Update Friday Newsletter: July 3, 2026

In this week’s edition of Update Friday, Announcing the 2026 Anne Stafford Bursary Recipients, and More! Read the full edition: https://bit.ly/4eJHjNF   Sign up to our newsletter: bit.ly/Subscribe-To-UF 

RDSP Shortcomings Continue to Put People’s Rights At Risk

When he introduced the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) in 2008, the late Jim Flaherty promised that the initiative would help improve the lives of people with disabilities. According to Flaherty, a key goal was to help as many people as possible benefit from the program and save for their future. In light of these statements, it is unfortunate that, eighteen years … Read More

Ontario’s Ministry of Education Has a Policy on Seemingly Almost Everything – But Not on Solitary Confinement for Kids

In Ontario, there is no provincial legislation, policy, or guidance addressing the use of restraint and involuntary seclusion on children with disabilities in schools. This puts Ontario out of line with other jurisdictions, and is placing the mental health, quality of life, and learning outcomes of students at severe risk. Building on our Crisis in the Classroom report, Community Living Ontario is … Read More

The National Housing Council Wants to Hear Your Perspective on Accessible Housing

The National Housing Council is an advisory body to the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. The Council has launched a Review Panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada and is inviting all individuals and organizations to share their perspectives. The review panel is especially interested in hearing from people directly affected by this issue, service providers, … Read More

Community Living Ontario Welcomes New Provincial Budget Investments in Developmental Services

For immediate release // Toronto, OntarioFriday, March 27, 2026 Community Living Ontario is pleased to see the inclusion of new funding to support people with developmental disabilities in the 2026 provincial budget. The budget includes an additional $407 million over three years “to help community organizations manage rising operational costs and continue delivering vital services… for individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities, as well as for survivors of … Read More

PRESS RELEASE: Community Living Ontario calls on the province to act immediately on Ombudsman recommendations re: inappropriate hospitalization of adults with developmental disabilities 

For Immediate Release//Toronto, Ontario, November 25, 2025 Today, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé released a new report on the inappropriate hospitalization of adults with developmental disabilities. The report contains harrowing stories of people living in hospital for years, where they were physically and chemically restrained, and where their health and quality of life declined precipitously.    “I am saddened but unfortunately not … Read More

Track the Movement – Fall 2025 (September – November)

What happened in September?  YAC Members Take the Stage at the Inspiring Possibilities Conference  On September 18th, four of CLO’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) members – Arshiaa Bhayana, Nathan T., Megan den Dekker, and Moira Robertson – presented ‘Truths of Institutionalization: Sincerely, Youth Trying to Stop History from Repeating Itself’ at the annual Community Living Ontario (CLO) Inspiring Possibilities Conference. … Read More

Employment Support Services in Ontario – Under pressure, Underperforming, Underwhelming 

Will anything change after more than five years of criticism? Community Living Ontario has published two reports on Ontario Progressive Conservative changes to employment programs (now called ‘Integrated Employment Services’) over the past few years. The reports were published in partnership with the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) under the banner of “Tangled in Red Tape,” and they offer a discouraging picture.    For those who aren’t up to speed: starting in 2019, the province gave up direct control over employment … Read More

PRESS RELEASE: Living in Poverty, Homeless and Being Lured into Crime and Human Trafficking – People with Intellectual Disabilities Falling Through the Cracks

For Immediate Release//Toronto, Ontario, November 12, 2025 “It’s not right this is happening!” “This is heartbreaking…”** These are the voices of Ontarians reacting to the escalating crisis in our province’s Developmental Services sector, a crisis that’s been decades in the making.  More than thirty years of chronic underinvestment have led to over 53,000 adults with intellectual disabilities waiting for essential supports and services. Some of our … Read More