community based residential care; and the development of policies to allow for
the integration of employment supports for work in the community^21.
F. Developmental Services Act^22 (now repealed)In 1974, the Ontario government passed the Developmental Services Act, which
transferred the responsibility for funding for care and services for people who had
been labelled with intellectual disabilities from the Ministry of Health to the
Ministry of Community and Social Services. Under this Act, the Ministry provided
funding for programs and services such as group homes, sheltered workplaces,
day programs and life skills training for people who had been labelled with
intellectual disabilities and their families. Funding was also provided to families
and caregivers who were supporting children and adults with intellectual
disabilities in their home.
Despite the fact that the move in Ontario was towards de-institutionalization, the
types of supports and programs funded under the Developmental Services Act
did not promote inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in their
community. The programs that were funded continued to segregate people who
had been labelled with an intellectual disability. All programs were specific to
people who had been labelled with intellectual disabilities and meant that they
most often lived, worked, socialized and were educated in isolation from other
people who had been labelled with intellectual disabilities.
G. Adult Protection ServicesAnother program that was put in place in the 1970s was Adult Protection Service
Workers (APSW). It was recognized that in the move to encourage
(^21) Supra note 16.
(^22) Online: Ministry of Community and Social Services, “History of Developmental Services”
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/dshistory/legislation/1980s.aspx