Learning Library:
Over the years, OIFN has produced many resources to document and share our learning about facilitating change and customizing supports.
Check out the topics below to find information about the practice of Independent Facilitation, the art of social change, and our learnings about people creating an ordinary, everyday life.
Keep up-to-date with OIFN’s work and find out how the Community of Practice has stayed engaged and connected.
OIFN Virtual Engagement Summary Report 2022
Beginning in September 2021 and until April 2022, OIFN gathered feedback from the Community of Practice through a virtual engagement survey, as well as focus group and 1-on-1 conversations. Following OIFN’s in-depth review of social media and virtual event engagement, we are thrilled to share our Virtual Engagement Summary Report, which outlines the research process,…
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OIFN Looking Back, Moving Forward – 2021
Reflections on a year of growth and possibilities for the future. We hope that this chapter of our story brings you encouragement and inspiration!
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OIFN Key Messages
OIFN’s Key Messages document provides a brief introduction to the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network, outlining OIFN’s Vision, Mission, and Core Beliefs.
Keep readingOIFN Briefing Note
Following the provincial election in June 2018, the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network saw an opportunity to contribute to the new government’s perception and understanding of the robust history, current realities, and possible future of Developmental Services. Although written with a government audience in mind, this Briefing Note serves as a two-page summary of OIFN’s vision…
Keep readingAn Ecosystem For Growing Possibilities: OIFN Vision Beyond April 2017
OIFN developed a vision for the work of supporting people with developmental disabilities to direct their lives and customize supports that make it possible for them to live as valued citizens and contributing community members. This vision includes interconnected networks that includes: self advocates; families; Independent Facilitators; allies within the Ministry; and service agency allies…
Keep readingIndependent Facilitation is an ongoing process that supports people to create change. Through conversations over time, people and their family members and/or loved ones are supported to imagine possibilities, make their own choices, think about, plan for, and take steps toward creating the ordinary, everyday lives that they want in their chosen neighbourhoods and communities.
OIFN offers these resources to support people, families, and independent facilitators to become familiar with the capacities, core beliefs, and values related to Independent Facilitation and how to get started and/or continue on the journey.
OIFN Scope of Practice of Independent Facilitation
Drawing from learning and from OIFN documents developed over time, this OIFN resource explores the purpose, guiding principles, and work of Independent Facilitation, offering an in-depth look at what it takes and what it means to assist people with disabilities to figure out and build an ordinary, everyday life.
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Core Elements of Independent Facilitation
In April 2018, the Board of OIFN and the leads from Independent Facilitation Organizations across the province engaged in dialogue to clarify the heart and core of the work of Independent Facilitation.
Keep readingOIFN Guide for Ethical Conduct
Independent Facilitation is a non-regulated practice, which means that there is no universally recognized local, regional, or federal authority, regulatory or accrediting body that holds the liability or provides monitoring for independent facilitators. OIFN offers this Guide for Ethical Conduct, as a resource that outlines some of the safeguards to the practice. As a self-regulated profession, it…
Keep readingQuestions to Ask Your Independent Facilitator
Before beginning work with an independent facilitator, OIFN encourages people, along with their loved ones (family members, friends, support circles, other people you trust), to take some time to learn about the facilitator and decide if you think that the facilitator will be a good fit. OIFN offers these sample questions to assist you to…
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Probing The Edges of The Work of Independent Facilitation
Independent Facilitators working in the Independent Facilitation Organizations involved with the IFDP, explore what is involved in the work of Independent Facilitation.
Keep readingWhat Difference Can Independent Facilitation Make?
Without Independent Facilitation, people who want full, meaningful lives as contributing citizens in their neighbourhoods and communities of their choice are often left to rely on one-size-fits-all services where their goals and dreams are never fully realized. This series of vignettes offers a glimpse at the role that Independent Facilitation has played in the lives…
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Who Can Benefit from Independent Facilitation?
“Independent Facilitation can benefit anyone who is seeking person directed, individualized, community first support. But there are some people for whom this kind of support relationship may be particularly beneficial (Weaving C-35). Excerpted from OIFN’s Weaving a Story of Change: IFDP Learnings So Far (2017), this graphic offers an overview of the various points in people’s lives…
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Impacts of Independent Facilitation – Charts and Infographics
Using OIFN produced research, reports, and Collective Impact data outcomes, the Individualized Funding Coalition for Ontario (IFCO) and OIFN have produced a number of impact charts that can be helpful for people and families in their presentations and efforts for Independent Facilitation. You can also find a graphic showing the different in costs and investment in Independent…
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Impact of an Independent Facilitator
Independent facilitators understand that relationships are central to citizenship in that they have a fundamental impact on our well-being and sense of fulfillment and belonging. In this light, relationship building and embracing social networks are key elements of Independent Facilitation. Facilitators help people build upon their experience and understanding, deepen existing relationships or find new…
Keep readingFee for Service Brief
OIFN believes that infrastructure funding is critical to ensure that Independent Facilitation is successful in its implementation and continued evolution towards effective change for Ontario citizens facing a developmental disability, along with their supportive loved ones and families. OIFN Policy Statement: OIFN believes citizenship is key to inclusion. OIFN is committed to advancing citizenship for all…
Keep readingIn 2015, the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network (OIFN) received two years of funding for the Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project (IFDP) through the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS), which has since been re-named the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services (MCCSS). The project intended to expand the capacity of Independent Facilitation for people with developmental disabilities across the province and learn more about the benefits of Independent Facilitation. The project was extended for an additional year in 2017/2018 and again in 2018/2019. The project formally ended on March 31, 2019.
Throughout this project, we learned a lot about the work of Independent Facilitation, the broader context of Developmental Services, and what it takes to have a rich, meaningful life. Here you will find some of our documented learning.
Weaving a Story of Change – IFDP Learnings So Far
The Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project (IFDP) is a collaboration involving OIFN, seven Independent Facilitation Organizations (IFOs), and the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The intent of the IFDP is to explore the possibility of making Independent Facilitation as a viable support option for people with developmental disabilities and the those who love them, as…
Keep readingQuestions and Answers: Independent Facilitation and the Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project (IFDP)
This Q&A document includes OIFN’s responses to questions about the:
Keep readingOIFN Response to Ministry Contracted Evaluation of the Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project
The Ministry of Community and Social Services (now the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) contracted with a third-party evaluator, Power Analysis Inc. for an evaluation of the two-year Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project (IFDP). Conducting the evaluation in the start-up phase of the IFDP was indeed premature and did not look at Return on…
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IFDP Emerging Community Gatherings
The Independent Facilitation Demonstration Project provided an opportunity to meet with people with developmental disabilities, families, community and service agency allies, in communities across the province. These gatherings were an opportunity to listen to what people want and need, and dialogue about how Independent Facilitation can support their efforts.
Keep readingOIFN believes in the rights and decision-making power of all people and envisions a society where people experience full belonging and inclusion in their neighbourhoods and communities.
Here you will find some of our beliefs and ideas about sustainable options and ways for people and families to have choice and control, especially when it comes to their own housing, staffing, direct individualized funding, facilitation, and support resources.
Framework for an Ordinary, Everyday Life
In the Fall of 2017, the Ontario Independent Facilitation Network began to explore the need for a new infrastructure within Developmental Services to support people with developmental disabilities to experience full citizenship. Drawing from foundational work of other provincial grassroots organizations, OIFN began to use the term Person-directed Infrastructure to articulate this new infrastructure, with Independent Facilitation…
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Path of Innovation
Exploring the history of Developmental Services in Ontario, the Path of Innovation places the current experiences of people, families, and communities into a broader context of systems change. OIFN considers the need for a Citizen-focused Framework central to supporting people with developmental disabilities to experience full citizenship. The role of Independent Facilitation in this framework, along with the ideas…
Keep readingOIFN endeavours to bring people together for shared learning among people who live with disabilities, their family members and/or loved ones, independent facilitators, supportive agencies, and other community allies.
Larger efforts to gather and connect people more broadly have occurred through the hosting of large conferences. Since 2014, OIFN has hosted two Common Threads conferences, encouraging broad engagement of folks for conversations and reflections on the principles of and context for our work. Attendance at these conferences has been remarkable, including hundreds of participants with diverse backgrounds from across North America.
Common Threads Reflections 2016
Reflections by John O’Brien The Common Threads 2016 conference drew people with disabilities and family members, Independent Facilitators and organization leaders together to reflect on stories of change supported by Independent Facilitators. This compound question framed their thinking together, What difference do Independent Facilitators make and how do they do it?” Most of the exploration…
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Common Threads Reflections 2014
Reflections by John O’Brien with contributions of presenters at the Common Threads Conference 2014 The Common Threads Conference 2014 composed portraits of person-centered work. Everyone who attended had the chance to expand their understanding by reflecting on the hopes and meanings attached to doing the work.
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