Applicable to: Application Entities
Legislative Authority for Policy Directive: Section 7(2) 2ii
Function of the Application entity under the Act: Section 17 (1) (a)
Effective Date: October 1, 2020

Purpose

Application Entities shall use a ministry-mandated, provincially-consistent assessment process to:

  • Support the quality and responsiveness of ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports: Using the mandated ministry Application Package, to collect information on the support needs, priorities and circumstances of eligible applicants, will facilitate more accurate assessments and inform the development of individual support plans directed by the needs of eligible applicants
  • Reduce the burden on persons with developmental disabilities and families: Having a standardized, valid and provincially-consistent assessment process for all ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports will mean that applicants will not have to repeat their personal history when they apply for developmental services and support
  • Improve system fairness and sustainability: Adopting a provincially-consistent approach to needs assessment will support equitable service decisions so that persons with developmental disabilities with similar support needs and in similar circumstances will receive similar adult developmental services and supports, no matter where they live in the province
  • Support better planning: Using a provincially-consistent approach to collect Application Package information on the support needs, priorities and circumstances of persons with developmental disabilities will provide valid and reliable information to inform individual service and support planning. This approach will also provide a basis for the ministry to conduct accurate analyses of collected data, to be used for planning at the community and provincial levels (See Policy Directive 8 – Ministry Reporting and Data Collection).

Policy

Application Entities shall use a provincially-consistent mandated ministry process to assess the support needs of applicants eligible for ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports to be provided in accordance with the act.

Directive

The application entity shall use the ministry mandated Application Package, consisting of the Application for Developmental Services and Supports (ADSS) and the Supports Intensity Scale - Adult Version™ (SIS-ATM), as the provincially-consistent tool to assess the support needs of applicants eligible for ministry-funded adult developmental services and supports in accordance with the act.