More support needed for developmental disabilities in Sudbury-Manitoulin, agencies say

Northern Ontario groups calling for additional support for people with developmental disabilities. Amanda Hicks reports.

With the provincial election just around the corner, agencies across Greater Sudbury and Manitoulin Island are calling on candidates to include additional support for developmental disabilities as part of their platforms.

The group is called the Sudbury And Manitoulin District Local Service System Planning Table, funded by the Ministry Of Children, Community and Social Services.

This table is comprised of representatives from Community Living Manitoulin, Community Living Wikwemikong, Community Living Espanola, Community Living Greater Sudbury, L’Arche Sudbury, Karis Sudbury, Sudbury Developmental Services and the Sudbury Community Service Centre.

Kevin Cooper is the executive director of the Sudbury Community Service Centre, a not-for-profit which supports individuals with developmental disabilities.

“In the (northeast) region, we have about 1,500 people that are waiting for services,” Cooper said.

“That’s either a day support or a residential support. I think in Sudbury, we have approximately 250 individuals that are waiting for supports. So, and that number is growing. Across the province, we have 52,000 people that are waiting for services.”

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He added, currently, one in three individuals with a developmental disability in Ontario can access publicly-funded programs.

Francine Beauchamp and her sister, Joanne, have been on a waitlist for residential support for six years.

Both live with developmental disabilities and support each other where possible.

Due to limited funding, a support worker can only come in once a week.

“It’s frustrating,” said Francine.

“I do most of the things for her. She tries. She needs a lot of help, but I don’t mind.”

Their mother, Claudette, said Joanne would benefit from living in a group home environment. She said it’s frustrating to see her daughters not get the support they need.

“It’s heartbreaking actually. You know, because they have special needs and they need special things,” she said.

“Funding is what we need.”

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Cooper said since 1993, the Ontario government has increased core funding to support agencies by less than seven per cent, while the cost of living has soared by more than 60 per cent over that same time.

“We’re hoping that we can actually continue dialog with the government,” he said.

“To develop some strategies to deal with some of these waitlists, because there’s too many people right now that just have no other options available to them. So, we’re hoping that, we can create some more spaces somehow. We’re hoping that maybe funding will increase.”