Increased Support for People with Developmetal Disabilities

Community and Social Services Minister John Baird formally announced on September 11 that agencies serving people with developmental disabilities throughout Ontario will be eligible for increased funding immediately. The funding is part of a multi-year budget commitment to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities, and attract and maintain high quality staff.

"We want the money getting out to the people who need it most as quickly as possible," said Baird. "A significant portion of this year's funding is going directly to agencies to help them enhance services and attract more quality caregivers."

More than 260 agencies across Ontario will receive $31.7 million to address the challenge of high staff turnover and burnout. The funding will help agencies improve salaries and benefits, and offer more training and staff development.

"Our organization has been struggling for the past five years to keep our core services afloat," said Julie Kingstone, Chief Development Officer of LiveWorkPlay. "We still have to fundraise just to make ends meet. We look forward to the day when our fundraising efforts can go to support expansion instead of the status quo."

A total of $12.8 million will be used to expand community services such as Special Services at Home, day programming, and out-of-home respite care. An additional $7.3 million will support new places to live created for people with developmental disabilities.

"We are pleased that the government is listening and responding to the concerns of the developmental services sector," said Sue Dolan, president of Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS). "The new funding will assist in ensuring the continued quality of care for people with developmental disabilities and attracting recent college graduates to the sector."

Baird also announced that $5 million has been allocated for 64 new living spaces for people with developmental disabilities in 11 communities across Ontario. This funding will help address the growing need for living spaces for older children whose aging parents can no longer care for them, individuals with changing and multiple special needs, and young adults leaving the child welfare system.

"Aging parents should not have to worry about the future care of their adult children," said Baird. "Over the next five years, many new living spaces for people with developmental disabilities will be created in communities across Ontario to address this critical need."

In the May budget, the Harris government announced its multi-year plan consisting of $55 million this year - growing to $197 million annually - to revitalize the developmental services sector. An additional $67 million over five years to create more places to live for people with developmental disabilities was also announced.

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