• Choice

• Control

• Independence

We provide support to current and prospective ventilator users with restrictive respiratory insufficiency* caused by neuromuscular conditions such as:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Polio
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Guillium Barre

* restrictive respiratory insufficiency is breathing difficulty caused by muscle weakness or spinal cord injury.

A Brief History of CILB:
Assisting the community by:
Membership Information:
5th National Conference May 2, 3, 2001:
"Play For Someone Who Has A Physical Disability" Charity Golf Classic 2002:
Extra! Extra! CILB Newsletter:
New Address:

CILB began as the Committee for Independence in Living and Breathing in 1988, when community action funding enabled the Canadian Paraplegic Association to investigate the needs of severely disabled individuals including ventilator users. A small group of users, family members, friends and health care professionals joined together for this purpose under the name "Committee for Independence in Living and Breathing"(CILB).

CILB delivered its report to the Ontario Ministry of Housing in late 1990. Because substantial information-sharing, networking and identification of needs had occurred, the group continued to meet, their purpose being to promote an improved quality of life for long term ventilator users.

Their diversified skills, experiences and knowledge were recognized as an informed resource by the Ontario Ministries of Health, Community and Social Services, Housing, Education and Training and Citizenship and Culture.

In 1994 CILB became incorporated as a non-profit charity, Citizens for Independence in Living and Breathing. Our membership continues to grow steadily.

CILB members include ventilator users, their families and supporting health care professionals, rehabilitation and chronic care facilities and other related organizations. We regularly communicate with associated agencies and equipment suppliers.

• educating and providing information concerning the choice of independent living options available to individuals who are capable of directing their own services.
• publishing and disseminating information about living with a ventilator and alternative ventilation techniques.
• providing information about available services, such as attendant services, health care, education, employment and recreation.
• providing information regarding funding for the hiring and training of attendants.
• assisting in the development of support networks for users, families and others who provide assistance.

If you, or a family member are interested in, or are using any form of assissted ventilation, you should consider joining C.I.L.B. because:

• C.I.L.B. membership rewards are practical and direct, and provide you with ideas and solutions from other ventilator users.
• We respond to individual needs, with information from current knowledge, literature from our library and through linkages to individuals with similar needs.
• We are concerned with people and how ventilation affects you, your family and friends.
• We do not deal in generalities.

Future Plans.

We hope to expand our membership to include ventilator users and their families throughout Canada.

Our aim is to have members who are active participants and who are able to cope confidently with life and acheive personal dignity.

Membership fees are:

Individuals: $10.00 Families: $15.00 Youth (under 18): $2.00 Organizations: $50.00

On May 2nd and 3rd, 2001 CILB held it's fifth national conference in Toronto entitled Ventilation and Beyond: A meeting of Minds. This national event had over 100 participants from a wide range of health care professions. Participants from all parts of North America, including ventilator users, physicians, researchers and health care providers met together in an educational forum. Many ventilator users are present and participate in the program. This was a major conference to share information with ventilator users and other decision makers in the health care professions. We are now selling video tapes from this conference

Dedication to keeping current and potential ventilator users and those who support them informed and up-to-date is the driving force of the Education Committee.

How do we accomplish this?

Through:.

• compiling and organizing library materials which include neuromuscular disorders, invasive and noninvasive ventilation, equipment, rehabilitation and independent living
• planning and presenting national conferences and workshops which bring current and prospective ventilator users and health care experts together four exciting up-to-date presentations and discussions
• producing and selling videotapes from CILB conferences
• responding to individual requests for educational information.

To order your video tapes you may contact Margaret Wagner copy and print out this order form.

Join us for a FANTASTIC DAY OF GOLF! Thursday, July 4 2002 The past five years we have raised over $60,000. Each player receives a shared motorized golf cart, BBQ lunch, buffet dinner, win a Jaguar from Coventry North Jaguar, a cruise from Holland American Cruise, join The New VR "Sultans of Swing" for a fun hole in one oportunity, Carlon Fire Equipment for a putting contest and much more. Tax receipts issued for donations of $20 or more. Other levels of participation are also available. For more information send e-mail attention Steve McPherson, Event Co ordinator.

The first issue of Airwaves, CILB's newsletter, was published last June and distributed to 200 ventilator users, health care professionals and other interested parties. But due to overwhelming +++demand from various groups, an additional 200 copies were printed and mailed. The newsletter committee is presently busy at work on the next issue of Airwaves. This will contain a feature article, as well as the personal story of a long term ventilator user. Look for it! Further enquiries about the Newsletter should be directed to Tom Wagner, Editor

send email to:cilb@rogers.com
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