Ontarians with Disabilities Lost in the Narrative
Written By Stephen C. Barns— Disability Culture Consultant
I can’t believe, upon reflection, that we are in the 21st century—2025—and we are going backwards in time. All the work that members of the disability community, elders of the past, as well as allies, fought for—then and now—is under attack.
The institutionalization of persons with disabilities was not completely eradicated in Ontario or even Canada. For example, the story of Victoria Levack in the province of Nova Scotia: she fought for the right to get out of a long-term care situation, which she—I believe—was stuck in from the age of 23 until 31, in November 2022.
Victoria was at the forefront of challenging the NS government to allow adults with physical disabilities—who can cognitively direct their own care—to live independently. Therefore, the government developed its version of Ontario’s Supportive Housing, combining it with Ontario’s Direct Fund Program. In Ontario, Supportive Housing programs are under both the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The Ontario Direct Funding Program is funded under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care but facilitated through The Centre for Independent Living Toronto (CILT).
There is also a program, again funded under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, called Family Managed Home Care, which is facilitated through Ontario Health at Home (formerly the Local Health Integration Network, LHIN).
The Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS), it’s worth noting, funds supportive housing nonprofits that support individuals with a developmental disability diagnosis. I’m using that term as it’s still referred to as “developmental services.” It also funds agencies that support the neurodivergent community.
The MCSS also has the Passport Program to support the neurodivergent community in accessing funds for various activities, interests, goals, skill development, or respite support.
The MCSS is in the phase of developing a program they are calling Journey to Belonging, which is being referred to as the Direct Funding/Attendant Care Services for the neurodivergent community in Ontario.
Community members and allies need to remain vigilant, as the Ford government has not been very forthcoming with the Journey to Belonging—or what it may look like.
I would venture a guess that, while we deserve to have more control of our individual lives, we can’t allow the Ford government to dismantle the Developmental Service Supports and then create a new support model without the stakeholders.
Nothing about us without us. Even as I say this, I keep in mind that I am only one of the 1.6 to 1.9 million Ontarians who identify as being a member of the disability community. We are all individuals; we do not all have the same beliefs, experiences, or disabilities. So, I am not speaking for us all.
I came across an important observation in my studies in disability history and, as such, the subsequent culture that developed from that history in North America. The observation is this:
In the fight for disability liberation, our elders inadvertently perpetuated neoliberalism. In other words, your value is in how much money you can earn for others.
I caution that we don’t want a repeat of when institutions were shut down, and there was a “thrown to the wolves” mentality. We don’t want a Wild West situation with the development of Journey to Belonging. In the fight for disability liberation—to integrate into society and belong—we didn’t always advocate for other brothers and sisters who need more support than we may need, whether that be financial accessibility, educational accessibility, physical accessibility, or more.
Doug Ford and other politicians—past and present—continue to ignore our community overall. Let’s look at the fact that the average individual receiving ODSP is living 30 to 40% below Canada’s poverty line. Recipients of Ontario Works (OW) have not had an increase since 2017. An individual receives less than $800 a month. Keep in mind that some people on OW are waiting to be approved for ODSP.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was introduced in 2005 and was meant to be fully implemented by January 2025. Seeing as we are already seven months into 2025, our community still faces barriers and other forms of discrimination every day.
I’m asking the reader to reflect on Ontario’s election. How much did we hear about any of the programs, services, and supports I mentioned that affect the disability community—including OW recipients or others living on a low income?
Upon my reflections, I don’t believe we were in the narrative enough. As wealth disparity grows and the cost of rent is unreasonably high for average citizens of the province—disabled or not—during one of the debates, anyone who brought up housing circled back to tying the concept of supportive housing to forced treatment and seniors.
The Ford government’s answer to the housing crisis is to include supportive housing for seniors, long-term care homes, and student dorms in their “One Million Homes plan”, which they announced long before Ford called the election.
Premier Ford did not need to call the election 15 to 16 months earlier. He stated he called the election because he needed a strong mandate, and blamed the current U.S. President, Donald J. Trump.
I know Trump does have creative volatility; however, Trump being elected does not change the facts. Doug Ford had over a year left of his term before the scheduled election call. And even if Mr. Ford would’ve stuck to the scheduled election, Trump would still be the U.S. President—just with less time remaining on his term. So, Trump was an excuse. Ford still had a mandate.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was meant to be fully implemented by January 2025. Not only has the AODA not been fully implemented, but I also believe there was no mention of the AODA at all. They had 20 years—not even a mention in any of the debates.
Canada has a housing crisis. If you consider the Premier’s previous plans to deal with housing numbers, and long-term care inclusion—coupled with Ford’s plans to deal with encampments and forced treatment—these scream “institutions” to me and many others in the community.
45 to 50% of the population experiencing homelessness are believed to be members of the disability community—although I believe that number is much higher. The narrative around encampments is something out of the 1930s and ’60s: lock the drunks, the junkies in the hospitals and treatment—where the individual has no real say.
Rather than build accessible, affordable housing—or even more non-accessible housing, which is becoming less and less affordable for non-disabled citizens in Ontario—not everyone living in encampments is utilizing substances or becoming homeless because of substances. Some became a part of the homeless community due to a mental health breakdown, job loss, or other life events.
The misconception that everyone in the homeless population is using substances, or ends up homeless due to use, does no good for anyone. It feeds stigma, which feeds the wrong narratives.
The way things are going, only the wealthy will be able to afford homes. Landlords, property managers, and corporate landlords are buddy-buddy with Doug Ford. Developers aren’t incentivized to create more accessible homes or communities. I do see things changing—which is why I see institutions coming back unless we fight.
I’ll leave you with these thoughts: there was no mention by Ford of potential changes coming from his government that might affect organizations’ funding—organizations that support individuals living in encampments. No mention of OW, MCSS, or more funding freezes that could impact our community.
Look at Bill 25 from the Ford government. Ford, as I mentioned, latched onto Canadian pride. I will say a good conversation has come out of Trump’s chaos—around interprovincial certifications—but why is there not a conversation around willing citizens transferring benefits?
A Willing Citizen’s Benefit Transfer
Let’s say an Ontarian receiving ODSP has a family living in another province. They want to move closer to family but [they] need to consider coverage for their wheelchair and other services. The person can’t just transfer to another province’s disability support program or access accessible housing. Why aren’t we hearing these conversations? Why aren’t we talking about eliminating provincial barriers so that Ontarians can become British Columbians and seek opportunity on their terms?
I say this while asking you to keep Victoria Levack’s story in mind. If Nova Scotia only got away from institutionalization in 2022, then if we—members of the disability community—leave one province for another, we may be entering a less liberating situation.
What happens to one of us can happen to all of us.
Copyright Stephen C. Barns 2025
Thursday, July 10th, 2025