Introduction
Over the past two years, the Government has initiated the transformation of the developmental services sector and provided some additional funding to enable the sector to begin addressing some of its most acute pressures and to launch Passports – the funding of individuals to purchase their own day activities. However, despite these initiatives, the developmental services sector remains at a critical juncture.
The 2007 Provincial Budget committed $200 million over four years for developmental services, starting with $62 million in the first year. While this was a good first step, intended to begin stabilizing the sector and to start addressing wage gaps, the additional funding did not go far enough toward resolving the immediate pressures on individuals and families waiting for supports and services.
The pressures that continue to face Ontarians with a developmental disability and their families, notably the waiting list for services and supports, have evolved and grown over time as a result of intermittent funding allocations and the lack of a comprehensive and long-term strategy to address the needs of the sector.
What is a Developmental Disability?
A developmental disability is a disability that significantly affects one’s ability to learn and use information. Whether caused genetically or developmentally, as in Down Syndrome, or at birth, a developmental disability continues throughout a person’s life.
As a consequence of their permanent intellectual limitations, people with a developmental disability require varying degrees of support throughout their lives. Such support will vary from person to person, but can be required for such basic needs as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, using public transportation, or even the telephone. Approximately 40% of people with a developmental disability have multiple disabilities and may require behavioural supports or support for other complex care needs that often require 24-hour assistance.
Developmental Disabilities and the Government’s Policy Agenda
Investments in the Developmental Services Sector support Ontario’s policy agenda in poverty reduction and affordable housing and reinforce the Government’s move towards greater integration in the delivery of services to Ontarians.
The Government’s recent appointment of a Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, charged with overseeing the achievement of the Government’s poverty reduction targets, is a significant step towards achieving the goal of giving every Ontarian “a fair shot at success.” The needs of individuals with a developmental disability must be taken into account when designing this strategy. A single person on ODSP receives a maximum benefit of $999 per month, or approximately $12,000 per year. That must cover all expenses, including shelter, food, clothing and transportation. Current ODSP rates fall far below the poverty line, which for a single person living in an urban setting in Ontario is $19,000 per year. A commitment to reducing poverty for Ontarians with a developmental disability must start with a substantial increase in the income support provided through the ODSP.
The Network recommends the establishment of an independent committee that would advise the Government on exactly where ODSP benefit rates should be set. This independent committee should include ODSP recipients and knowledgeable stakeholders to ensure that the criteria developed reflect the real needs of ODSP recipients.
In addition, a commitment to harmonizing the Government’s policies that support Ontarians living in poverty and aligning provincial policies with federal government initiatives, such as the registered disability savings plan, would help alleviate some of the financial pressure facing Ontarians with a developmental disability and support the Government’s poverty reduction strategy.
During the 2007 Election, the Government committed to creating a long-term policy and funding strategy for affordable housing. The Provincial Network supports this initiative and believes that it represents a positive step forward. The Government can ensure access to safe, affordable housing for people with a developmental disability by supporting individuals living in poverty through affordable housing programs and increases to the ODSP.
Moving Forward
Families and service providers believe it is time for a comprehensive, long-term policy and funding framework for developmental services to address the needs of a transformed system and create a sustainable financial model. This new approach would provide enhanced access to a broader range of community supports for individuals with a developmental disability, improve choice and flexibility for families and address the sector’s human resource challenges through a comprehensive human resource strategy.
The comprehensive framework would contain measures to address the needs of individuals with a developmental disability and their families, respond to the systemic challenges facing the Developmental Services Sector, and support transformation.
The Ask
Families and service agencies in the developmental services sector believe that the time has come for the Government to resolve the challenges that continue to face Ontarians with a developmental disability. Toward that end, the Government must:
- Increase ODSP to reflect the real cost of living in Ontario
- Commit $325 million over four years to reduce the waiting list of 13,400 Ontarians with an intellectual disability
- Develop a comprehensive, long-term policy and funding framework to safeguard the sector’s sustainability, guide its long-term development and ensure that all Ontarians with a developmental disability have access to the supports and services they need.