Lachine group helps Montrealers with mild intellectual disabilities live on their own

In a split-level home in Montreal's Lachine borough, a dozenpeople sit arounda table, eating lunch they've prepared themselves.

Nearly everyone has a mild intellectual disability, and nearly all of them are living on their own, cooking and cleaning for themselves.

• Donate here

Their independence is thanks, in part, to Apprentissage la vie autonome/Towards Independent Living, or AVATIL, a group that helps adults with mild cognitive limitations acquire the life skills they need to become autonomous.

With programs like this lunchand games session, AVATIL's clients socialize and practise living skills.

The result is that the 67 people the agency serveshave become a tight-knit crew of friends.

AVATIL"is a place where we can all get together and enjoy each other's company," said Tracey Monks, 58. "These people are my friends. And they will always be my friends."

Counsellors areassigned help clients navigate tasks such asbudgeting and provide emotional and psychologicalsupport.

AVATILpresident MarjieRutherford, whose son Terry went through the program,said clients are "street smart and social enough that they can make it on their own with a little bit of help."

She said the programs are tailored to each client'sindividual needs.

"There's no syndrome that everybody is similar. Everyone is an individual and we try to treat them as such."

AVATIL is supported by West Island Community Shares, an umbrella organization that supports 41 non-profit agencies across the West Island.

• CBCMontreal and West Island Community Shares team up for another season of giving

• Donate here