July 22, 2014
1876 |
First provincially-run residential facility opens in Orillia |
1975 |
A limited number of community-based residential and day programs are available – mainly group homes, sheltered workshops and segregated day activities |
1976 |
More than 10,000 people are living in 16 provincially-run institutions |
1977 |
Ontario begins closing provincially-run institutions |
1982 |
Direct funding begins as the Special Services at Home program for children with a developmental disability |
1987 |
Challenges and Opportunities released – a seven-year plan and 25-year commitment to close all institutions by 2012 |
1996 |
Community Living Initiative, a four-year plan to close institutions, begins |
1997 |
Ontario Disability Support Program introduced to provide income and employment supports for people with disabilities |
2004 |
Ontario commits to transforming developmental services into a more accessible, fair and sustainable system of community-based supports and promises to close the three remaining institutions early |
2005 |
Ontario passes the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 The Passport direct funding program is introduced for adults with developmental disabilities A comprehensive strategy is introduced for adults who have a dual diagnosis or specialized needs |
2006 |
Opportunities and Action is released, setting out the guiding principles and key elements of a transformed developmental services system and launches a major public consultation |
2008 |
The Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008 is passed, expanding the definition of developmental disability and setting out access and provisions for service |
2009 |
Ontario closes its last provincially-run institutions |
2011 |
Nine Developmental Services Ontario offices open to provide a single point of access to adult developmental services |
2014 |
Approximately 18,000 adults receive residential supports in the community, and more than 15,000 are supported through the Passport program. More than 12,500 children with developmental disabilities receive Special Services at Home funding. More than 64,800 adults with developmental disabilities are Ontario Disability Support Program recipients. |