The Kamloops Society for Community Living (KSCL) is a registered nonprofit organization formed in 1956 by a group of concerned parents who wanted an alternative for their children, at a time when children with developmental disabilities were excluded from the regular school system. Since then, the Society has served the needs of people with disabilities and their families through a wide range of community activities, projects and services.
Residential services were added in the 1980s, as institutions closed, including subsidized housing and group homes for adults and children. Day programs provided paid and unpaid employment to people with disabilities in a variety of settings, including structured facility-based programs and individualized community support options.
In contrast to earlier forms of services that emphasized standardized service options, KSCL has moved to “person-centered” thinking where supports are built around each person’s likes and needs. Rather than funding segregated activities and programs for large groups which offered little to no choice, KSCL adopted a philosophy of individualized funding for families and their chosen support staff so that people may choose what best suits their needs. Services that KSCL now offers provide growth within the community for individuals, giving the option of employment or volunteer opportunities as well as quality of life through individualized options!