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Ms. Myra Wiener, Director
Developmental Services Branch
Ministry of Community and Social Services
6th Floor, Hepburn Building
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1E9
Dear Ms. Wiener
We are writing to you in response to the Preliminary Discussion Paper on Transforming Services in
Ontario for People who have a Developmental Disability. This report was issued in October 2004, and
responses were requested to be returned to you by November 30, 2004.
Since it was stated in the survey "ideas and suggestions from all groups or individuals are welcome", we
as parents of a resident at Huronia Regional Centre, are taking this opportunity to give our comments to
the seven questions in the survey.
Why were parents and relatives of residents of HRC not informed about the survey which was sent out
to various agencies?
1. What should be the roles and responsibilities of different parts of society in supporting individuals
who have developmental disability?
- Families of these developmentally challenged people should be key in making decisions as to whether
a facility should be closed or not. Families know best the needs of their family members, and can make
the best decision in regards to the care needed, type of facilities and environment required.
Governments should obtain input also from families.
2. What strategies and resources would help individuals receive seamless supports throughout their
lives, including points of transition?
- The degree of disabilities amongst the developmentally challenged people vary greatly. Therefore, it
is very important to assess these people properly, especially the very fragile and high needs (24/7 care)
who would really not benefit from a community setting.
3. What supports and services that are currently available work well and should be built on in the future
- Our son who has resided at Huronia Regional Centre for many years now has all the supports and
services he needs right on site.
4. How should a reasonable level of government funding for an individual be determined?
- Each developmentally disabled individual has different needs and should be assesed for her/his
needs to establish funding.
5. Services are changing in Ontario for people who have a developmental disability. What would you like
to see happen?
- We would like to see HRC remain open, and that the residents can remain where they are as most of
them have significant disabilities which will not enable them to integrate into local communities. Their
needs are best met in their current settings. For those individuals who are capable of being part of the
community, we strongly encourage them to be integrated into the community.
6. What do you think are the priorities the government should address?
- We would like to see the last three facilities - Huronia Regional Centre, Southwestern Regional Centre
and Rideau Regional Centre - to remain open according to the current needs for the severely
handicapped residents and to renovate to a standard like HRC. The apartment setting at HRC provide a
secure community setting for the residents. HRC has indeed developed into a Community of
Excellence.
7. Is there anything else you would like to say about the ideas in the discussion paper, or ideas not
included in the paper that you feel are important?
- We would recommend government should do some more research in regards to closing of the three
facilities as mentioned above. Furthermore, if the government does not want to be involved in
administrating the remaining three facilities, we suggest to look into possibilities of giving over the
administration to local agencies.
We trust that the items mentioned in this letter will be strongly considered by the relevant parties to
keep the Regional Centres open in order to serve the people with
significant developmental disabilities, being the weakest link of our society.
Yours sincerely,
Dieter & Christine Bressel
.