Ontario Programs for People with Disabilities

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities 

List of consulting services and organizations providing services to improve access for employees and customers with disabilities.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Job Connect Program

Community Mental Health Employment Programs

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Attendant Outreach Services

Information on Services for People with Disabilities on the Internet

Ministry of Community and Social Services

ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM (ODSP) - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS -

ODSP Employment Supports provides goods and services to reduce or eliminate disability-related barriers to competitive employment for people with disabilities who meet eligibility criteria. Competitive employment is any full-time, part-time, or contractual employment, or self-employment in which the person receives minimum wage or better.

Who Is Eligible

To be eligible for ODSP Employment Supports, a person must have a physical or mental disability that is expected to last a year or more, and as a result, makes it difficult for them to find or keep a job.

The applicant must also must be:

• willing and able to prepare for, accept or maintain competitive employment
• resident of Ontario and 16 years of age or older
• legally entitled to work in Canada

A person who is already working but experiencing a job crisis or having difficulty maintaining employment because of a disability-related barrier, may be eligible for ODSP Employment Supports.

People who are eligible for, or receiving disability or rehabilitation benefits from the following public or private sources, are not eligible for ODSP Employment Supports:

• Ontario Works
• Canada Pension Plan - Disability benefits (CPP-D)
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits
• Automobile Insurance Act
• Ministry of Health Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programs
• a private insurance policy

Supports Available

The supports available to help people with disabilities achieve their employment goal include:

• Employment Planning and Preparation activities such as career exploration, specialized assessments (e.g. psychological, work tolerance) and job trials to identify the services and supports clients need to become employed. Employment preparation may also include travel and mobility training, communication skills training (e.g. ASL), remediation for people with learning disabilities, and work adjustment. Employment preparation activities may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis and generally last about six months. Support coordination and brokerage is also available for people who require assistance in accessing services.

• Employment Skills Training e.g. job skills training (programs/courses that are not eligible for funding under the Ontario Student Assistance Program - OSAP or under the Education Act), unpaid work experiences, on-the-job training with an employer, specialized computer training or instruction on using other adaptive technology. Employment skills training may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis and last up to one year. Program time limits may be extended where there are exceptional needs.

• Supports to Self-Employment e.g. help to develop a business plan; specialized self-employment development programs; business mentors; tools, equipment and supplies; licenses, certification and permits. (ODSP Employment Supports will not fund such items as the purchase of land/buildings/vehicles; rental of business premises; insurance; legal fees; ongoing transportation costs; employee salaries or loan payments.)

• Training Support Services e.g. tools and equipment, uniforms, books and supplies, tutoring, licenses, Braille or large print materials.

• Assistive Devices and Supplies required for employment e.g. mobility devices, reading and writing aids, hearing aids and TDDs, specialized software and adapted computers (where funding is not available from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Assistive Devices Program)

• Transportation assistance to attend employment preparation activities, training and job interviews.

• Sign Language Interpreters and Intervenors to help with applications for employment supports, completing employment plans, participate in employment preparation and training, job interviews and time-limited support on the job.

• Job Coaching Services are provided to help people adjust to and learn a new job and attain productivity levels that match other employees. Job coach support usually involves liaison with both the employee and employer. The need for job coaching is expected to diminish over time as the person progresses to independent employment or employment with limited supports.

• Job Maintenance Services may be provided to people with disabilities who require longer-term supports and focus on assisting the employed individual to maintain competitive employment and deal with job crises that may arise. These supports are usually limited to approximately 10% of the time that the person is working (average on a semi-annual or annual basis).

• Job Search Support and Placement to help people with disabilities secure workplace training opportunities and employment.

Employment Plans

All applicants for ODSP Employment Supports will be required to have an individualized employment plan. Service providers in the community are funded to assist people with disabilities to develop these employment plans. ODSP Employment Supports staff may be consulted to provide information and expertise regarding the specialized resources in their community for assisting people with disabilities, for example, use of assessments and diagnostic services in helping to identify disability-related employment barriers. Regional offices will have a list of services and resources for people with disabilities in their communities.

Additional information, including application forms, how to apply and a list of offices, is available on the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services web site.

To access the web site, go to: Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) 

Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities

Job Connect Program

The Job Connect Program helps individuals gain the skills and knowledge they need to finding keep jobs. Approximately 80% of the participants are youth. Services are available in 123 delivery sites across the province with full adult services available in 16 communities.

Services available:

Job Connect provides three core services:

Information and Referral Service provides information on careers and occupations, the local labour market, training opportunities and job search strategies. It is a walk-in, self-directed community resource centre open to the public.

Employment Planning and Preparation helps people to clarify their employment needs, establish short and long-term goals, develop an action plan and search for a job. It provides assistance to people who are at least 16 years old, out of school and out of work, and not receiving Employment Insurance or Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits.

Job Development Placement Support services help people develop their skills and gain experiences through supports such as job trials, volunteer placements, job shadows, subsidized on-the-job training opportunities or direct employment placements. It assists people who are at least 16 years of age, out of school and out of work, not currently in a training program and not receiving Employment Insurance or Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits. If over 24 years of age, participants must be receiving Ontario Works benefits, Ontario Disability Support Program income support or be unemployed for a minimum of six months.

Employers who operate a business in Ontario, who are looking to hire staff or interested in providing on the job training opportunities may benefit from Job Connect services.

Delivery agencies for Job Connect are required to work with their local SCC, Ontario Works municipal delivery agents, ODSP and other local stakeholders to determine how the services coordinate with and build on other services in the community, and to determine how individuals can move effectively and efficiently between programs and services.

For More Information: Call the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' Hotline at 1-800-387-5656

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Community Mental Health Employment Programs

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care provides funding for many dedicated employment programs and businesses across the province to support people with a serious mental illness. These programs are delivered by community mental health agencies, hospitals, provincial psychiatric hospitals and mental health consumers. The availability and types of programs or services vary throughout the province and include:

• Vocational Assessment/Planning programs assess mental health consumers' aptitudes, interests and work/academic competencies in order to plan for future employment or education.

• Employment Placement programs identify opportunities for and place consumers in temporary paid or unpaid work placements or permanent paid employment. External support is provided to help consumers sustain the employment, usually on a time-limited basis.

• Supported Employment programs assist consumers in securing paid employment that fits with their interests and abilities. Consumers receive flexible and individualized support and training as required on the job.

• Consumer-Operated Alternative Businesses are developed and operated by consumer/survivor employees. The businesses offer full and part-time employment at market rate or higher that is maintained by peer supports. They offer a unique combination of job development, work adjustment and supported education within a self-help context.

• Agency-Sponsored Businesses are owned and operated by mental health agencies or hospitals to provide rehabilitation and part-time or full-time employment opportunities for minimum wage or higher.

• Supported Education programs prepare consumers for further education or employment, are integrated in educational settings and offer on-site support.

For more Information on Ministry of Health and Long Term Care funded employment programs for people with serious mental illnesses can be obtained through the Regional Offices of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. These numbers can be found in the blue pages of your local telephone book.

Ministry of Health and Long-term Care

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) provides financial assistance to people with long term disabilities to obtain basic, personalized assistive devices for activities of daily living at home. ADP will not provide funding for assistive devices intended solely for work, school or recreational purposes. However, ADP will consider funding assistive devices that are required for both activities of daily living and work/school/recreation e.g. wheelchair, reading and writing aids.

The types of assistive devices and supplies funded under ADP include:

• medical - diabetic supplies, enteral feeding equipment/supplies, ostomy supplies, oxygen and ventilators, respiratory equipment and supplies.

• mobility - orthotic devices, pressure modification devices, prosthetics.

• sensory - communication aids, writing devices, hearing aids, orientation and mobility aids.

For more information regarding the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Assistive Devices Program, please call: 1-800-268-6021 (Toll-free in Ontario only). In Toronto, call: (416) 327-8804

To access the web site, go to: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 

Ministry of Health and Long-term Care

Attendant Outreach Services

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds agencies that provide attendant services to people with physical disabilities who require ongoing assistance with personal support and homemaking in order to function independently. Attendant services are consumer-directed physical assistance with routine activities of daily living and may include assistance with personal grooming, bathing, dressing, transfers, toileting, eating, breathing, essential communication, meal preparation, housekeeping. These support service activities may be provided through attendant outreach service providers, supportive housing service providers and through the direct funding program (self managed attendant services).

Persons with disabilities who require attendant services may also be eligible to receive personal supports in competitive work places and adult educational settings (Note: assistance with note taking, writing exams, getting from class to class, etc. are not provided through Ministry of Health and Long-term Care services. These activities are the responsibility of the educational facility or the Special Needs Offices at colleges and universities.)

Some employers also provide funding for attendant services to accommodate their employees.

Accessing Services: Attendant Services are typically accessed directly by the consumer. Information about the locations of service provider agencies in a local community can usually be obtained by contacting:

• The local Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) (other community services required may also be accessed from CCACs; i.e., professional visiting services, or other services provided by community support service agencies).
• The local Independent Living Centre, or
• The Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Regional Office.

People applying for attendant services in Toronto should contact the Project Information Centre (PIC) at the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT)  at (416) 599-2458 ext. 34.

For more information about the location of CCACs in the Province, check the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care website and follow the link to Community Care Access Centres  or use the Ontario Association Community Care Access Centres (OACCAC)  website.

The location of Independent Living Centres in Ontario can be obtained by going to the CILT website  and following the link to the Ontario Network of Independent Living Centres, or by calling 1-800-354-9950

People interested in applying for the Direct Funding Program (Self-managed attendant services) should contact the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) at (416) 599-2458 (Toronto) or 1-800-354-9950 (Ontario).

Information on Services for People with Disabilities on the Internet

Persons with Disabilities Online

Canadian Council for Rehabilitation and Work 

Enablelink 

Workink Ontario 

Conference Board of Canada "Tapping the Talents of People with Disabilities" 

Workink Alberta's publication "Employment Series for People with Disabilities"