#WaitingToBelong highlights the struggles and barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families as they languish on the Developmental Services (DS) waitlist, waiting for critical support services, such as housing, employment, and community connections. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the long wait times that impact people’s abilities to live fully inclusive lives and stresses the urgent need for government action, funding, and community support. Through personal stories and hard facts, #WaitingToBelong advocates for a system where everyone has timely access to the resources they need to belong and thrive in their communities.
Hear Directly from People & Families
Gary
"I am worried and unsure of how my adult son will be supported when I am no longer able to care for him."leona
"We have been waiting for at least 15 years. We have been told that the waitlists are very long and that the only way to move up on the waitlist is to be in a crisis situation. We desperately want to avoid a crisis situation. This is so unfair to anyone who lives with an intellectual disability. We are not looking for a group home or institution but rather a place where our daughter can live with friends of her choosing—a place she is proud to call her home."james
"I may not live long enough to enjoy any freedom."Nicole
"I want to believe in a world where my daughter is supported, where her disability isn’t a barrier to living a fulfilling life. I want to trust that politicians and decision-makers will see her humanity and act with compassion and urgency. But right now, that world feels far away."Thank you to our campaign strategy group advisors, including: Chair, Executive Directors Coordinating Committee, Community Living Toronto, Karis Disability Services, and People Minded Business.
