Ombudsman: Systemic changes needed in developmental services
August 24, 2016
Ontario’s Ombudsman has called for significant changes to the province’s “fragmented and overly complicated” developmental services system following an investigation lasting almost four years.
In his long-awaited report released Aug. 24, Paul Dub says Ontario’s failure to help desperate families who are unable to care for loved ones with developmental disabilities has left vulnerable people in dire and often dangerous circumstances.
His report, called Nowhere To Turn, is based on more than 1,400 complaints from families and includes 60 recommendations. Among them is a call for the Ministry of Community and Social Services to intervene in crisis cases and ensure adults with developmental disabilities are not returned to abusive situations or housed in hospitals, nursing homes or other inappropriate places.
Adults with developmental disabilities, their families and those in the field have eagerly awaited the Ombudsman’s findings, in hopes that his report will put public pressure on government to provide the money, training and services that have not kept up with demand.
Family Service Toronto is one of several agencies delivering the province’s Passport Program which helps adults with a developmental disability to participate in their communities and helps caregivers take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.
For the full report, backgrounders and video, go to www.ombudsman.on.ca.