Welcome to Community Living Out Loud, brought to you by Community Living Mississauga. On this podcast we celebrate the lives of people who have an intellectual disability and the incredible work being done to advocate for them and their families. Through conversations with experts, advocates, and individuals with lived experiences, we hope to inspire and educate listeners on the importance of building strong, supportive communities.
Founded in 1955, Community Living Mississauga is a non-profit, charitable organization which provides support to people who have an intellectual disability.
Our mission is to provide support to people who have an intellectual disability to ensure their quality of life in the community is meaningfully improved.
Our vision is that all people will live in a state of dignity and respect, and share in all elements of living in a community which is welcoming, accepting and inclusive of everyone. All people will have the freedom to make choices and decisions that enable them to achieve self-determination.
We believe that people who have an intellectual disability have a right to live in the community and to participate actively in community life. Each person, regardless of disability, should enjoy the full rights of citizenship and the full experience of membership in the community. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of people we support, family members and concerned members of the community.
Choices for Inclusive Living Program: Transforming Lives
In this episode of Community Living Out Loud, host Peter Reynolds speaks with Madeleine Larby about her journey to independence and the vital role Community Living Mississauga's Choices for Inclusive Living Program has played in supporting her and her brother. Madeleine reflects on the challenges they faced before finding the program and how its person-centered approach—focused on their unique strengths, needs, and goals—helped them build a stable, independent life. She shares how this suppor...
23 Dec 2024
Community Living Out Loud - 2024 Holiday Greeting
Happy Holidays from all of use at Community Living Mississauga!As we wrap up another year, we want to take a moment to thank both our guests, and our audience, for being part of the Community Living Out Loud podcast. We've had some amazing conversations, from the role of Early Childhood Education and Parent Connection Help Groups, to exploring the many of the services offered by Community Living Mississauga, including their new Choices for Inclusive Living Program. We’re excited to ...
3 Sept 2024
Navigating Support Systems: Insights from Community Living Mississauga
In this episode of Community Living Out Loud, host Peter Reynolds chats with Steve Zomolsky-Shupak, Manager of Service Coordination and Administrative Services at Community Living Mississauga, about the crucial role service coordination and administrative services plays in supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Steve discusses the goal-oriented and family-directed nature of these services, the different levels of support available, and the challenges faced by fam...
1 Jul 2024
Empowering Independence: Exploring Community Living Mississauga's New Initiatives
Independence: the ability to live life without undue influence, make personal decisions, and even make mistakes. This is a fundamental right for everyone, including those with intellectual disabilities.
In this episode of Community Living Out Loud. Host Peter Reynolds is joined by Diana Lopez and Lorraine Montgomery of Community Living Mississauga to discuss the importance of independence for individuals with intellectual disabilities and explore two new innovative programs: Choices for Inclusive Living and Living the Dream.
If you'd like more information on either of these programs or any other services Community Living Mississauga provides, please contact:
Community Living Mississauga (Head office)
(905) 542-2694
Choices for Independent Living
Lorraine Montgomery lorrainemo@clmiss.ca
Living the Dream
Diana Lopez: dianalo@clmiss.ca
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8 (https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8)
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
1 May 2024
Parent Connection Help Groups - Building Stronger Communities
Caring for a loved one with an intellectual disability can present a wide array of challenges, from accessing government resources to navigating the complex worlds of education, housing and employment. It can be overwhelming. Where does someone even begin?
In this episode of Community Living Out Loud, host Peter Reynolds is joined by Chris Beesley, CEO of Community Living Ontario and Don Osmond, a long-time member of the Parent Connection Help Group, to discuss these challenges and what community resources are available to help families.
The Parent Connection Help Group is a parent-run resource and provides a platform for sharing experiences and resources among families. The episode highlights the importance of building supportive communities beyond traditional support models to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Useful links:
https://communitylivingontario.ca/who-we-are/members/ (https://communitylivingontario.ca/who-we-are/members/)
https://www.dsontario.ca/ (https://www.dsontario.ca/)
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8 (https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8)
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
6 Mar 2024
Fostering Inclusion: The Role of Early Childhood Education Resource Services
All children deserve the opportunity to play, grow, and learn alongside their peers in a supportive and inclusive environment. It not only benefits children with special needs but helps foster a community that reflects the diversity of society.
In today's episode of Community Living Out Loud, host Peter Reynolds and guests Lisa Fantauzzi and Maria Jarmillo discuss the work of Community Living Mississauga's Early Childhood Education Resource Services Team, which supports children with intellectual disabilities in local childcare centers.
Lisa and Maria share their experiences with the program, including success stories, the challenges of growing caseloads and what keeps them motivated every day.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
8 Jan 2024
Base Sites: A Home Away From Home
The opportunity for meaningful social, recreational and leisure activities is important in anyone's life. But perhaps more important, is the ability for people to choose those activities themselves.
In this episode of Community Living Out Loud, host Peter Reynolds speaks with Steve Farstad, Day Support Manager at Community Living Mississauga, about the organization's "Base Sites", which provides these opportunities both on-site and in the community.
Together they discuss eligibility, activities, costs, and the importance of community inclusion for the people they support. Tune in to learn more about this amazing program and the value of empowering people with intellectual disabilities to make their own choices.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
28 Dec 2023
Community Living Out Loud - 2023 Holiday Greeting
Happy Holidays from all of us at Community Living Out Loud! We can't thank you enough for supporting our podcast, and we look forward to bringing you more interviews and stories next year as we continue to celebrate the lives of people who have an intellectual disability.
Let's get loud over the holidays - together.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
1 Nov 2023
More Than a Job: Working at Community Living Mississauga
Some people work to live, others live to work. But what could be better than doing a job that you love for a cause you believe in? In this episode, host Peter Reynolds is joined by Noor Mufti, Director of People and Culture at Community Living Mississauga to discuss the organization's work and the employees who contribute to its success. Noor also explains his role in ensuring a stable and skilled workforce and creating an environment that allows for professional growth and advancement. He also addresses the agency's ability to meet the growing demand for programs and services for people who have intellectual disabilities, and the need for funding to support staffing and competitive wages.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
2 Oct 2023
Personal Outcome Measures
In this episode, host Peter Reynolds explores the importance of personal outcome measures in supporting persons with intellectual disabilities. Peter is joined by Nicole Farrell, manager of the Outcome Support Team at Community Living Mississauga and Jessica Portelance, who is not only supported by Community Living Mississauga, she is also a Community Living Mississauga Board member.
Together they discuss how personal outcome measures are used to identify the goals and dreams of people supported by Community Living Mississauga, tailor supports to help them in achieving those goals, and promote autonomy and self-determination for people who have an intellectual disability.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
1 Aug 2023
Inclusive Hiring Makes Good Business Sense
Hiring people who have intellectual disabilities is more than just "the right thing to do", it makes good business sense. Join host Peter Reynolds as he speaks with Marissa Marr, Manager of Career Connections at Community Living Mississauga, and April McKay, Director of Human Resources at TruEarth about the benefits of hiring inclusively, which leads to increased innovation, productivity, workplace safety and community support.
If you're looking for a job, or you're an employer interested in learning more about hiring persons who have intellectual disabilities, check out www.career-connections.ca or email them at info@career-connections.ca
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
7 Jul 2023
Empowering Youth: Summer Program Spotlight
Join Host Peter Reynolds as he chats with Mary Dillon, Community Recreation Liaison at Community Living Mississauga about their Summer Teen Activity Program. Peter also welcomes Durrell Martin, a parent whose son participated in the program, and whose daughter volunteered there. Durrell shares his personal journey with Community Living Mississauga and the transformative impact the organization has had on his whole family.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
1 Jun 2023
Volunteering for a Stronger Community
Volunteering is more than just helping others; there are tremendous benefits to the volunteers themselves. In this episode, Peter speaks with Deb Walsh, Manager of Volunteer Services at Community Living Mississauga and Mark Overton, Dean of Student Affairs and Assistant Principal of Student Services at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), about the value of volunteerism, the opportunities available at Community Living Mississauga, and their partnership with UTM's Community On Campus Program which pairs students with individuals who have an intellectual disability to experience life on campus.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
30 Apr 2023
What is Community Living Mississauga?
Community Living Out Loud is a podcast that celebrates the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and the advocacy work done on their behalf.
In this first episode, host Peter Reynolds talks with Laura Sluce, CPA and partner at Ernst & Young, and Keith Tansley, Executive Director of Community Living Mississauga. They delve into what the organization does, the services it provides, and how individuals with intellectual disabilities can access these services. The discussion also covers advocacy work being done on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and how listeners can help support them in their own communities.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
28 Apr 2023
Community Living Out Loud Podcast Trailer
Come celebrate the lives of people who have an intellectual disability and the incredible work being done to advocate for them and their families with Community Out Loud, a podcast presented by the Community Living Mississauga.
Join us for inspiring stories and practical resources to help person’s with intellectual disabilities live independently in the community.
You can listen on your favourite podcast app, or watch us on YouTube.
Let’s get loud together.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_LSiybwxSI8
If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to subscribe. We'd also love to hear any episode suggestions you may have.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
243
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
33
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
27
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