Community Living Ontario

Select Committee needs to get to work

On May 16, the Ontario Legislature adopted a resolution calling for the creation of a select committee to look into issues facing individuals who have an intellectual disability and their families and to make recommendations regarding future reform of supports and services.  All three parties demonstrate a spirit of cooperation and supported this resolution.  

Community Living urges all three parties to cooperate and get the Select Committee up and running to start working.  Read more

Community Living Day at Queen’s Park 

Community and Social Services Minister Ted McMeekin and participants of the day (photo credit Louis Thomas)

Members of Community Living visited Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto yesterday to recognize what they have achieved in partnership with members of the provincial parliament and look ahead to the work they need to continue doing together. 

A joint annual project of Community Living Ontario and Community Living Toronto, the day is a means to promote public awareness—especially among government representatives—of the issues faced by people who have an intellectual disability, along with their families and those served by Community Living associations. Read more

Ontario Budget begins to tackle huge crisis for families in Ontario

The Ontario Budget included $42 million per year for support to people who have an intellectual disability. New funds will be invested to help families and adults in urgent need, reduce waitlist pressures and better support those with complex needs.

Many families who are facing crisis will benefit from these new funds but unfortunately, it will not stretch nearly far enough to prevent many more exhausted parents reaching the crises point Amanda Telford reached earlier this week. Amanda dropped her son off at an Ontario government office Tuesday morning because she and her husband could not care for him any longer. Read more

New CEO comments on CBC coverage of desperate family driven to give up trying to care for their son

I am the incoming CEO of Community Living Ontario, a provincial association that advocates on behalf of over 100 developmental service agencies, the individuals they serve and their families.

I am also the father of an 18 year old son with a developmental disability. I have 15 years of advocacy, volunteer and board governance experience, and as a parent, I'm scared. Your story on Amanda Telford and the situation with her son is the proverbial canary in the coal mine. It's a story that's becoming all too familiar, with aging parents, endless waiting lists and support services that are over-capacity. Read more

Click here to read about the family who dropped off their son who has autism at a government office. To watch the CBC video, click here.

Chris Beesley joins Community Living Ontario as new Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Community Living Ontario is pleased to announce that Christopher Beesley will be the new Chief Executive Officer for Community Living Ontario effective June 3, 2013.

A thorough search has been completed for a Chief Executive Officer with the right qualities to lead Community Living Ontario through a transition to an advocacy organization. Read more

Ontario Community Living associations celebrate Community Living Month

Many Community Living associations are enthusiastically organizing activities to mark the month of May, celebrated as Community Living Month across Ontario.

The month is a time when Ontarians celebrate the accomplishments of people who have an intellectual disability and recognize the work of individuals, families and partners dedicated to building an inclusive community. Read More

Governor General visits Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley for National Volunteer Week

Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley welcomed the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, on April 23 in celebration of National Volunteer Week.

Melissa Hoffman, a self-advocate, warmly greeted His Excellency as he entered the building. Read more

Sentence needs to be strong deterrent in manslaughter of Jamie Hawley

Community Living Ontario, representing over a hundred local associations across the province and 12,000 individuals and families of people who have intellectual disabilities, awaits the sentencing of Jerry Hawley after his manslaughter conviction today by an Ontario jury.

“We now await a sentence that will be a strong deterrent as well as a strong message that society finds such crimes particularly abhorrent. Vulnerable people who have disabilities need the protection of the law to ensure that they are equally valued” says Deborah Rollier, President of Community Living Ontario. “Abhorrent crimes such as that suffered by Jamie at the hands of his brother must be dealt with in no uncertain terms – it must deter such crimes,” she says. Read more

Orville Endicott receives Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal

Community Living Ontario’s Orville Endicott was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Feb. 6 at a gala celebration at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. 

Lt.-Gov. David Onley presented the much-deserved medal to him in recognition for his tremendous contribution to the work of Community Living. Read more

Community Living Ontario met with Ombudsman's office

Community Living Ontario, speaking on behalf of people who have an intellectual disability and their families and Community Living associations across Ontario, welcomes the investigation into Ontario’s services for adults with developmental disabilities in crisis.  We had a lengthy meeting with the Ombudsman's office regarding this investigation on January 10th and had an opportunity for a significant discussion of the issues.

We encourage anyone who has information relevant to the investigation to contact the Ombudsman at 1-800-263-1830, or file an online complaint form at www.ombudsman.on.ca/Make-a-Complaint.aspx or email info [at] ombudsman [dot] on [dot] ca
Click here to read our letter

Jobs for people who have disabilities

Community Living Ontario welcomes the report “Rethinking Disability in the Private Sector” released Wednesday, January 16th by the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

This report makes a good case for rethinking disability in the private sector. It is valuable information for businesses and makes the case that hiring people who have disabilities makes good business sense. It is also a helpful tool for employers on how to go about hiring people who have disabilities. Read More