Advocacy, Education & Awareness
Community Living Ontario develops policy solutions and advocates for changes that increase the community participation, inclusion and belonging of people labelled as having an intellectual disability. For insight on our policy positions and priorities for our advocacy work, please see the recent posts and resources below.
We work alongside people who have intellectual disabilities and their families as well as government to shape public policy that is practical and progressive. We bring a collective voice to the developmental services sector. Community Living Ontario advocates for the full inclusion of people who have intellectual disabilities in all communities.
If you are looking to learn more, reach out to Shawn Pegg, Director of Social Policy & Strategic Initiatives below.
CONTACT SHAWN
Red Tape, Human Rights, and Registered Disability Savings Plans in Ontario: Part 2
2024 Pre-budget Submission
In our pre-budget submission to the provincial government, CLO is calling for an immediate base budget increase of five percent for developmental service agencies. Additionally, we are calling for a five percent increase to Passport and Special Services at Home budgets.
The submission is part of our #5toSurvive campaign, calling attention to critical underfunding of our sector. If you agree with our recommendations, please forward the document to your MPP!
Ontario Developmental Services Need #5ToSurvive
Ontario’s current strategy for developmental services has a vision that people with developmental disabilities will be “supported by their communities, support networks and government to belong and live inclusive lives.”
Unfortunately, the organizations whose mission it is to support people to live inclusive lives are being starved of the resources they need just to keep the heat and lights on, to put gas in their accessible vehicles, to buy food to feed people, and to try to find qualified staff during a human resource crisis. In the face of rising inflation and skyrocketing costs, it is becoming impossible to meet the needs of the people they are committed to supporting. This is putting people’s lives at risk.
We are calling on the Ontario government to provide an immediate 5% boost to developmental services agency core funding, as well as Passport and Special Services at Home. Make your voice heard alongside ours — send a message to your representatives at Queen's Park to tell them the developmental services sector needs #5ToSurvive
Red Tape, Human Rights, and Registered Disability Savings Plans in Ontario
Many people with intellectual disabilities in Ontario are beneficiaries of Registered Disability Savings Plans, where a family member is the RDSP ‘plan holder’ – in other words, they are responsible for managing the RDSP with the beneficiary. We are now seeing situations where plan holders have died or become unable to manage the RDSP – leaving beneficiaries without a plan holder. This raises serious risks for people, including the risk of falling into guardianship.
In our new policy brief, CLO presents a straightforward solution to this problem – a solution that protects people’s financial health while respecting their rights. Read the full brief at the link below.
Reflecting on Ontario’s new “Guidelines for supporting adults with a developmental disability when applying to, moving into and residing in a long-term care home”
Innovations in Housing for People Who Have an Intellectual Disability
Increasing the Supply of Small-Scale, Individualized, Communiy-Based Housing for People Who Have Intellectual Disabilities
With federal and provincial governments investing billions of dollars in affordable housing, now is a perfect moment to make a collective push to increase the availability of small scale, community-based housing for people who have intellectual disabilities in Ontario.
Community Living Ontario is releasing a strategy and advocacy guide for self-advocates, family members, developmental service organizations, and other supporters. The guide offers many suggestions about what advocates can do to fill the huge gap in our communities, by increasing the supply of housing that supports health and quality of life.
Building a Full Life + a Home of One’s Own in the Community
Direct Funding for Developmental Services in Ontario: A Path Forward
The Myth of Economies of Scale in Developmental Services
Five Ideas about Housing for People Who Have Intellectual Disabilities
READ MORE