Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs
TORONTO, May 3, 2013 /CNW/ - OASIS congratulates Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal Government on recognizing the needs of Ontarians with developmental disabilities and their families.
Families are in crisis. The level of unmet need for community supports and services for Ontarians with a developmental disability and their families has never been as high as today. The budget, if approved, takes a positive step by providing an additional $42 million annually to reduce waiting lists and provide better supports for those with complex needs.
OASIS supports the transformation of social assistance in Ontario. The proposed changes will assist in addressing the poverty of individuals living on ODSP. For recipients who are employed the proposed budget would have an immediate positive impact on their monthly income, by allowing them to keep the first $200 of employment earnings before they face a reduction of their ODSP benefit.
OASIS is also encouraged that the Government of Ontario has asked the Law Commission of Ontario to undertake a broad based consultation and review the legal capacity, decision making and guardianship laws in Ontario.
"Hundreds of families who are facing extremely challenging circumstances will be greatly relieved by the services that the $42 million investment will provide. Yet, thousands more remain on waiting lists in communities all across the province," said OASIS President Jane Joris. "There is still work to be done to address the operating pressures faced by transfer payment agencies that have not had any funding increases in the last four years in the face of rising costs," Joris continued. "We recognize the difficult choices the Government of Ontario is faced with in this economic effort."
OASIS will continue to work with the Government to ensure the maintenance of a strong, responsive and stable non-profit transfer payment agency system both as the Province's primary service delivery mechanism and as the backstop for the initiation of funding directly to individuals and families under the transformed Developmental Services sector.
SOURCE: Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs (OASIS)
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about OASIS member agencies, please visit the OASIS website at www.oasisonline.ca or contact OASIS President, Jane Joris at [email protected].
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