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.


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Red Tape, Human Rights, and Registered Disability Savings Plans in Ontario: Part 2


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As part of our advocacy to improve Registered Disability Savings Plans, Community Living Ontario has released a new document that shares the stories of four families facing unnecessary RDSP-related barriers. These families are increasingly frustrated by problems with RDSPs that threaten the financial health of people with intellectual disabilities and increase their risk of coming under guardianship of the Public Guardian and Trustee.
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2024 Pre-budget Submission


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! 

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Ontario Developmental Services Need #5ToSurvive


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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

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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.

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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”


In November 2022, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) released an updated and revised version of a document that guides the transfer of people with developmental disabilities from the developmental services sector into long-term care facilities. The document offers valuable insight into the perspective and approach of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services on this issue.
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Innovations in Housing for People Who Have an Intellectual Disability


The shortage of affordable, accessible housing is one of the key barriers to community inclusion in Ontario. To address this problem, people with disabilities, their families, and the agencies that support them need to take a leading role in the creation of small-scale, individualized, community-based housing. This new report from Community Living Ontario provides brief snapshots of nine examples of housing that supports independence and choice among people who have an intellectual disability. It is our hope that the document will contribute to greater awareness of what is possible, and to growth in people’s ability to live a life of their choosing.
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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.

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Building a Full Life + a Home of One’s Own in the Community 


Building a Full Life + a Home of One’s Own in the Community is a report from Community Living Ontario that offers recommendations on individualized funding, housing, and community inclusion for people who have an intellectual disability. The report provides detailed guidance and insights, and will hopefully serve as a platform for meaningful discussion as the province moves forward with developmental service reform.
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Direct Funding for Developmental Services in Ontario: A Path Forward


Ontario’s new strategy for developmental services includes a commitment to allow people to receive funding directly and manage their own supports. This document offers recommendations on how we can finally make direct funding a reality in our province.
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The Myth of Economies of Scale in Developmental Services


It is commonly believed that large residential facilities for people who have intellectual disabilities are less expensive to operate than more individualized models. However, this policy snapshot shows that, even for people with high support needs, large congregated settings are in fact more costly than small group homes or supported independent living 
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Five Ideas about Housing for People Who Have Intellectual Disabilities 

People who have intellectual disabilities are increasingly demanding more choice and control in where they live. This document offers five key areas for change as we work to build the supply of housing in Ontario.

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Long-Term Care Is not a Solution for Younger Adults with Disabilities


Nearly 10% of long-term care residents are people with disabilities under age 65. To reduce our dependence on long-term care facilities, we need clear policy and programs that prioritize a concerted push for small-scale housing options bolstered by natural supports, which will reduce pressure on existing systems.
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Separating Housing from Disability Supports: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?


It is common for people who have intellectual disabilities to access housing and other needed supports from a single service provider. This paper argues that separating housing from supports would boost system flexibility and increase people’s ability to access the services they need.
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