2026-2027 Services delivered: DS community participation services and supports
Component: Adults' DS Community Support Services
Legislation: Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008 (SIPDDA)
Service objectives
Transfer payment agencies provide community participation services and supports for adults who have a developmental disability that include
- Activities such as personal development, basic life skills training, social and recreational activities, volunteering and other activities that lead to community participation
- Assistance for individuals who have left school, by providing innovative community participation supports
- Supports to promote life-skills and community participation for individuals no longer in school
- To support the development of a personal Individual Support Plan (ISP) based on the principles of self-determination, social inclusion, citizenship, and choice and to provide services that are reflective of this plan
Service description
People served
Community participation services and supports:
Community participation services and supports are provided to persons who reside in Ontario, are at least 18 years of age and have a developmental disability as defined by the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. Accessed through the application for developmental services and supports process at an application entity (Developmental Services Ontario), which assesses individuals' support needs and determines eligibility.
Individual support plan (ISP)
For DS Community Participation Services and Supports: Each individual will have an ISP that is based on the assessed needs and preferences of the individual. The plan will identify the specific services/supports received by the individual, the expected outcomes and should be based on the principles of self-determination, social inclusion, citizenship, choice and other requirements outlined in Section 5 of O. Reg. 299/10.
Note: An Individual Support Plan (ISP) is not the same as Person-Directed Planning (PDP): Individual Support Plans should not be reported or counted/considered equivalent to a person-directed plan or person-directed planning process. The two terms are used to describe different planning processes and should NOT be used interchangeably.
Service objectives
Community participation services and supports:
Service objectives for developmental service community participation services and supports include
- Facilitate and support participation in community-based activities (e.g. social networking, recreational, peer counseling, faith-based and/or volunteer)
- Develop skills in utilizing community infrastructure such as transportation services, shopping, libraries, and recreational opportunities
- Promote activities of community inclusion for individuals transitioning from the education system
- Structured learning, and education to meet an individual's goals in the areas of functional independence and community participation
- Development of Person-Directed Planning (PDP) services and supports to assist persons with developmental disabilities in identifying their life vision and goals, and finding and using services and supports to meet their identified goals with the help of their families or significant others of their choice
Note: To be reported as person-directed planning the process must align with the planning process outlined in the MCCSS November 2013 Person-Directed Planning and Facilitation Guide and must be a process which includes five accepted common steps (p.13) and fourteen core elements (p.43 of the Guide). Individual Support Plans should NOT be reported or counted as person-directed planning.
Services excluded
- Employment supports that are provided to place, maintain, or change the employment of an individual in a work setting
- Intake and assessments for the purposes of eligibility determination and funding allocation
- Community participation supports provided by staff in a supportive living setting
Delivery method
- Services may be provided in person or by other means (i.e. remotely/virtually)
- Staff providing services are typically required to have certification in the human services field including developmental services or related training or experience
- Services provided are aligned with the ministry's safety and security guidelines and expectations
- Activities are not fundable through provincially-funded employment programs
- Community participation services and supports provided for adults with developmental disabilities may be provided by agencies
Services will be
- Designed to address the needs of the individual
- Respectful of the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of individuals, families and communities
- Staffed by individuals with the appropriate training and range of skills necessary to respond effectively to the needs of individuals and their families
- Based on the individual's assessed strengths, needs, preferences and available individual, agency, community and contracted ministry resources
- Obtained through the application for adult developmental services and supports process, which identifies individuals' support needs and priority access to service through a process that is objective, equitable and transparent
Program goals
To provide community participation services and supports to adults with a developmental disability that promote social inclusion, individual choice, independence and rights.
Ministry expectations
- Service agencies will inform the appropriate Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) office of resources and/or vacancy declaration as it becomes available; and maintain up to date agency information including, agency amalgamations/closures/name changes; service location changes or additions and services delivered at specific locations
- Service agencies will comply with all relevant legislation, regulations, policy directives, program guidelines, funding agreement(s), accountability and reporting requirements. Service agencies must continue to report to the DSOs and the Ministry regarding the status and/or any changes in circumstances or service terminations relevant to all placements of adults with developmental disabilities served by the service agencies matched and linked by the regional DSO
- Service agencies will, where applicable, work with the regional DSO and collaborate with other service agencies to provide services and supports to individuals that meet their needs and goals.
- The service agency is responsible for utilizing the information technology specified by the Ministry for the collection and maintenance of information, maintaining the security, integrity, consistency and validity of the information collected and maintained and ensuring that data is accurate and kept up to date
- Service agencies will utilize the Developmental Services Consolidated Information System (DSCIS) to:
- declare and manage resources and/or vacancy declaration as it becomes available
- maintain up to date placement information such as any changes to the status and/or circumstances or service terminations relevant to all placements of adults with developmental disabilities served by the service agencies
- Service agency is responsible for updating all site-specific information in Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) as changes occur.
- Service agencies will participate in community planning processes such as, but not limited to, Developmental Services Service System Planning (in alignment with the Provincial Terms of Reference for DS Service System Planning) and related committees.
Reporting requirements
The following service data will be reported on an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.
| Service data name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Community Participation: Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures | Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver this service in the reporting year (cumulative). |
| # of Individuals Served: Community Participation | The unique/unduplicated number of individuals that received this type of service in any language in the reporting year (cumulative). The same person should be counted only once if they received more than one type of this service, or if they exited and re-entered service during the year. |
| # of unique individuals served by level of support | Report the unique/unduplicated number of individuals served by the amount of support they receive from paid staff during the reporting period (do not include services delivered by fee-for-service) |
| Daily Support 0-4 hours per day | Report the number of unique individuals (subset of total individuals served) who typically receive less than four hours per day on the days they receive services |
| Daily support 4-8 hours per day | Report the number of unique individuals (subset of total individuals served) who typically receive more than 4 hours per day on the days they receive services |
| Once a week | Report the number of unique individuals (subset of total individuals served) who receive services once a week. These individuals do not receive services every day. |
| Multiple days per week | Report the number of unique individuals (subset of total individuals served) who receive services multiple days per week. |
| At least once a month | Report the number of unique individuals (subset of total individuals served) who receive supports at least once a month. |
| Service Delivery Model (In person) | Report the unique/unduplicated number of individuals served through each of the service delivery methods as a numerator and denominator of total number of people receiving base-funded CPS |
| Served in community-based settings | Report the number of people who only received services in community-based settings (based on total number of CPS hours of support provided) |
| Served in congregate, centre-based settings | Report the number of people who only received services in a congregate or centre-based setting (based on total number of CPS hours of support provided) |
| Served in both settings | Report the number of people who received both community and centre-based, congregate services, approximately equally (based on total number of CPS hours of support provided) |
| Service Delivery Model (Virtual) | Report the unique/unduplicated number of individuals served virtually in CPS |
| Served virtually, total | Report the number of people who received virtual services (e.g. via video conferencing), including individual virtual supports and group-based programs. Inclusive (can include individuals who also received community and congregate, centre-based supports) |
Definitions:
Congregate, Centre-Based Services
- Delivered in a single physical location (a centre), typically apart from the broader community.
- Activities occur in larger group settings with staff supervision.
- Focus is on structured, scheduled programs like recreation, skill-building, and social interaction.
- Emphasizes shared environments and activities rather than individualized settings.
Community-Based Services
- Delivered primarily in natural community settings (e.g., libraries, gyms, community centres, workplaces, volunteer sites).
- Activities are integrated into the broader community, promoting inclusion and participation.
- Often individualized or small-group, tailored to personal goals.
- Encourages real-world experiences and relationships outside of agency centres.
- Note: Individuals may access “hub” or “drop-in” models from agencies to support their community-based supports