14,000 Children and Adults with Disabilities Receiving Support Sooner

Ontario Eliminates 2014 Direct Funding Waitlist for Special Services at Home Program

Eight thousand children with physical and/or developmental disabilities are now receiving direct funding sooner from Ontario’s Special Services at Home program, which helps kids learn new skills and abilities and provides support for family caregivers. The government has eliminated the 2014 waitlist for the program in just eight months, far ahead of the commitment of two years in the 2014 Budget.

In addition, 6,000 adults are now receiving new Passport funding, a program that helps people 18 years or older with a developmental disability participate in their communities and live more independently.

This support is part of the government’s commitment to invest $810 million in community and developmental services over three years. The investment has also:

• Provided new residential supports for 525 adults with developmental disabilities
• Supported 38 new projects that will promote employment and help modernize  services for people with developmental disabilities
• Committed $180 million to support low-wage, frontline workers in the developmental services sector over three years
• Launched the first call for proposals to develop new housing options for adults with developmental disabilities.

Helping people with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible is part of Ontario’s plan to give everyone a chance to participate in the province’s economy and communities. It is also part of the government’s four-part plan to build Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure retirement savings plan.