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Our
Mission
Our mission is to ensure adults with physical disabilities can live
independently in the community and pursue their individual goals
by providing innovative attendant support services
Principles
of Service
We
respect and encourage autonomy by offering a full range of services
to support independent living by our consumers
We recognize and value the uniqueness of individuals by ensuring
our services are self-directed according to individual needs
We provide flexible services that support individuals to live up
to their full potential
We reduce physical barriers for our consumers
We promote acceptance and tolerance among people
We provide a safe environment for our consumers and staff
We behave with the utmost honesty and integrity and ensure our hiring
practices support these values
We are accountable for meeting the needs of our consumers in a financially
prudent manner, which does not compromise service quality
We work collaboratively with other service providers and within
our community
Our
History
Access
Apartments was conceived in the fall of 1986.
At that time a group of concerned individuals living and working
in a transitional living center providing 24 hour per day attendant
support services for adults with physical disabilities, formed a
committee to implement a permanent apartment project providing the
same services. This was in response to a shortage in Toronto of
accessible housing with attendant support services. This ongoing
shortage results in many individuals with physical disabilities
being forced into inappropriate living situations, such as nursing
homes, chronic care hospitals and other institutions.
In the spring of 1987, Access Apartments was incorporated as a non-profit
charitable organization in order to address this concern. A housing
search was undertaken and a proposal was submitted to the provincial
government to secure ongoing funding for support services.
In the fall of 1987, Metro Toronto Housing agreed to provide 10
two-bedroom wheelchair accessible apartments in a building being
constructed at 2468 Eglinton Avenue West.
Access Apartments began providing services
on March 1, 1989. Premier David Peterson officially opened it on
June 27, 1990.
In 1993 Access Apartments started providing services in an additional
14 two-bedroom apartment building at 2155 Lawrence Avenue East.
The Outreach Program was funded in May
1997. This program provides assistance to people in their homes,
at their workplace or at school from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, 7 days
per week.
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