no. 10684 2545 RR0001 | |
Merger of L'institut National Canadien Francis (1972) | ||
Canadian Association for Community Living is a non-profit organization founded in 1958 to assist in training and socialization of people with intellectual disabilities, then known as Mental Retardation.
The organization was founded as the "Canadian Association for Retarded Children". In 1969, the name was changed, to "Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded". The current name was adopted in 1985.
The organization held an annual conference on metal retardation, beginning in 1958.
In 1963, the organization established the "Canadian John F. Kennedy Memorial Fund for Retarded Children". The money raised went to the organization and was used to fund research.
A "Canadian Retarded Children's Week" was also established in 1964 for fundraising, to run from May 6 to 16. The theme was "Flowers of Hope". Cosmos seeds were mailed out as a part of fundraising efforts.
The organization was a proponent of Deinstitutionalisation.
There are branches and subbranches in all Canadian provinces. In 1972, "L'institut National Canadien Francis" merged with the organization to provide French-language services.
During the 1970s NBCAMR operated sheltered workshops in Lindsay, New Brunswick, and other small communities. They were later closed when the organizations goals shifted.
The organization was involved in the Infant K case in 1985, the Eve case, and others involving involuntary contraceptive sterilization.
G. Allan Roher, a top expert on mental retardation and the then executive vice-president of the organization died on Air Canada Flight 797.