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53,000 Ontarians on Waitlist for Disability Services
In Ontario, to access services funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), you need to apply through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO). DSO holds waitlists for all government-funded services, like supportive housing and supports that help people safely engage and contribute to their community (also known as: community participation supports).
More than 53,000 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario are on DSO waitlists for these important and life-improving services. This number has been steadily growing over the past several years as the cost of living increases and government funding for these services remains the same. As a result, people’s services are not seeing improvements, and tens of thousands of people are left waiting with no services available to them.
#WaitingToBelong was launched by Community Living Ontario and OASIS to highlight the struggles and barriers faced by people on the waitlist, their families, and caregivers.
Of the 53,000 people waiting for services:
More than 28,000 people are waiting for housing-related support, like supported independent living or living with housemates.
More than 42,000 people are waiting for community participation supports, like help finding a job or volunteer placement, recreation and leisure, and classes and courses.
More than 30,000 people are waiting to receive all their Passport dollars. Passport is a form self-directed funding that is provided by MCCSS and can be used for community participation supports and other services.
You can help bring more attention to these important issues! Help advocate for the tens of thousands of Ontarians waiting for supports and services by adding your name to the petition below.
When people have access to the essential services they need, their quality of life is higher. Everybody deserves a safe home, a meaningful life, and a place to belong.
The recent Ontario Ombudsman report found that some people with disabilities – especially people with complex needs – were living in hospitals for years, sometimes while being physically restrained to beds for up to 20 hours a day. With a waitlist so long and with service organizations operating beyond capacity, people who should be living in neighbourhoods are trapped in situations where they cannot thrive.
Karis strongly believes and works toward a future where people with disabilities self-direct their services and belong to communities in which their God-given gifts are valued and celebrated. You can advocate with Karis by speaking with community members and people who work in the government.
Families tell us that a fully funded Ontario Passport program will help people self-direct services they choose, like employment supports, hiring support workers, or joining Community Participation Supports. These supports help caregivers, too, as many people can’t join the workforce when they don’t have services for their loved ones.
Karis continues to work collaboratively with churches, other service organizations, communities, and our government partners to help people on the waitlist.
Thank you for spreading awareness and for signing the petition to take urgent action. Together, we can advocate for the 53,000 adults waiting to belong.