Developmental Services Committee receives all-Party support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2013
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett wrapped up a week focused on disability issues with a unanimous show of support for caucus colleague Christine Elliott’s call for a Select Committee on Developmental Services.
As Opposition Critic for Social Services Toby Barrett spoke in support of Elliott’s resolution that – after receiving all-Party support – will establish a Select Committee to develop a comprehensive developmental services strategy for individuals with an intellectual disability or who are dually diagnosed with an intellectual disability and a mental illness.
“Beyond the co-morbidity, the dual diagnosis, of intellectual disability and mental illness, as we see in this motion, we are seeing the advent of a public health epidemic, if you will: young people with severe physical, mental and developmental disabilities now entering adulthood,” stated Barrett. “We must find a path, we must show the way—a committee can show the way—for this cadre of young people.”
Amid two recent cases in Ontario that saw parents drop off their adult children at a government office out of desperation, the need for a comprehensive strategy has never been higher.
“I do meet with families. A family in my riding, the Callaghans, one of many families in desperate need of assistance for loved ones who are severely disabled—the Callaghans’ 20-year-old daughter Anna is in the Speaker’s gallery,” Barrett explained. “The Callaghan family tell me of the extreme difficulty they and countless other families have in planning for physically and mentally disabled loved ones, in particular as they exit the school system.
“My question, Speaker: How can families like the Callaghans appropriately care for their loved ones when government is not in a position or refuses to properly address this issue? Hence our call for a more routinized structure—a select committee—to look at this. They need somewhere to turn. It’s time this government offered that place to turn.”
The Committee will focus on the needs of children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability, and coordinate the delivery of developmental programs and services across provincial ministries, taking into consideration educational needs, workplace opportunities, housing needs and social, recreational and inclusionary opportunities.
“Today’s motion will help to address this growing crisis. It will provide assistance to families like the Callaghans—assistance for Anna—and countless families like theirs across the province, and provide the support they require and most surely deserve in our very rich province of Ontario,” concluded Barrett.
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For more information contact Toby Barrett 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO HANSARD
Thursday 16 May 2013
PRIVATE MEMBERS’ PUBLIC BUSINESS
SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
Mr. Toby Barrett: The Callaghans are here today for this debate: Dave, Tim, Kim; I see Leo and Kathy and, of course, Anna, who was mentioned during question period today. With this resolution from the member for Whitby, Christine Elliott, we do have an opportunity now to refocus, to set priorities, to wake up Ontario’s social system through approaches and programs laden with fresh, cost-effective ideas to address the complex problems we’re hearing about today. We can address these problems through flexibility and choice. There are many things that need to be done differently, and there are a great number of things that can be done better; of course they can be done more efficiently, but most importantly, they have to be done effectively. I continue to advocate that it’s those on the front lines and clients themselves who should continue to be invited to tell us what needs to be done before a committee, as proposed this afternoon, on how our system can work smarter and more productively. To that end, I note Community Living Ontario’s proposal for a person-centred plan for parents over 65 supporting developmentally disabled sons and daughters, and funding supports when the parent is no longer able to provide care. The vision remains an effective, affordable, accountable system that supports and invests in families and in their communities, where adults are as independent as they can be. Support is provided to people most in need, as we just heard. There’s $10 billion in the social services budget. There’s obviously the opportunity and the clear responsibility to better serve those who are disabled and those who are truly disadvantaged. That’s the point of this motion as I see it, Speaker. More and more, we’re hearing stories of parents, often in their 60s or 70s or 80s, who are desperate for help for their loved ones. They’re terrified about what will happen to their child when they are gone. They’re concerned that there are no appropriate housing options available for their children, little chance of employment and no opportunities to have a life like everyone else. 1530 Beyond the co-morbidity, the dual diagnosis, of intellectual disability and mental illness, as we see in this motion, we are seeing the advent of a public health epidemic, if you will: young people with severe physical, mental and developmental disabilities now entering adulthood. We must find a path, we must show the way—a committee can show the way—for this cadre of young people. They’re no longer part of the school system and now require that additional family support, respite programs, home care services and perhaps residential programs. There is a gap in communities. For example, Community Living Ontario is not capable, in many cases, of adequately dealing with individuals previously in institutional centres. I do meet with families. A family in my riding, the Callaghans, one of many families in desperate need of assistance for loved ones who are severely disabled—the Callaghans’ 20-year-old daughter Anna is in the Speaker’s gallery. The Callaghan family tell me of the extreme difficulty they and countless other families have in planning for physically and mentally disabled loved ones, in particular as they exit the school system. My question, Speaker: How can families like the Callaghans appropriately care for their loved ones when government is not in a position or refuses to properly address this issue? Hence our call for a more routinized structure—a select committee—to look at this. They need somewhere to turn. It’s time this government offered that place to turn. Today’s motion will help to address this growing crisis. It will provide assistance to families like the Callaghans—assistance for Anna—and countless families like theirs across the province, and provide the support they require and most surely deserve in our very rich province of Ontario. As such, I call on all members of all parties to support the motion.