If the complaint involves physical, sexual or financial abuse the police should be
contacted. If discrimination is involved it may also be possible to file a human rights
application.^44
Agencies such as ARCH Disability Law Centre^45 or the Centre for Independent Living
in Toronto (CILT)^46 can offer general advice and guidance to assist consumers filing a
complaint.
B. Options if Complaint Does Not Resolve MatterIf a dispute is not resolved through the complaints process a person must pursue other
avenues to resolve the matter. As a lawyer you have three basic alternatives to deal
with disputes related to the provision of attendant services: negotiation, mediation or
litigation.
- Negotiation
In many cases it will be possible to contact the relevant CCAC or agency and speak to a
case manager about the problems listed by the client. Usually, this will provide a lawyer
with a fuller understanding of the situation, a better idea of any challenges the service
provider faces and, in many cases, greater insight into problems in the relationship
between the client and the service provider.
In some cases, a case manager may be willing to work co-operatively with a client’s
lawyer to develop creative solutions to a problem. At the very least a conversation with
(^44) Human Rights Legal Support Centre (telephone: (416) 314-6266; toll-free: 1-866-625-5179; TTY: 1-
866-612-8627; online: <www.hrlsc.on.ca>; or ARCH Disability Law Centre (telephone: (416) 482-2855;
toll free 1-866-482-2724; TTY (416) 482-1254; Toll-free TTY: 1-866-482-2728; online:
< 45 http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca>.
ARCH Disability Law Centre (telephone: (416) 482-2855; toll free 1-866-482-2724; TTY (416) 482-
1254; Toll 46 -free TTY: 1-866-482-2728; online: <www.archdisabilitylaw.ca>.
Centre for Independent Living (Toronto)(CILT) (telephone: (416) 599-2458; TTY: (416) 599-5077;
Direct Funding Hotline: 1-800-354-9959; online: <www.cilt.ca>.