July 29, 2011

To:    Individuals who receive Service Coordination and their families

Re: Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)

Effective July 1, 2011, adults who have a developmental disability have a new way to apply for services and supports through a centralized contact point called Developmental Services Ontario (DSO). The Central West Region of Ontario has five satellite centres, with one located in Mississauga. The DSO provides information, confirms eligibility for services and supports, and assists people to apply for services that will help them meet their goals and needs.

What does this change mean for you and your family? If your family member is already 18 years of age or older, they will continue to receive the same level of support with Community Living Mississauga. Certain waiting lists will become centralized at the DSO and you may be asked to give consent to share your family members information so that they can remain on that waiting list. Future requests you may have for other services will require application and approval through the DSO. Eventually, all adults will complete the application/assessment process with the DSO.
If your family member is under 18 years of age, we will assist you to connect with the DSO as they near their 18th birthday. You will need to complete the new application and assessment process on their behalf for adult services.

We understand that this may be a confusing and perhaps unsettling time of change for families. Community Living Mississauga is committed to assisting you by helping you to understand and access this new centralized service. The Ministry of Community and Social Services provided a list of questions and answers about Developmental Services Ontario, which you will find enclosed with this letter. In addition, you can find information at www.clmiss.ca or www.dsontario.ca.

You may also wish to attend Community Living Mississauga’s Parent Information Session featuring guest speaker Gary Whetung, Director, DSO Central West, Ministry of Community & Social Services. This session is being held on September 29, 2011 from 7 to 9 pm at the Canadian Coptic Centre (1245 Eglinton Avenue West). To reserve your spot please call 905-542-2694 ext. 2400.

I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the upcoming changes and to ask questions about how these changes will effect how your family accesses supports. Your Service Coordination contact is available to answer your questions and offer assistance.

Sincerely,

Keith Tansley
Executive Director

Additional Information

To learn more about these new DSOs visit their web site at www.dsontario.ca or click on the links below to access recent infomation bulletins:

Information Bulletin - April

Information Bulletin - June 3

Information Bulletin - June 10

Information Bulletin - June 17

Information Bulletin - June 24

Information Bulletin - July 1

Infomation Bulletin - July 15

We will continue to post information as it becomes available.