Despite Best Intentions People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Supports Continue to Pay the Price and Get Left Behind

WHITBY, ON, April 5, 2018 /CNW/ - Join developmental services workers in raising our unified concerns across the province, pressuring the provincial government to address the inadequate funding and precarious working conditions that put the entire system at risk.

Ontario Government's Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, may divert crucial financial resources away from direct service provision for people with developmental disabilities.

Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS) supports the objectives that the Government identified in undertaking the Changing Workplaces Review and that underlie Bill 148, however, the increased costs associated cannot be passed on to Ontario's vulnerable citizens with disabilities.

For individuals employed in the sector, they may experience a loss in jobs and/or a reduction in hours of work.  For the individuals supported by the developmental services sector, they may experience a decline of the support available, and correspondingly, an impact on their standard of living.   

Although the Government of Ontario took an important step with the announcements and commitments made in this Budget for Ontario's Developmental Services, we are making a united appeal to the Ontario Government to provide funding to transfer payment agencies that covers the full impacts of Bill 148 to avoid reductions and provide flexibility to respond to Ontario's most vulnerable people.

OASIS applauds the government for providing an additional $1.8 Billion over the next three years to expand and sustain services for individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and community-based agencies.

We look forward to continuing to work with the government to address the ongoing needs of the Developmental Services Sector and encourage all MPPs and all parties to maintain their commitment to the important needs of our communities.

About OASIS
OASIS is a volunteer-run, member-driven organization.  Its member agencies serve over 65,000 of Ontario's most vulnerable citizens and employ 25,000 full and part-time staff.  Its 195 member agencies currently provide more than 85% of all developmental services funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

SOURCE OASIS - Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs

Media contact: N. Ann Kenney, President, OASIS, Email: [email protected]