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.