Founded in 1960 and incorporated in 1963, Elmira District Community Living is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides supports and offers services to people with an intellectual disability.
EDCL’s mission is to create partnerships that provide relevant, individualized, and innovative services for persons supported by EDCL, and to advocate, educate, and facilitate the participation of the Community in achieving each person’s life vision.
Our vision is that people we support live with dignity and respect, are provided choice, opportunity, citizenship and unique to each person.
EDCL recognizes the importance of communication and accountability to all our stakeholders and the community. We are committed to innovation in response to the needs of people with an intellectual disability and promote inclusion through community development.
EDCL offers supports to adults over the age of 18 and provides these supports through the person’s entire life. Accomplishing all this with the support our families, staff, volunteers and our community.
Vision
Elmira District Community Living (EDCL) vision is that the individuals we support live with dignity and respect:
- Choice
- Opportunity
- Citizenship
- Unique to each person
Mission
EDCL’s mission is to:
Create partnerships that provide relevant, individualized, and innovative services for persons supported by EDCL.
Advocate, Educate and Facilitate the participation of the Community in Achieving the individual’s life vision
History
As a result of the work of many families and community volunteers, the Elmira District Community Living was founded in the fall of 1960 and incorporated in March of 1963 as the Elmira and District Association for Retarded Children. In the years that followed, school classes were established, and the Guiding Light School built (the current Life Skills site). In addition, a special care nursery school was organized; ARC Industries was built and developed; and residential supports beginning with Reid Woods residence in 1976 organized. Since that time, the Association has continued to grow and develop to meet the needs of our families and the individuals that we support.
Today the Association supports over 130 individuals and operates services and supports in the townships of Woolwich, Wellesley and Mapleton.
