facilitating change…customizing support

Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (known as OIFN) envisions people with developmental disabilities being supported to direct their own lives, and live as valued community members and citizens. We are a growing Community of Practice that includes people with developmental disabilities, family members, Independent Facilitators, and other allies interested in creating new ways for people to be supported. We are committed to FACILITATING CHANGE and CUSTOMIZING SUPPORT in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, and their families.

Independent Facilitation

Independent Facilitation is an ongoing support relationship designed to assist people with developmental disabilities as they work to create CHANGE in their lives. The focus is: create CHANGE; CUSTOMIZE support; DIRECT their lives and maintain control; seek COMMUNITY support as the first option for inclusion; live as CITIZENS.


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What This Time has Meant by Judith McGill

I think what I find most remarkable about living through this global pandemic, is the dawning awareness that I share this experience in common with some 7.8 billion other souls around the world. There has been no place in the world that has not felt the impact of the pandemic, whether it has been big or small. I feel for the first time in my life that I am not a particle floating around in the world alone. ​

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OIFN Reflective Practice Conversation: Exploring the Role of Facilitating Change

OIFN’s Community of Practice continues to gather regularly for opportunities to grow and learn together and contribute to a greater movement for people living with developmental disabilities.

Emerging from feedback shared at previous gatherings, the theme of this Reflective Practice Conversation created space for participants to learn about and reflect on the relational work involved in Independent Facilitation, particularly how independent facilitators work in relation to other systems and service providers and support people to form and build connections in their neighbourhoods and communities.

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OIFN FRAMEWORK FOR AN ORDINARY, EVERYDAY LIFE

This Framework for an Ordinary, Everyday Life is comprised of a number of separate functions that work together to support people to take on valued social roles and to be engaged and contribute to their neighbourhoods and communities:

join the OIFN book club

OIFN Book ClubLove reading? Check out the OIFN Book Club on Facebook, where we discuss books about disability issues and wider ideas of leadership and community. Click the image to learn more!