Backgrounder on Proposed Funding to Eliminate Waitlists

Source: Ontario Ministry of Finance

Helping Thousands of People with Developmental Disabilities

Through a proposed $810 million investment over three years, the Ontario government would build on the funding announced in the 2013 Budget and continue the transformation of developmental services so that people with developmental disabilities can live as independently as possible in communities across the province.

1.               Eliminating waitlists for direct funding programs
Passport helps adults with a developmental disability to develop work, volunteer and daily life skills and participate better in their communities. It also provides respite for caregivers. Approximately 9,000 adults are waiting for direct funding through Passport. The government's investment would serve those currently on the waitlist and the 4,000 more expected to apply for Passport over the next four years.

In addition, the proposed investment would also serve the approximately 8,000 children currently waiting for Special Services at Home.  Special Services at Home helps families pay for services in or outside the family home for children with a physical or developmental disability. 

2.               Supporting important life transitions
Planning properly for important life transitions - leaving school, moving out of the family home or getting a job - is critical for all Ontarians. The government's proposed investment would help more than 4,200 adults with a developmental disability and their families find the supports they need to navigate these changes and build a life in their community.

3.               Better residential supports
Ontario's investment plan would provide residential care for more than 1,400 adults who are on waitlists or in children's group homes.

4.               Promoting innovation and community partnerships
Ontario's investment would increase support for innovative community partnerships that provide greater community inclusion. It would:

• Expand the Host Family program. This program matches an adult with a developmental disability with a family that wants to share its home. By expanding this program more adults with a developmental disabiltity would be given a safe and secure place to live in a family setting.


• Expand the Supported Independent Living program to enable more adults to live in their own accommodation with some onsite support.


• Provide support for employment opportunities such as pre-employment training and employer awareness as young adults leave school and look to enter the job market.           


• Promote and support innovative partnerships that lead to shared community living solutions and cost efficiencies that help address growing service needs.

5.               Supporting front-line workers providing community services
People with developmental disabilities rely upon the hundreds of agencies across Ontario for a wide array of safe, high-quality services. Nearly 80 per cent of the funds invested in community agencies support salaries for more than 30,000 workers in the developmental services sector in Ontario. Many front-line workers are part-time and lower paid.

Ontario's investment strategy would help agencies continue to provide high-quality services and keep qualified staff, which means better support for the people they serve.