Independent Living Canada

What Independent Living Canada does

Independent Living Canada (INDEPENDENT LIVING/VIE AUTONOME CANADA, Business Number 129334082RR0001) is a federally registered national non-profit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Ottawa. It coordinates a federation of 24 accredited member Independent Living Centres that span every Canadian province, each locally governed and operated by and for persons with disabilities. The organization delivers four core service pillars — Peer Support, Information & Networking, Independent Living Skills Development, and Research & Community Development — through the member centre network, and serves as the national voice for the Independent Living Movement in Canada.

At the national level, IL Canada leads federal advocacy, policy engagement, and the coordination of cross-cutting initiatives such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (with Muscular Dystrophy Canada), the Creating Accessible Festivals and Events national research project (with Accessibility Standards Canada), the Youth Advisory Council, and historical programs including Food for Thought, Literacy, Disability and Quality of Life, Navigating the Waters (employment), and Crime Prevention. The organization participates in coalition advocacy at the UN Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in domestic legal challenges concerning Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Track 2.

IL Canada does not sell products or commercial services. Its revenue model consists of recurring core funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the Social Development Partnerships Program, time-limited project grants from federal departments and partner non-profits (Accessibility Standards Canada, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Safety Canada), strategic media partnerships (Accessible Media Inc.), and individual donations processed through CanadaHelps. Services to persons with disabilities are delivered free of charge at the local level through member centres. The national office is small, with four named staff supporting a volunteer Board of Directors whose composition is required to be at least 51% persons with disabilities.

Name

Independent Living Canada

Legal name

INDEPENDENT LIVING/VIE AUTONOME CANADA

Website

https://ilc-vac.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Independent Living Canada is a national non-profit founded in 1986 that coordinates a federation of 24 accredited Independent Living Centres across Canada, advocating for autonomy, rights, and full community participation of Canadians with disabilities through peer support, skills development, research, and national policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Independent living services
• Peer support services
• Community-based research
• Disability inclusion policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Program Funding: IL Canada receives federal funding primarily through the Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This funding supports the national network's capacity to implement core service pillars across member centres.
2. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations through CanadaHelps, a third-party donation platform, as referenced on the website. Donations support the organization's advocacy and programming work.
3. Project-Specific Grants: IL Canada secures time-limited project funding for specific national initiatives, such as the Accessible Festivals and Events project (funded by Accessibility Standards Canada and the Government of Canada), the Disability Inclusion Action Plan project (with Muscular Dystrophy Canada), and historical projects including Food for Thought (funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada) and Crime Prevention (funded by Public Safety Canada).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Independent Living Canada is a national non-profit that coordinates a network of 24 accredited Independent Living Centres across Canada to deliver four core service pillars: Peer Support, Information & Networking, Independent Living Skills Development, and Research & Community Development. The organization also conducts national projects, advocacy campaigns, and policy initiatives such as the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Accessible Festivals and Events research project on behalf of Canadians with disabilities.

Product overview

Independent Living Canada is a national non-profit organization representing Independent Living Centres across Canada. The organization operates as a service network rather than a traditional technology product company. Its core offerings consist of four service pillars (Peer Support, Information & Networking, Independent Living Skills Development, and Research & Community Development) delivered through 24 member centres nationwide. The organization also conducts national initiatives including research projects on accessible events, disability inclusion policy advocacy, youth leadership development, and various archived programs addressing employment, literacy, food security, and crime prevention for persons with disabilities. These services are designed to promote autonomy, choice, dignity, and full community participation for all Canadians with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Advisory Council (YAC): A national space for youth to connect, share ideas, develop leadership skills, and help shape the future of the Independent Living movement in Canada.
• Journée de la Vie Autonome au Canada (JVAC)

Products and services

• Peer Support Services One of four core service pillars; offers persons with disabilities the opportunity to share knowledge and lived experiences, develop leadership skills, and exercise their rights and responsibilities through peer-driven engagement.
• Information and Networking Services One of four core service pillars; promotes the Independent Living philosophy by providing clear, accurate, and current information that meets individual needs and creates positive relationships with community organizations.
• Independent Living Skills Development One of four core service pillars; encourages and assists individuals to advocate for themselves, supports their choices, and offers opportunities to develop communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and self-management skills.
• Research and Community Development One of four core service pillars; participatory action research and community development initiatives that recognize persons with disabilities as experts in determining what works for them and create solutions through partnerships.
• Member Centre Network A network of 24 accredited Independent Living Centres across all Canadian provinces that provide direct peer support, information, skills development, and community development services to persons with disabilities locally; operated by and for people with disabilities.
• Youth Advisory Council (YAC) A national program providing a space for youth with disabilities to connect, share ideas, develop leadership skills, and help shape the future of the Independent Living movement in Canada.
• Creating Accessible Festivals and Events Project A national research initiative to better understand and improve accessibility of festivals and events across Canada, examining promotion, planning, transport, venues, communications, and digital accessibility at all stages.
• Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) Canada's first Disability Inclusion Action Plan aimed at making Canada more inclusive for over 6.2 million Canadians who identify as having a disability, based on four pillars: financial security, employment, accessible communities, and a modern approach to disability.
• Impact: IL in Canada Book A comprehensive book documenting the history and future of the Independent Living movement in Canada, featuring interviews with consumers and IL leaders.
• AMI Partnership Initiative A one-year collaboration with Accessible Media Inc. focused on accessibility, authentic storytelling by persons with disabilities, and community engagement across Canada, contributing to AMI's research panel of over 3,500 persons with disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 Canadians with disabilities contributed to the Accessible Festivals and Events project, producing actionable research for event organizers nationwide.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026IL Canada and AMI announced a one-year collaboration focused on accessibility, authentic storytelling by persons with disabilities, and meaningful community engagement across Canada. The partnership coincides with IL Canada's 40th anniversary and aims to amplify diverse disability voices, celebrate accessible programming, and create opportunities through national workshops, discussions, and outreach activities. IL Canada also contributes to expanding AMI's Research Panel, a community of over 3,500 persons with disabilities who help shape the future of accessible media in Canada.
• Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIL Canada receives federal funding through ESDC's Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP), which supports the national network's capacity to deliver core service pillars through member centres across Canada.
• Accessibility Standards CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessibility Standards Canada co-funded the 'Creating Accessible Festivals and Events' national research project led by IL Canada, which engaged over 1,500 participants and produced recommendations for accessible event planning across Canada.
• Muscular Dystrophy CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuscular Dystrophy Canada was a key project partner in developing Canada's first Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), led by IL Canada. DMC played a central role in collecting and presenting data for the final report published in 2023.
• Inclusion CanadaminorOthersInclusion Canada is a co-signatory on joint press releases and advocacy statements. IL Canada endorsed Inclusion Canada's March 2025 UN CRPD review press release and is part of the coalition challenging Canada's MAiD Track 2 provisions.
• ARCH Disability Law CentreminorOthersARCH Disability Law Centre and IL Canada co-signed the March 2025 UN CRPD review press release. ARCH represents individuals in disability rights legal cases, including the Air Canada accessibility case (Air Canada v. Rose, 2025).
• EvianceminorOthersEviance is listed as an endorsing partner of the disability rights coalition press release at the UN CRPD review. Eviance is a Canadian organization focused on disability and accessibility research and advocacy.
• Rick Hansen FoundationminorOthersRick Hansen Foundation contributed research expertise to IL Canada's 'Creating Accessible Festivals and Events' national project, providing input through the project's advisory committee.
• Canadian Association of the DeafminorOthersThe Canadian Association of the Deaf (Association des Sourds du Canada) participated as a member of the advisory committee for the 'Creating Accessible Festivals and Events' project.
• People First of CanadaminorOthersPeople First of Canada is listed as a DIAP project partner, collaborating with IL Canada and other organizations to shape Canada's first Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
• Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)minorOthersCCRW co-signed the March 2025 UN CRPD review press release and is part of the coalition of disability rights organizations advocating against MAiD Track 2 provisions.
• L'Arche CanadaminorOthersL'Arche Canada endorsed the March 2025 UN CRPD review press release, joining the coalition of disability rights organizations calling for repeal of Track 2 MAiD provisions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• L'Arche Canada: Federation of Canadian communities supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a fellow national disability NGO endorsing the same UN CRPD coalition positions as IL Canada, though L'Arche operates primarily through residential community programs rather than independent-living peer support.

Direct peers

• Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD): National Canadian cross-disability human rights organization that sits in the same federal-policy coalition space as IL Canada. Closely comparable as a national cross-disability advocacy organization engaging federal government and UN human-rights mechanisms.
• Inclusion Canada: National Canadian federation of disability advocacy organizations focused on intellectual disabilities and community living. Closely comparable to IL Canada as a fellow national disability NGO with member-centre structure, federal funding ties, and co-signed coalition positions on UN CRPD and MAiD policy.
• Muscular Dystrophy Canada: National Canadian disability/disease-specific non-profit and direct project partner of IL Canada on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Directly comparable because both operate national disability programming, receive federal funding, and collaborate on Canadian accessibility policy.
• ARCH Disability Law Centre: Canadian disability rights legal aid charity providing test-case litigation on accessibility and Charter issues (e.g., Air Canada v. Rose). Directly comparable because it is a co-signatory of IL Canada's March 2025 UN CRPD press release and operates in the same Canadian disability-rights policy space.
• People First of Canada: National self-advocacy organization run by and for people with intellectual disabilities in Canada and a DIAP project partner of IL Canada. Directly comparable because of its consumer-controlled governance model and cross-disability Canadian advocacy scope.
• Eviance: Canadian disability research and advocacy organization listed as an endorsing coalition partner on IL Canada's UN CRPD review press release. Directly comparable as a Canada-based disability research and policy NGO.
• Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW): Canadian national NGO focused on disability and employment. Directly comparable because CCRW co-signed IL Canada's March 2025 UN CRPD press release and overlaps with IL Canada's prior Navigating the Waters employment-program mandate.
• Rick Hansen Foundation: Canadian disability accessibility non-profit whose research contributed to IL Canada's Accessible Festivals project. Directly comparable as a federally and corporately funded Canadian accessibility organization that pairs advocacy with practical accessibility certification programs.
• Canadian Association of the Deaf: National Canadian deaf and hard-of-hearing advocacy organization that participated as an advisory committee partner on IL Canada's Accessible Festivals project. Directly comparable as a national disability member organization participating in IL Canada's project coalitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IndependentLivingCanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Independent Living Canada