2. Employment Services 

In 2019, the Government of Ontario embarked upon the modernization of Employment Ontario, so that job seekers receiving Ontario Works or ODSP could access employment supports through the same program. As part of this transformation, the government created an incentive payment program for social services managers (SSMs) so they receive payment once their service users obtain employment and are working a minimum of 20 hours per week.  

However, for many people with disabilities, including those receiving ODSP, working 20 hours a week is not possible due to a range of factors – for example, restrictions caused by the nature of their disability, or need to gradually enter or re-enter the workforce. This new incentive program has effectively de-incentivized organizations from assisting those with disabilities to seek employment. This structure doesn’t support or recognize the diverse needs and capabilities of Ontarians with disabilities. 

The 20-hour minimum incentive payment threshold, along with additional barriers identified by the Ontario Disability Employment Network has resulted in people with disabilities facing an even harder time getting the employment help they needⁱⁱ. Students are particularly impacted, and support agencies are shutting their employment services programs, or going into deficit.  

There are a multitude of benefits to enabling those who can and wish to work part time.  It can increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities making it easier for them to find and maintain employment. Part-time work increases income, leading financial stability and independence, in addition to gaining experience, improving job prospects, and career advancement opportunities. 

MODC asks that you pledge to: 

3. Expanded Home and Community Care 

Community Support Services 

As one of the province’s largest providers of attendant care services, MODC is asking for your commitment to increase the service volume of home and community care services, invest in the infrastructure of home and community care organizations, and implement wage parity to address staff shortages. This will ensure Ontarians can access the right care, at the right place, at the right time.

The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA)ⁱⁱⁱ has identified that the need for robust home and community care services is growing, driven by an aging population, increasing demand from people with physical disabilities and brain injury for home and community-based support, and caregiver burnout. As the largest transfer payment agency providing Ministry of Health-funded community support services for Ontarians with disabilities, MODC has seen firsthand the impact of inadequate funding for the sector in the forms of system strain and staffing shortages.

MODC asks you to commit to: 

Assisted Living Planning 

Assisted living providers such as MODC are experiencing significant barriers in acting upon opportunities presented by new housing developments with designated affordable and accessible units. Increasingly, we are being approached by developers who have received public funding and/or land for their new build projects to act as the assisted living service provider of choice. However, Ontario Health does not commit funding to projects early enough in the process, leaving service providers with insufficient notice to provide assisted living operations once the building is completed and ready for occupancy, putting an additional strain on health human resources. 

MODC asks you to commit to:  

Assistive Devices Program 

Seniors with disabilities with low incomes are often forced to decide between buying food or being able to shower or toilet independently, safely, and with dignity. Without access to assistive devices, they cannot safely care for themselves. The cost of a new wheelchair can mean not being able to afford to pay rent, which could force people into homelessness. Alternatively, not being able to pay for an assistive device can mean an inability to access basic human needs and worse, can result in being hospitalized or institutionalized. Current supports do not adequately support low-income seniors with disabilities, especially with the rising cost of equipment and the increasing cost of food and shelter in Ontario.

The current Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program provides 100% coverage for ODSP recipients. However, once people turn 65, they are eligible for only 75% for medically necessary assistive devices. The program criteria also narrowly interpret what equipment is considered essential, funds the cost of replacement only every five years, and entirely excludes the cost of repairs. The demand for this program and number of service users over the age of 65 (60% in 2017/18) is expected to continue to grow.^iv 

MODC asks that you to commit to:  

Investing in the Home and Vehicle Modification Program  

MODC’s Home and Vehicle Modification Program (HVMP) embodies the home-first approach and is delivered on behalf of the province of Ontario in partnership with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. HVMP grants enable people to complete basic living tasks such as eating, bathing, toileting, and mobility, allowing them to remain in their homes and age-in-place longer. Three years ago, the government of Ontario increased HVMP funding from $10 million per year to $15 million annually as a result of exceptional program delivery, customer satisfaction, and the value derived from ensuring Ontarians with disabilities of all ages return to or remain in place safely and independently. This reduces unnecessary admissions to long term care, hospitals, and other institutional settings.

To date, over 30,000 Ontarians have received funding to improve the accessibility of their homes and vehicles through the HVMP. HVMP received 3,921 eligible applications and awarded 2,257 grants in 2023-24. A recent survey showed:  

The program has experienced a significant increase in the volume of applications. Every year, the program must turn away eligible Ontarians due to insufficient funding. To fully meet the demand for the period for 2024-2025, the program's annual budget would have had to double to $25 to $30 million.  

MODC asks that you commit to:  

4. Supporting Stroke Survivors 

More than 39,000 people in Ontario experience a stroke each year, with 414,000 people living with the effects of stroke.^v With advancements in medical care, the survival rate for stroke has increased dramatically and it has become one of the leading causes of adult disability in Canada. Stroke impacts every aspect of a person’s life, from physical health to mental health, family life, financial, and social and community participation.^vi Nearly two-thirds of stroke survivors leave hospital with a disability, such as mobility and cognitive disabilities, aphasia and communication disabilities, and/or debilitating fatigue. However, stroke survivors and their families have few options for navigating post-stroke life once they have left hospital.

MODC’s After Stroke program was created in collaboration with stroke experts and people with living experience of stroke to directly fill the gap. Guided by living experience and evidence-based design, After Stroke provides world-class stroke support and is based on Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations. Health navigation system support is delivered by After Stroke Coordinators at a time when the health and rehabilitation systems are new and overwhelming to survivors and their families and caregivers. Our After Stroke Coordinators fill this gap by giving stroke survivors and their families a seamless transition from hospital to home and then reintegration within their community.

After Stroke puts stroke survivors and their families at the centre of care, helping them meet their personal recovery goals and connecting them to community supports. After Stroke offers stroke survivors and their families in-hospital peer connections, coordination and community navigation, personalized planning and goal setting, emotional support, stroke-focused education and training, and individual and group-based peer support. To better meet the identified needs for this population, MODC made the decision to invest in this program in 2019, reviewing and enhancing the suite of services, and relaunching the After Stroke program in regions across Ontario in 2021.

MODC is asking you to pledge to:  

I would appreciate you taking the time to respond regarding your party’s commitment to an Ontario where people with disabilities will thrive, by February 21, 2025. All responses will be publicly shared We look forward to connecting with you and your team in the coming days. 

Yours sincerely,