Mark your calendars – the Ombudsman’s next systemic investigation report will be released August 24. Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé will report on the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ response to adults with developmental disabilities who are in crisis situations.

This investigation stemmed from a surge in complaints to our office – more than 1,400 in all – about urgent, disturbing cases where adults with severe special needs were ending up in jail, homeless shelters and hospitals because no appropriate care or services were available for them. The Ombudsman’s report reflects changes made by government during the course of the investigation, and the Ministry’s response to his findings and recommendations.

ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN CRISIS

Ministry of Community and Social Services

Announced Date: 11-29-2012

Investigation into the province’s services for adults with developmental disabilities who are in crisis situations.
On May 24, 2016, a draft of the Ombudsman’s findings were delivered to the Ministry. The report is expected to be released in August 2016.

You can watch Mr. Dubé’s news conference live via webcast on August 24 at 11 a.m. at www.ombudsman.on.ca.

ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN CRISIS

Ministry of Community and Social Services

Date: 11-29-2012

Investigation into the province’s services for adults with developmental disabilities who are in crisis situations.

Announced November 2012.

On May 24, 2016, a draft of the Ombudsman’s findings were delivered to the Ministry. The report is expected to be released in August 2016.

Excerpts from 2014-2015 Annual Report (July 2015):

Launched in November 2012, this investigation stemmed from a surge in complaints to our Office about urgent, disturbing cases where adults with severe special needs were ending up in jail, homeless shelters and hospitals, because no care or services were available for them. Focused on whether the Ministry is doing enough to assist adults with developmental disabilities who are in crisis situations, this is the Ombudsman’s most complex investigation to date. As of the writing of this report, it has drawn more than 1,300 complaints, and more than 200 interviews have been conducted by SORT investigators.

Given the high volume of complaints, the pressing needs of the families involved and the complicated nature of the problem, we have taken a two-pronged approach to this case: While SORT staff probed the underlying systemic issues, a dedicated team of Investigators and Early Resolution Officers helped – and continues to help – people in crisis resolve their particular situation wherever possible.

Systemic investigation: The field work in this case has been completed and the Ombudsman’s report is being drafted. As is our normal process, the Ministry will be given a chance to respond to the Ombudsman’s findings before he releases them publicly later this year.

As the investigation has progressed, the Ombudsman has monitored government efforts to address problems in this area. Recent developments include:

• February 2014: Minister announces Developmental Services Housing Task Force to look for innovative, cost-effective housing solutions for adults with developmental disabilities.
• April 2014: Government promises to add $810 million over three years to programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities.
• July 2014: Select Committee on Developmental Services, made up of MPPs from all parties, issues 46 recommendations, including the elimination of waiting lists and the co-ordination of services.

Individual cases: We heard from several families this past year who were able to receive increased funding through the “Passport” program, which provides for programming for people with developmental disabilities as well as respite for their caregivers. However, parents continued to come to us in frustration over a lack of home support for their adult children who are living on their own, but still require assistance and care.

Ombudsman staff encountered many Ministry-funded service provider agencies that were uninformed about or unfamiliar with the workings of important government programs that interact with the people they serve. We handled several cases where these agencies communicated inadequate or wrong information to clients about everything from the Ontario Disability Support Program to the criminal justice system. We also noticed that Ministry staff did not closely monitor agencies to ensure they follow its procedures, including those designed to help people in urgent circumstances.

In one case, a young man with a developmental disability had been criminally charged and released on bail on a condition that his father supervise him 24 hours a day. When his father was unexpectedly hospitalized, he was returned to jail. We discovered that the service agency did not understand the man’s bail conditions and did not notify his lawyer that the father was in hospital, putting him at risk of incarceration. Ombudsman staff intervened, and with the assistance of the Ministry, the young man was moved to an appropriate residential living arrangement where he could be supervised full-time.

We continue to receive complaints from families of adults with developmental disabilities who have been placed in hospitals or psychiatric units while they wait for an appropriate residential placement – sometimes for weeks or even years. Many have languished in hospital rooms for long periods with no programming or other supports.

For example, we reviewed one case of a 33-year-old man who lived in a hospital for seven years after being admitted due to aggressive behaviour. He required support in completing self-care tasks but had no medical needs that required him to be hospitalized. We also looked into the case of a 40-year-old man who lived in the psychiatric unit of a hospital for more than five years after he exhibited aggressive behaviour towards his elderly parents.

Our office has worked closely with the Assistant Deputy Minister, Community and Developmental Services, who has been instrumental in finding placements for many of these individuals. To date, 17 people whose cases we brought to the Ministry’s attention have been discharged from hospital to appropriate residential placements.

Individual case summaries 2014-2015
Case update – Annual Report 2013-2014
Individual case summaries 2013-2014
Case update – Annual Report 2012-2013

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On February 20, 2013, Ombudsman André Marin spoke with Charles Adler about his investigation into provincial services for adults with developmental disabilities in crisis. The radio interview played across the country on a number of stations.