Keeping People Out of Institutions

No to ALL institutions!

In 2006 families in Ontario discovered a policy document that reveals that the Ontario government is encouraging and facilitating the placement of people with disabilities, including young adults, in Long Term Care institutions. 

Families are outraged. These are the same families that have praised the government in the past for its plans to close all of the remaining institutions for people with developmental disabilities. They are outraged because the government is expanding a practice that families have always opposed. 

Long Term Care facilities are unfulfilling environments that are associated with a high incidence of neglect and abuse. They are totally unsuitable as a place for people to live their lives, especially for the most vulnerable people who need disability supports. 

This document shares what families think, calls on the government to stop institutional placements, and to offer appropriate options that treat all citizens of Ontario with respect. 

The policy that we are addressing is called "Long-Term Care Access Protocol for Adults with a Developmental Disability" dated July 2006.

A response was issued from the From Family Alliance Ontario titled "AN OPEN MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO" dated December 2006.

There have been many reactions, critiques and protests to the Long-Term Care Access Protocol for Adults with a Developmental Disability policy by the Ministry of Community & Social Services and Ministry of Health & Long-term Care.

Sadly this protocol has been in place since 2006 and many people with disabilities have been forced to move onto long term care institutions because there is no where else to go.