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“Organization of Canadian Tamils with Disabilities” (OCTD) is a not-for-profit cross-disability member organization, founded in 1997, for serving the needs of Tamils with disabilities in this country.

The OCTD was the first organization, founded with a vision of raising awareness and understanding of disability issues, and for providing a unified voice for Canadian Tamils with varying types and degrees of disabilities. We are a cross-disability organization, run predominantly by members with disabilities, along with motivated volunteers that are being gracious in dedicating their time, skills and expertise in all levels of this organization.

The main goal of this organization is to make the Tamil families with disabilities to break out of their seclusion and guilt, and to give their families a safe, trusting, and nurturing environment, to discuss, learn and bring about positive improvements in their lives. Since its inception, our organizaton has been hosting numerous outreach programs and support workshops among the Tamil community, towards breaking one shell at a time. And now, it is very heartening to witness hundreds of families coming forward, breaking out of their suffering-in-silence, and recognizing the importance of joining forces and getting the much needed support and guidance to help themselves and their children !

"Expanding our potential" being our mission, the OCTD continues to be the front runner in offering tailored support for the disabled in all aspects of development, such as yoga training, English and Tamil language training, educational curriculum training, extra-curricular activities, learning through games, as well as vocational training, and language classes for the parents, and also homework help for siblings. Our training is conducted through regular weekly workshops and special programs. We organize events to showcase the skills and special talents of our members.

Our support for the disabled community doesn't stop there. We offer all-round social, behavioural, and peer support services, as well as access to special transportation, and much more. There are no services that are considered menial. We offer help in language translation, filling the appropriate forms towards government programs and services, formal letter writing, resume preparation, to finding affordable food and groceries, and a place to live.

We organize several events and trips that help not only develop cognitive and social skills, but also offer the opportunity for our members to interact with the general community and to build friendships.

We support them all through their struggles and barriers in order to expand their potential and bring out their special talents and skills ! So, we encourage and motivate all Tamil famlies with specal needs to take the first step and experience the vast potential that this organzation has to offer.

We also welcome the much needed Volunteer support and Sponsor support for offering our continued service to the community.

Expanding Our Potential

Events

Our events help individuals with disabilities to fully participate in our community; increase their self-reliance; improve and gain new recreation and leisure skills that will enhance participants' overall well being and their quality of life.

  எம் திறன் வளர்ப்போம்

Programs

We take our role seriously in providing programs to our members and their families that nurtures them in the right directions for their future.