TRANSITION IN THE COMMUNITY

This section outlines transition planning in the community system
through a discussion of the following:

• Adult system reality – this is not an entitlement system and you
  need to be prepared;
• A description of accessing adult services in Dufferin and Wellington
  Counties and the Regions of Halton Peel and Waterloo

The service system is complex, there are many people accessing the services
available and many waiting for supports. The transition to adult life may
be a confusing time. Your child will likely have to leave behind some of
the supports, if not all, they have become familiar with as an adolescent.
You may need to develop a whole new set of activities, supports and
services that are consistent with your child’s preferences and interests as
they begin their life as an adult. There may be some services that will
continue to the age of 18 and even beyond (e.g. Special Services at Home)
and some that will not continue (i.e. Assistance for Children with Severe
Disabilities). There are different supports and services available to a person
over the age of 18 - such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

You need to become knowledgeable about services for adults and how
your child will fit into the system. This is a time for asking questions.
Be sure you know what is going to happen to services and supports your
family is currently receiving and what new services you may be eligible for as
your child becomes an adult. Use this information as you begin your transition
planning process.

As you make your plans for the future it is important
to remember your child is entitled to service through
the publicly funded education system. Adult services
are not based on a system of entitlement. Both the
increased demand for service and government policies have required
agencies to look at serving those persons in their community who are
“most in need”. Practically this means that while your son or daughter
might be eligible for service in the adult system, they may be on a waiting
list for some time. Being prepared is key to a successful transition,
but it is not a guarantee of receiving the supports and services that you
might expect from the system.

The following information explains the access process for each of the
communities in Central West Region.

Access in Dufferin County

There are currently three access agencies in Dufferin County serving
people with a developmental disability: Community Living Dufferin,
Dufferin Child and Family Services and Kerry’s Place Autism Services.

Each of these three agencies will help persons with a developmental
disability and their family in the following way:

• provide comprehensive information about services and the system;
• determine eligibility for service;
• document the initial referral information including the types of service
  and supports that are being requested; and
• provide support to the individual and/or family.
  

Each agency has their own range of services and supports. Dufferin Child
and Family Services provides a variety of services and supports to infants,
children and adults. Their services specifically for people with a developmental
disability include the Early Childhood Development Program, the
Community Resource Program, Respite Services, the Complex Special
Needs Support Program and the Special Services at Home Program. In
addition they provide a variety of outreach, group work and educational
forums. Community Living Dufferin provides a Community Outreach
and After School Activity Program, Employment Programs, a Learning &
Leisure Program and a Behaviour Therapy Program. It also provides and
supports community living arrangements and housing for adults who
have a developmental disability. Kerry’s Place Autism Services provides
resource information for parents, respite, residential and day program
supports as well as leisure and recreational activities.

If you know the agency and service you want then contact them directly.
If you are unsure about what services and supports you want then you
can call any of these three agencies and they will take your information
and make the link to the appropriate lead agency.

Again, the following agencies participate in this access process:

Dufferin Community Living
Kerry’s Place Autism Services
Dufferin Child and Family Services

Access in Halton Region

Halton Coordinated Services Intake was developed to provide an intake
mechanism for families and/or individuals who are seeking services in
the developmental services sector in Halton. One call to Halton Support
Services provides you with an entry point to any of the participating
developmental services agencies within Halton. However this does not
mean that services will necessarily be available to meet the needs of
families and/or individuals.

Once a call has been made to Halton Support Services (call HSS at
905-849-8000 or 1-800-600-2013) the family, individual or caregiver will
be connected with the Coordinated Intake Worker who will:

• take the initial referral information including the types of service(s)
  that are being requested;
• begin to make an initial determination of the urgency of needs and
  preferences; and
• help the family, individual or caregiver in understanding and matching
  them with services which might best meet the individual’s or family’s needs.
  

After this call the family/individual will be sent an Application Information
Form to complete along with a request for medical documentation
regarding the individual’s disability. When HSS receives this information
eligibility for service will be determined and an Intake Worker will arrange
for an information session for the individual and family. This session will
provide information on the developmental services sector and other
supports in Halton and help the family/individual identify their needs.

If the request for support involves residential, day program or passages
services, the completed application information forms will be reviewed
by the Halton Coordinated Services Intake Committee (HCSIC) which is
responsible for the residential selection process in Halton and for managing
the list of individuals waiting for service. You need to keep in touch with
Halton Support Services if there are any changes in your circumstances
that may have an impact on the referral for service.

The service providers participating in this access process are:

• Community Living Burlington
• Community Living Oakville
• Christian Horizons Developmental
• Foster Care Service
• Community Living North Halton
• Halton Support Services

Access in Peel Region

There are several agencies in Peel Region serving people with a developmental
disability that have organized themselves to make access to the
adult service system (non-residential) easier for families. A family may
call any one of the agencies that participate in the coordinated access and
each agency will be able to do the following:

• document the initial referral information including the types of
  services and supports that are being requested;
• provide information about services and the system; and
• provide direction on residential services.

If the first agency you contact is not the most appropriate to respond to your
needs, they will assist you to connect with the more appropriate agency.

If you are interested in residential services for people with developmental
disabilities, you may call any of the six agencies (noted below as residential)
that provide this service. The agency you contact will assist you in
completing a consumer request profile and then the profile is added
to the waiting list for residential services. When a vacancy becomes
available, an inter-agency committee of service providers reviews the
waiting list to determine who meets the criteria for the vacancy and is
most in need of the residential placement. Being on the wait list is the
only way to access developmental residential services.

The following agencies participate in this access process:

• Brampton Caledon Community Living (Residential)
• Peel Behaviour Services
• Christian Horizons (Residential)
• Peel Case Management
• Community Living Mississauga (Residential)
• TRE-ADD
• Family Services of Peel (Residential)
• Service Resolution Peel
• Kerry's Place Autism Services (Residential)
• Peel Crisis Capacity Network
• Mary Centre (Residential)
• Peel Wraparound

Access in Waterloo Region

The Developmental Services Access Centre (DSAC) – Waterloo Region
serves as the single point of access for adult developmental services in
Waterloo Region. It offers a range of professional and support services,
and can assist individuals and families in connecting with residential,
community participation/Passport supports, and respite services.
Individuals must have a developmental disability (an intellectual
disability and/or an autism spectrum disorder) in order to be eligible
for developmental services.

To make a referral to DSAC, please call 519-741-1121. When you call,
some basic information will be collected about your needs, and then you
will be connected with an intake worker. This person will confirm your
eligibility for services and obtain information that will help to get you
some initial service. You will then be connected with the community
services and programs that can support your goals. After you are in the
system, you will receive regular mailings and updates about new events
and programs that may be of interest to you. This will include workshops
and programs targeted for people making the transition from school to
adult life.

Access in Wellington County

Access Information and Referral (AIR) is the centralized intake and referral
point for Developmental Services in Wellington. AIR, in conjunction with
it’s service partners, provides access to support to infants, children and
adults with developmental concerns in Wellington County (including
access to Passport). AIR will help answer your questions and make any
referrals you want to the services and supports within the Developmental
Services system. You can contact AIR at 519-824-4015 or toll free at
1-877-216-1116.

The following agencies participate in this access process:

• Christian Horizons
• Hopewell Homes
• Community Living Guelph Wellington
• Kerry’s Place Autism Services
• Community Mental Health Clinic
• KidsAbility
• Family Counselling and Support Services
• Torchlight Services

Tip #16

Contact information for each of the agencies mentioned in the access
descriptions is provided in Part 2: Tools & Resources under
Resources for Families.

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