REAL - HOME

Families Supporting

Regular Equitable Authentic Lives

REA-L is a provincial non-profit organization, we are creating a provincial network of families who are intentionally exploring and choosing options that decrease our dependency on traditional services for our family members with an intellectual or developmental disability.

We provide a space for families to share information and learn from the experience of others.

Join us and help create a world where everyone belongs!

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Territory Acknowledgement

We acknowledge with respect and gratitude that our work, and the lands on which we live and gather, take place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples throughout what is now called British Columbia.

We recognize the enduring presence, laws, cultures, and governance of the many distinct Indigenous Nations whose territories we occupy, and the forced displacement of Indigenous peoples from their homelands.

We name our ongoing presence here as uninvited and unwelcome guests.

We commit to building relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, accountability, and ongoing learning, and to being open to correction as part of our responsibility to this place and to one another.

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We Provide Space for:

Shared Learning

Reflection

Mentorship

Networks of Support

We continue to learn about what helps people with intellectual or developmental disabilities live full, ordinary lives in their communities.

We create time and space for families to reflect on how their family member’s life can grow and change over time. Life isn’t static and neither are our hopes, roles, or plans.

We offer a safe, welcoming place for families to share real stories and connect with others who care deeply about belonging and everyday participation.

By learning from one another, families build practical understanding of how to better support their family member’s own vision for a regular, equitable, and authentic life.

If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or just beginning to ask “what else might be possible?” you’re not alone, and you’re in the right place.

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Picture of a high school student accepting an award.

Regular Life

Seeing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities as people first, and working toward lives that look like everyone else’s. This means everyday routines, real relationships, valued roles, and being part of community life, not set apart from it.

Equitable Life

Making sure people are treated fairly and with respect, and that they have access to the same opportunities, supports, and protections as anyone else without lowering expectations or accepting second-best.

Authentic Life

Supporting a life shaped by who the person truly is; their interests, strengths, and relationships. Where they have a real say in their own life and are valued for what they contribute alongside others in the community.

a dirt path through a BC forest with the sun filtering through the trees.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Families as advocates are committed to following the lead of their family member who is defining their own vision of what their inclusive and engaged life will look like.

REA-L is deeply committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and respect of Indigenous cultures and practices on the Indigenous lands we are working and living on.