The CLS recognizes that we are fortunate to live and work amongst and within a very culturally diverse province and as such actively celebrate and honour this diversity in meeting the varied needs of all of our stakeholders.

Planning for and recognizing our cultural competency and diversity ensures that as a Society we are being pro-active in addressing these topics throughout our values, policies, and practices in all aspects of our work in order to:

  • Enhance the quality of life all members of the CLS community by providing ongoing training, opportunities, resources, and education which promote access, awareness, dignity, and respect
  • Addressing accommodation needs, and promoting equity for our stakeholders (including socio-economic status)
  • Celebrating our diverse membership (supported individuals, families, employees, external stakeholders)
  • Effect change relating to public policy for the diverse disability population
  • Continue to meet the needs of our diverse communities (including gender, sexual-orientation, age, and culture)
  • Provide accessible, safe and respectful support including matching languages (spoken/understood), ethnicity, gender preference etc. as needed/requested for supported individuals with their staff teams
  • Support culturally diverse opportunities for supported individuals in their communities
  • Endeavour to evolve and increase our cultural sensitivity and competence as a Society (employer, service provider, community partner)

Accessibility Plan

CLS history is firmly rooted in addressing barriers that impede full inclusion and discovering and implementing solutions that advance full inclusion and citizenship. Community Living Society has a three-year Accessibility Plan. While the CLS does not currently fall under the jurisdiction of either the Accessible Canada Act or the Accessible BC Act these legislations do provide helpful context for the identification of barriers to full accessibility for people with disabilities. In addition to these Acts, development of the CLS Accessibility Plan is guided by the following:

  • CARF Standards for Accessibility Planning

  • UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

  • Canadian Human Rights Act

  • BC Human Rights Code

  • BC Building Code

  • Focus group sessions to gather feedback on key accessibility themes with Supported Individuals, family members, employees, and Leadership

  • Provide accessible, safe and respectful support including matching languages (spoken/understood), ethnicity, gender preference etc. as needed/requested for supported individuals with their staff teams

  • Our internal processes including management reports, operational data and outcomes planning

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Community Living Society (CLS) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee consists of a diverse group of up to 12 members consisiting of CLS employees and Supported Individuals.

CLS recognizes that access to equal treatment in all parts of one’s life are a right and that there must be avenues of support to ensure that this is protected and accessible.  CLS wishes to foster a positive climate which will allow all persons supported by CLS, their networks and its employees to flourish and ensure that everyone feels valued. It recognizes that this requires commitment and action from everyone at all levels of the organization and that it requires shifting culture across the organization. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee is responsible for helping CLS recognize the value of different identities, raise awareness, and create an organizational culture that is respectful and inclusive and treats all persons equally and equitably. The committee is a representative, open and inclusive group that recognizes the differing needs of all persons throughout its processes and operations.