Provincial News

• Provincial News
• June 21, 2017

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Improving Access to Services for People with Developmental Disabilities

Province Increasing Supports that will Help Connect People with Developmental Disabilities to Local Programs and Resources

Ontario is improving access to services for adults with developmental disabilities and their families by finding better ways to connect them to supports available in their local community.

Today, Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services and Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster--Dundas--Flamborough--Westdale, were at Contact Hamilton, to announce supports and resources for adults with developmental disabilities, including:

• Hiring more Developmental Services Ontario staff, who help people with developmental disabilities find services and supports in their community
• Expanding the Adult Protective Service Worker program, which matches adults who have a developmental disability and live on their own with a worker who helps them with their everyday living needs, access community resources, and set and achieve goals
• Increasing access to clinical professionals and specialized services at home and in the community for people with an exceptional dual diagnosis or complex behavioural and medical needs
• Helping more people gain work experience by partnering with the Ontario Disability Employment Network to better coordinate services and increase capacity across developmental service agencies, Employment Supports service providers, school boards and employers
• Expanding family support networks, which are groups made up of caregivers who help give adults with developmental disabilities and their families a sense of belonging and help connect them with appropriate services and supports.

Through these increased supports, people with developmental disabilities and their families will be better able to find services in their communities -- for example housing solutions --  so that they can live as independently as possible. These investments will also help system partners work better together to coordinate care for their clients.

Ontario will continue to work with people with developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers, agencies and other community partners to increase connections, and help them  best determine their own future.

Supporting adults with developmental disabilities is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quick Facts

• Ontario is investing over $12.5 million this year for these initiatives. This includes approximately $3 million towards increasing the Adult Protective Service Worker program.
• This investment is part of the Ontario government’s multi-year investment strategies in community and developmental services.
• Ontario currently invests over $2 billion a year in developmental services.
• There are nine regional Developmental Services Ontario agencies across the province.

Additional Resources

• Learn more about developmental services in Ontario.
• Visit the Developmental Services Ontario website.