Component: Adults' DS Community Support Services

Legislation: Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008 (SIPDDA). Ministry of Community and Social Services Act (MCSSA)

Service objectives

To provide professional, specialized community-based supports and services for people with developmental disabilities. To support the development of a personal Individual Support Plan (ISP) based on the principles of self-determination, social inclusion, citizenship, and choice, and/or a behaviour support plan, based on requirements outlined in Ontario Regulation 299/10 and the Policy Directives for Service Agencies, and to provide services that are reflective of this/these plan(s).

Service description

People served

For professional, specialized community-based supports and services

Persons with developmental disabilities, as defined by the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008, who reside in Ontario, are at least 18 years of age, who may have a co-existing mental illness or behavioural challenges (dual diagnosis) and for their primary caregivers.

For psychological assessment services provided to persons who require eligibility confirmation for adult developmental services.

Persons who require eligibility confirmation for adult developmental services because they have not been determined to have a developmental disability or their supporting documentation (e.g., psychological assessment report) does not include a diagnosis of a developmental disability. This service falls under the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) Act.

Individual support plan (ISP)

For professional, specialized community-based supports and services only.

Each individual will have an ISP that is based on the assessed needs and preferences of the individual. The plan will identify the specific services/supports received by the individual, the expected outcomes and should be based on the principles of self- determination, social inclusion, citizenship, choice, and other requirements outlined in Section 5 of O. Reg. 299/10.

Program/service features

Services and supports provided to persons who require eligibility confirmation for adult developmental services

  • Psychological assessment, by a psychologist or psychological associate, for individuals who are seeking to confirm eligibility for ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports

Services and supports provided to adults with developmental disabilities include

  • Psychological and/or professional specialized assessment for individuals confirmed eligible
  • Development of clinical behavioural treatment plans to address needs in adaptive functioning (e.g., communication needs, co-existing mental health issues or behavioural challenges) and for use in daily settings
  • Behaviour support plans prepared and/or approved by a registered psychologist, psychological associate, or other clinicians with experience in behaviour intervention (as outlined in Ontario Regulation 299/10 and the Policy Directives for Service Agencies)
  • Psychological, psychiatric, and/or behavioural interventions
  • Crisis stabilization
  • Speech therapy
  • Language and communication skills training, behavioural assessment, and intervention; and
  • Assessment of needs in adaptive functioning

Services and supports provided to individuals with developmental disabilities or families/primary caregivers

  • Handling speech and language problems
  • Counselling and teaching

Delivery method

  • Services may be provided in person, or by other means (e.g., phone, e-mail, mail, and videoconference)
  • Services provided are aligned with the ministry's policy directives, safety and security guidelines and expectations
  • Services may be provided to individuals residing at home; in a developmental service supported group living residence; developmental service supported independent living; host family residence; developmental service specialized accommodation or developmental service intensive support residence
  • Services are provided by regulated health professionals when appropriate (e.g., psychologist) or by staff who have the required training/experience in specialized/clinical services (e.g., behavioral therapist)
  • Psychological assessment for eligibility confirmation for adult developmental services must be completed by a psychologist or psychological associate only (see application entity policy directives for more information)

Services will be

  • Designed to address the needs of the individual and their family
  • Respectful of the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of families and communities
  • Staffed by individuals with the appropriate training and range of skills necessary to respond effectively to the needs of individuals and their families
  • Based on the individual's assessed needs, preferences and available individual, agency, community, and contracted ministry resources
  • Obtained through the application for developmental services and supports process, which identifies individuals' support needs and priority access to service through a process that is objective, equitable and transparent

Program goals

To provide professional, specialized community-based supports and services to adults with a developmental disability that promotes social inclusion, individual choice, independence, and rights.

Ministry expectations

  • Service agencies will inform the appropriate Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) office of resources and/or vacancy declaration as it becomes available; and maintain up to date agency information including, agency amalgamations/closures/name changes; service location changes or additions, services delivered at specific locations
  • Service agencies will comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, policy directives, program guidelines, funding agreement(s), accountability and reporting requirements; service agencies must continue to report to the DSOs and the Ministry regarding the status and/or any changes in circumstances or service terminations relevant to all placements of adults with developmental disabilities served by the service agencies matched and linked by the regional DSO
  • The service agency is responsible for utilizing the information technology specified by the Ministry for the collection and maintenance of information, maintaining the security, integrity, consistency, and validity of the information collected and maintained; and ensuring that data is accurate and kept up to date

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.

Service data name Definition

# of Individuals Served: Specialized: Speech Therapy

The unique/unduplicated subset of "Specialized: Individuals Served (Total)" who received this type of Specialized service.

# of Individuals Served: Specialized: Non- Eligibility Psych Assessment or Counselling

The unique/unduplicated subset of "Specialized: Individuals Served (Total)" who received this type of Specialized service.

# of Individuals Served: Specialized: Eligibility Psych Review

The unique subset of "Specialized: Individuals Served (Total)" who received this type of Specialized service.

# of Individuals Served: Specialized: Eligibility Psych Assessment

The unique/unduplicated subset of "Specialized: Individuals Served (Total)" who received this type of Specialized service.

# of Individuals Served: Specialized: Behavioural Supports

The unique/unduplicated subset of "Specialized: Individuals Served (Total)" who received this type of Specialized service.

# of Individuals Served: Specialized (any service)

The unique/unduplicated number of individuals that received this type of service in any language in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should be counted only once if they received more than one type of this service, or if they exited and re-entered service during the year.

# of Assessments Completed: Specialized: Eligibility Psych Assessment

Total # of psychological assessments completed for the purposes of determining eligibility for DS in the reporting year (cumulative).

# of Reviews Completed: Specialized: Eligibility Psych Review

Total number of psychological reviews completed for the purposes of determining eligibility for DS in the reporting year (cumulative).

Specialized: Speech Therapy: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures

The breakdown of specific needs of the children and youth profiled at ARE events during the reporting period.

Specialized: Non- Eligibility Psych Assessment or Counselling: Ministry-funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).

Specialized: Eligibility Psych Review: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).

Specialized: Eligibility Psych Assessment: Ministry-funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).

Specialized: Behavioural Supports: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative).

# of Sessions Completed: Specialized: Non- Eligibility Psych Assessment or Counselling

Total number of psychological assessment or counselling sessions completed for purposes other than determining eligibility for DS in the reporting year (cumulative).