The Province of Ontario has provided services to people with a developmental disability for over a century. Ontario's developmental services system has changed greatly over this time, with the most significant shift being from provincially-operated, institution-based services to community-based services that promote greater social inclusion, independence and choice for individuals.
The Beginnings of a More Inclusive Ontario
In the 1960s, Ontario had 16 residential institutions for 6,000 people with a developmental disability and few community-based supports that would enable individuals with a developmental disability to live in their communities. Around this time, the move to end the institutionalization of people with a developmental disability grew into the North American "community living movement,” and society began to integrate people with a developmental disability into the community.
Between 1975 and 1986, Ontario’s network of community-based services grew rapidly. The number of people served in the community-based system grew from approximately 4,600 to over 25,000. During that same 11-year period, annual spending on community-based services increased from $10 million to $181 million, five provincially-operated residential institutions were closed and several others were reduced in size as communities, families and the provincial government helped hundreds of people successfully reintegrate into the community.
In 1987, the Ontario government committed to closing the province's remaining facilities within 25 years – a commitment that has been supported by successive governments since then. Between 1987 and 2004, Ontario closed another six facilities, bringing the number of residents who successfully made the transition to community life to more than 6,000.
Ontario’s Developmental Services System Today
Today, only three of the province’s original 16 residential institutions for adults with a developmental disability remain: Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls and Southwestern Regional Centre in Chatham-Kent. The Ontario government now spends more than $1 billion a year on community-based services for people with a developmental disability. These services provide financial and social supports to approximately 39,000 adults, primarily through community-based organizations.
The range of services includes:
- Community supports to help individuals participate in community life, such as speech and language therapy, counselling and behaviour management, supports to help individuals with the transition from school to community-based activities, other day programs and employment supports.
- Residential services including group living situations, individual living supports and the Familyhome program.
- The Special Services at Home program that provides funding directly to individuals/families to purchase services and supports that are not already available in the community.
Ontario’s positive experience with integrating people with a developmental disability into community life continues to drive changes in the way services for these people and their families are shaped. For example, children with a developmental disability now grow up with their peers in their communities and schools, and families have more supports and services with which to help their children and family members live more enriched, independent lives closer to home.
Building the Foundation for the Future: Transforming Developmental Services
By spring 2009, Ontario will have completed the move from an institution-based service system for adults with a developmental disability to a community-based system that promotes independence, inclusion and choice. By that time, a whole generation of Ontarians with developmental disabilities will have grown up in an increasingly inclusive society. As their support needs and service expectations continue to evolve, the people who provide those supports and services – families, communities and government – must find a way to respond so that the developmental services system is strong, forward-looking and sustainable for the future.
The Ontario government has already started to plan for that future. As part of its commitment to build a more inclusive province, the government is working with families, community organizations and individuals with a developmental disability to build the foundation for the next generation of services for people with a developmental disability.
The province will seek public input on a draft plan this winter so that all Ontarians can contribute to shaping the future of a fair, accessible and sustainable developmental services system for Ontario. The final plan – expected in spring 2005 – will provide a long-term blueprint for developmental services in Ontario: one that is focused on achieving the best possible results for Ontarians with a developmental disability.