OUR HISTORY
The association had a “grass roots” beginning as many of its sister organizations have had. In 1978 a group of parents and interested community members saw a need to offer supports to people with disabilities in a community setting of choice. The agency was first administered out of Plamondon, Alberta and later moved to Lac La Biche. It was incorporated under the name of the “Lac La Biche Association for the Handicapped”, in 1979.
That same year the group played a hand in seeing that the school division offered educational programming to children with disabilities and this mitigated the pressure on families to send their disabled children to Red Deer or Edmonton for an education.
With this victory came the desire and need to establish services for adults with developmental disabilities so that if a choice was made by an individual to remain in his or her home community it could be honored.
In 1985-1986, a rural outreach program was started which saw a worker going into the homes of the individuals and teaching life skills as well as facilitating supported community inclusion.
A couple of years later a community employment program was started.
In 1991 the general membership decided to change the name of the organization to the “Community Living Association for the Little Divide” in response to the negative connotation the former agency name presented. (Individuals associated with the agency did not wish to be labeled as handicapped)
The agency established and has maintained membership with provincial organizations that support people with disabilities. These include The Alberta Council of Disability Services (ACDS) and Inclusion Alberta. These organizations have annual conferences that individuals, staff, family members and community members attend to keep a current working knowledge in the field and abreast of issues and concerns that affect individuals in community services.
The agency went through a major growth spurt in 2003-2004. From 12 people we began supporting 33 individuals with varying disabilities. A decision to broaden the mandate of the agency to include children with disabilities and adults with acquired brain injury is largely responsible.
Another factor in the growth of the organization has been the attention placed on community awareness of disability issues. The agency has become entrenched in interagency groups and committees and this has also prompted a great number of referrals. The outcome of these efforts is that people are receiving services and supports in their home communities.
The agency primarily serves people within Lac La Biche County and the two Métis settlements in the area, Kikino and Buffalo Lake.
In 2007 the general membership again decided to change the name of the organization to Lac La Biche Disability Services. There was confusion in the Community as to what services the agency provided. Our name now clearly defines who we are and what we do.