What is a fundamental right of residents in CILA?

The fundamental right of residents in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) to participate in community activities highlights the importance of inclusion and active engagement in the broader community. This right ensures that residents have opportunities to interact with others, engage in recreational, cultural, and educational activities, and develop social skills, enhancing their quality of life and promoting their autonomy.

Active participation in community life is essential in supporting the individual’s personal development and promoting independence. It aligns with the overarching goals of CILA programs, which prioritize community integration and the promotion of residents' rights to lead fulfilling lives.

While choosing staff members, refusing support, or dictating facility rules may seem relevant to individual autonomy, they do not encapsulate the essential principles of community inclusion that are central to the CILA framework. Thus, the right to participate in community activities serves to empower residents and facilitate their integration into the wider community, which is a core aspect of the CILA philosophy.