Our Story - QASL - Providing Choices - Providing Opportunities

1992 - The organization made an application to open the first Children's Small Option Home in the Province. We ended up opening the doors as the second. This Small Option home was home to three children. With the effort, the Board of Directors took on a Strategic Planning commitment for residential service development in Queens County. We eventually expanded the residential options to include Supervised Apartments where individuals can access support to live independently.

2002 - The organization reached another major crossroad. We opened two Developmental Community Homes licensed by the Department of Community Services. These residences became home to 10 people (5 in each home). The project doubled the size of our operation. Over the years, as the residents aged, the Small Option home became another Developmental Community Home supporting five adults.

2003 - The Vocational and Life Skills Training Centre has been the hub of our activity and administrative structure . In 2003 we embarked on a twofold expansion plan. We needed to address the needs of the clients that were applying for service. A personal care room was attached to the Life Skills training area. Training space, storage space, offices and bathroom facilities were needed for the organization. We opened this expansion in June of 2003 as Queens Association for Supported Living.

2008 - The Department of Community Services, our partner in services provision, awarded us a one-time funding opportunity to enlarge our Day Program capacity at Penny Lane Enterprises. After extensive board discussion, research and assessment it was determined that we would purchase and operate a business as we were charged with ongoing operational costs.

2010 - Using the capacity building funding, QASL purchased the only existing general store in Mill Village and renamed it the Riverbank General Store. The venture was an effort to provide people more opportunities for training and work in the retail and hospitality fields. QASL staff along with the clients, Riverbank staff and community volunteers worked diligently to renovate the storeto suit the needs of our programs at the time.

2019 - QASL, in collaboration with the Department of Community Services (DCS), started the process to develop a new Small Option Home as part of a provincial project to increase capacity in small option homes under the DCS Disability Support Program's transformation roadmap.

2021 - After experiencing extreme challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, QASL finally opened the Small Option Home in Milton. West Street Small Option is home to 4 individuals.

2022 - In an effort to meet the requirements for new homes under the Disability Support Program at the time, we decreased capacity at Queen Street Developmental Home from 5 to 4 people to support a proposal to replace the aging home.

2023 - The Human Rights Review and Remedy Report for the Findings of Systemic Discrimination Against Nova Scotians with Disabilities was released. The report (referred to as 'The Remedy') was jointly commissioned by the Disability Rights Coalition and the Province of Nova Scotia and includes six key directions with supporting action plans, including closing institutions and Developmental Homes with 5 or more residents. The Remedy will transform the Disability Support system to a more human rights based approach, ensuring that people with disabilities have real choice and access to supports in the community of their choosing.

2024/2025 - QASL is making progress in aligning our services with the Remedy. Over time, we were able to naturally decrease capacity from 5 residents to 4 in the three Developmental homes and received approval from DCS to change those licenses to Small Option Homes. We have reinstated the ILS Program which offers support to people who live more independently in their own apartment. Our day program services have also taken a different approach to fall in line with the Remedy, focusing on life enhancement for each of our clients through wage-based employment, social/recreational, volunteerism and training opportunities; much of which takes place in community. We rented a space downtown Liverpool as a base for the social/recreational programs which not only alleviates barriers to transportation but also provides more individualized choice for activities based in community. QASL has been approved to offer Individualized Funding (IF) Management.

Present - QASL is constantly evolving to meet the needs and interests of the people who choose our servcies. We now have in excess of 70 staff in 7 locations within the community. We are proud to be celebrating over 55 years of providing choices and opportunities to people with disabilities throughout Queens County, and are looking forward to being a part of the changing landscape of Disability Supports in Nova Scotia.