Powell River Association for Community Living (PRACL) has changed its name to Inclusion Powell River Society.
The Powell River advocacy group for persons with disabilities has almost finished the process of having all its legal documents updated, rebuilding its website and changing its letterhead.
“It’s a change of focus for us,” said executive director Lilla Tipton.
There are a few reasons for the name change, she said. “The name tells the community better who we are and what we’re trying to achieve.”
Tipton wants to make sure people with disabilities are fully included in the community and are recognized as full citizens.
“The community living name was wonderful at the time,” she added. “We’ve had many name changes over the years as our purpose evolves.”
The agency started out as The Association for the Mentally Retarded in 1954. “As best practices and goals change, the name has changed as well,” she said. “This is just another step in that evolution.”
PRACL was a founding member of BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) in 1955, the provincial advocacy group for people with disabilities. Last year BCACL hired a marketing company to look at changing the organization’s name. It changed its name to Inclusion BC which Tipton said better reflects the work that is being done in communities across the province for people with disabilities.
Tipton added that another reason for the name change was because PRACL and BCACL’s names were so similar to Community Living BC, the provincial Crown corporation which provides funding for people with disabilities.
“We often got phone calls from people because they were confused about who they should be talking to,” said Tipton.
She added that it will be a challenge for the community to adjust to the change and remember the new name.
