Since the closing of institutions such as Woodlands, the delivery of services to people who live with disabilities has radically changed. Instead of institutionalized living, many of the these people have been moved back into the communities where they were born. One of the major reasons we celebrate Community Living Month is to remind ourselves that we should never again marginalize people into isolated pockets of the community. Instead, we need to realize that everyone deserves the right to live in a community that is safe and supportive of their needs, regardless of how much individualized support they may need to achieve this goal.
The end result of this type of thinking is a change in paradigms. As service providers, we strive to provide education to the public and show how important it is for everyone to believe in the principles of Community Living.