Celebrating Our Independent Living Assistants

As you may know, May 19th is recognized as Independent Living Assistant (ILA) & Personal Support Worker (PSW) Day — a time to honour those who provide essential frontline care. At Vibrant Community Health, we proudly celebrate this day by recognizing the heart of our support system: our dedicated ILA and PSWs.

Who Are our ILAs and PSWs?

At Vibrant, our ILAs do more than assist — they empower. They support individuals with physical disabilities to live with independence, dignity, and choice. Whether it’s helping with daily routines or encouraging self-advocacy, ILAs create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments where our clients can thrive.

They are care providers, advocates, and trusted allies. They make a difference not just with what they do, but with how they do it — with compassion, patience, and an unwavering commitment to care.

ILAs at Vibrant: The Heart of Independent Living

Our ILAs are key to our Attendant Care Services. They embody the values of equity, person-centred care, and inclusion that guide our work. They support clients in making their own decisions, living meaningful lives, and engaging fully in their communities.

• We’re proud of the impact our ILAs have every day:

• Building long-standing relationships based on trust and respect.

• Showing up with consistency and care.

• Creating moments of joy and confidence that empower our clients.

Voices from the Frontline: What Our ILAs Say

Here’s what they had to say about their work:

• Being an ILA means empowering individuals to live life on their terms by providing the right assistance—such as cooking or cleaning,—to maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life.

  ~Brenda Kirabo (Coxwell Site)

• For me, being an ILA is acting as a client’s hands and legs—using appropriate equipment to ensure safety—so they can move and live more independently.

  ~ Nana Oku‑Ampofo (Coxwell Site)

• To be an ILA means showing kindness and patience in every situation to support and uplift the clients I serve.

  ~ Kennedy Hunte (Jarvis Site)

• Being an ILA means enhancing quality of life by promoting independence, offering help where needed, acting as listener, and advocate who respects each person’s right to make their own choices.

  ~ Jevaughn Satchwell (Carlton Site)

• To me, being an ILA means bringing opportunities, respect, and dignity to individuals so they can live independently and make their own decisions.

  ~ Lawrence Parent (Carlton Site)

With Gratitude

To every Independent Living Assistant at Vibrant Community Health: thank you. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. Your work matters — deeply — to our clients, our teams, and our community.

On this PSW Day, let’s take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible work of ILAs across our organization. Whether through a thank-you, a kind word, or simply taking the time to recognize their efforts.

Please join us here at Vibrant and take a moment and thank the ILAs and PSWs in your life.