NACL History
In the spring of 1986, a small group of parents of adults with developmental disabilities and interested citizens from Nanaimo area came together to explore the idea of providing additional services to people with differing abilities. It was believed that additional programs would provide people with more choices.
As a new era was emerging, with the emphasis on community-based programs as opposed to institutional services, the time was right for another society in the Nanaimo area. As a result of their combined beliefs and visions, on July 22, 1986 the Nanaimo Association for Community Living (NACL) was formed under the Society's Act of British Columbia.
On September 1, 1986, NACL was awarded a contract by the Ministry of Social Services for its first program, the Lakeside Development Centre (later renamed Options Day Program) located on Shenton Road. Soon after the establishment of Options, the Association acquired a contract for an additional day program that was named Access. In late 1986, Access and Options were relocated to 3057 Barons Road.
Shortly after the development of the two day programs, and as a result of continued deinstitutionalization of people with a developmental disability in BC, the opportunity arose to establish two new group homes for people who were moving back to Nanaimo from the Glendale Institution in Victoria. NACL’s first home was purchased in 1988, known as Hammond Bay Home, followed by a second home called Jingle Pot Home.
In early 1989, NACL constructed another home to provide service to four additional people. This home was originally known as Metral Drive Home. In August of 1989, NACL also started the Horizons Day Program to address the individual needs of two people living at home requiring one-on-one assistance in the community.
In 1990, NACL developed four new programs. The North Island Adult Support (NIAS) program provided necessary respite for individuals with a developmental disability and their families in the Nanaimo area. Kennedy Home, contracted through the Ministry of Health, provided community-based residential services for four individuals with complex health care needs.
Departure Bay Home, now Portsmouth Road Home, opened to meet the needs of people already living in the community; and Morningside Home became the home of four individuals moving back into the community from various institutions. NACL also operated the two-bed and respite service known as Shoreline Drive Home from 1999 to 2002.
Early in 2000, NACL saw further need for a respite service in the community, and subsequently built a fully equipped additional bedroom onto the Kennedy Home. Presently, respite service at Kennedy Home is referred by Community Living British Columbia (CLBC).
As NACL continued to expand its services, the Board realized it was also time to look for a larger space from which to operate its expanding day programs and administration offices, and in November 2000 a major building project was launched. With the co-operation and dedication of many people, NACL day programs and administration services were able to move into their new building at 26 Commercial Street on July 2, 2001.
In April 2002, with an ongoing focus on NACL's community-based programs, it was decided to merge the Access, Options, and Horizons day programs into one program called Actions. This merged program provides innovative services to support a wider range of Nanaimo citizens with differing abilities.
In 2003, as government funding was further reduced and client needs changed, a decision was made to close Metral Drive Home. Two of the residents moved into family care model homes, and two people moved into existing NACL homes. Kennedy Home had an additional bedroom built to accommodate one resident, and Portsmouth Road Home accommodated the fourth resident through an existing vacancy. Metral Drive Home never did close due to an increased need for service provision, and is currently operating under the name of Turner Connection Home.
As a demonstration of commitment to quality service provision and after much hard work that began in 2004, NACL was awarded its first 3-year accredited status by CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities) in June 2005.
Changes proposed to Nanaimo’s downtown core in 2005 necessitated another move, and NACL acquired a permanent home for its Actions Day Program and administrative offices at 83 Victoria Crescent on February 1, 2006. 2006 also proudly marked NACL's 20th anniversary supporting Nanaimo and area citizens with developmental disabilities.
After commencing service there in December 2006, NACL purchased its seventh residence, Caspers Way Home, in January 2007. This home provides added versatility in the types of residential options and services that NACL provides.
The spring of 2008 saw the addition of NACL's vocational program called "NACLWorks!," which will take service delivery to the next level by providing the people we serve with additional choice for leading full, active lives that are further integrated into our community through the opportunity to have meaningful employment. This program, in addition to our partnership with Triumph Vocational Services to provide referral-based job coaching/assistance/training to people with developmental disabilities, are exciting enhancements to our slate of services offered.
NACL was very pleased to secure the use of a house in the rural setting of Coombs, BC for respite services, which commenced in July 2008 under the name Coombs Home.
After completing our second accreditation survey in June 2008, NACL received the exciting word in August 2008 that we have once again received a 3-year accreditation from CARF.
In addition to our day program and new vocational program, NACL continues to operate the above-noted seven residential group homes in the Nanaimo area and one respite home in Coombs.
Along with continuing to provide quality service in its existing programs, NACL looks forward to pursuing innovative, exciting opportunities in the future that reflect the needs and wants of the people we serve.
