Welcome back fellow challengers. Today’s topic is based on connecting with organizations who specialize in helping individuals who have disabilities. When I started my search I felt so alone and that only me and my parents were the ones trying to help my brother who suffers from a mental disability. The truth is there are lots of organizations out there working very hard helping so many people. Unfortunately most of the organizations have fairly small budgets and can’t afford mass marketing. Just a note, the organizations listed on located in my home province of Ontario.
211 Ontario
Website: https://211ontario.ca/
Phone #: 211
Location: N/A
211 ontario is a service provided by the ontario government. People can call in or go online to quickly access relevant services in your community. The service first opened in Toronto back in 2001 and by 2010 was available to all of ontario. These services don’t just help with mental and physical disabilities but also the general populous. It is a great place to start and find out what is available in your local area.
The Access Point
Website: http://theaccesspoint.ca/
Phone: (416) 640-1934 or 1-888-640-1934
Email: info@theaccesspoint.ca
Head Office : 661 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z9
The access point is an organization that provides various services to individuals with mental disabilities or suffering from substance abuse living in the Toronto Region. Access Point provides a case worker and directs you towards services to help those with mental disabilities. The case worker is individual with intimate knowledge of various service providers from the government, non-profits organizations and private companies. They can even come directly to your home (only with your consent) to provide information and assistance. Access point also has partnered with many different organization the provide all kinds of services such as housing opportunities, employment training, social day programs and many many more.
In order to get access the all of these services you will need fill out an application and then go in for an intake interview. This is for the staff to get an what kinds of services you will require. However as with most services there is a waiting list, so the soon you start the better.
Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD)
Website: https://www.ldatd.on.ca/
Phone: 416-229-1680
Email: admin@ldatd.on.ca
Head Office: 121 Willowdale Avenue, Suite 100, Toronto, ON M2N 6A3
The LDATD is part of the larger organization of Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO). As their name indicates they specialize in people that have a learning disability. They provide a host of services for children and adults with learning disabilities, services such as tutoring for children, employment programs and so much more. In addition to those services they also host public awareness events on learning disabilities and act as an advocacy group.
The above are just a few places to begin your search for help and information in providing care and support for those will disabilities and their families. Now I challenge all of your to find out other organizations that are doing similar work and post in the comments. The more help we can get the better it will be for everyone.