FAQs

Developmental Services Ontario manages the application process for all provincially-funded supports for adults with a developmental disability in Ontario.

The Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008 defines eligibility for adult developmental services as “significant limitations in cognitive and adaptive functioning determined by a psychologist or psychological associate registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario or equivalent body in another province”.

No. DSO does not deliver any services, it is the access point for Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) funded adult developmental services and supports. You must apply through DSO to see if you are eligible to receive services.

To be eligible a person must have a psychological documentation that confirms they meet the cognitive, adaptive, and age of onset criteria. This is determined by a psychologist or psychological associate registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario or equivalent body in another province.

If you do not have a psychological assessment, talk to your area DSO. They will review options with you.

There are many different services offered across the province. Some of the services that may be available in your area include:

• housing supports
• respite for your caregivers
• supports to help you take part in the community
• specialized and clinical supports
• Adult Protective Service Worker Program
• Passport program

To apply for services, you must prove that you have a developmental disability, live in Ontario, and are 18 years old. You will have to show us different documents to prove this. You must provide a psychological assessment to prove you have a developmental disability. If you do not have a psychological assessment, talk to your area DSO. They will review options with you.

If you are eligible for services, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming your eligibility and you will move onto the next step, completing the application process.

Once you receive a letter from DSO telling you if you are eligible to receive MCCSS funded services, you will be connected to a DSO staff person in your area. The DSO staff person will set up 2 meetings with you to help you complete an application package and determine the level of support you need.

Each meeting will be about 3 hours long and you will need to have at least 2 people who know you well (e.g., parent, guardian, teacher, etc.) with you at the meetings.

Once the DSO staff person knows your needs, you will be connected to services that are available in your area.

No, you can only access services when you turn 18. However, starting early will help to speed up the process and help connect you to services so that when you turn 18 you will be linked to available services in your area.

If you are in urgent need of interim adult developmental services and support, please contact your local DSO office.

Examples of situations where an adult with a developmental disability may have an urgent need for interim developmental services and support include:

• The unpaid primary caregiver (e.g., family member) is unable to continue providing care that is essential to the health and well-being of the adult.

• The adult has no residence or anticipates in the very near future a very real likelihood of having no residence.

• The adult’s support needs have changed to such an extent that their current support arrangement may soon become untenable, and their well-being is at risk.

No, it is a different process to apply for ODSP. However, if you are under 18 you can use the DSO eligibility letter as part of your application for income support with the ODSP.

For more information about ODSP, visit https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/...

If you are not eligible, you will have the option to request a review of the decision. DSO will make every effort to provide you with information to assist you in finding other resources.

Yes. The wait time between getting your letter and receiving a call from a DSO staff person is different depending on how many people are applying for services and how many DSO staff people are available in your region.

Please be sure to keep your area DSO updated around changes in your circumstances so that they can be as responsive as possible to your situation.

The Developmental Services application package consists of two components. Application for developmental services and supports (ADSS) and Supports intensity scale - adult (SIS-A).

When someone from your area DSO calls, they will ask to set up a date and time that works for you to meet to complete the application package. The application package helps everyone understand your needs and goals. Please note that going through the application process does not guarantee a person will receive services immediately.

No. A qualified DSO staff person who has been trained through MCCSS will complete the package with you. Information on how to prepare for the package is sent in advance to assist and prepare you for the process.

Once the application package has been completed and DSO confirms your eligibility, you will be linked to supports and services when resources become available.

It may take some time before you get your services and supports. In the meantime, tell your area DSO if any of your information or situation changes.

It may take some time before you get your services. Here are some things you can do while you’re waiting:

• Make sure you apply for financial assistance through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you can use your DSO confirmation letter to apply.

• If you need housing support, call your area DSO, or join our Facebook groups to get connected to the housing navigator in your area.

• Check out our other online resources.

• Use your application to help you apply for other services that are not funded by the Ontario government.

• Update your online account or call us if your situation or information changes.

You may choose not to complete the application package. Please inform the DSO staff person who was in contact with you to explain your reasons for declining the meeting as it may affect your ability to access services and funding.

Information from your application package will be entered into a service planning database. This system allows your area DSO contact person to print reports when you want to share them with a service provider and give you a copy if you want one for your records. With your consent, the information collected from the application package will assist DSO to make appropriate linkages to supports and services in your community.

The completion of the application package does not guarantee the start of services. At this point, keep DSO updated if there is a change in your current situation. Keeping your area DSO informed will help them prioritize service requests and keep community partners updated.

A prioritization tool is used to review the information you provide to the DSO. The same prioritization tool is used across the province. The tool accounts for the information in your application and assesses your level of risk based on:

• current living situation

• behavioural support needs

• personal support needs

• medical needs

• the circumstances of your caregiver

The tool produces a numerical score that summarizes your level of risk. Higher scores indicate a higher level of risk.

Your risk-based priority is considered against all other people waiting for services. This method allows the DSO to identify people who are at the highest risk and prioritize them for available services and supports in their communities.

Contact your area DSO.