Searching for Disabilities Employment Programs

Income Support

• helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing

Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program

• assists parents of handicapped children living at home with costs for special needs, transportation and parent respite

Employment Support Program

• assists persons with disability barriers to obtain and maintain employment

Special Services at Home Program

• assists families of disabled children with ongoing functional limitations to facilitate personal development and growth, and to provide family relief and support

Provide all the services listed virtually, and in some cases in the home or community setting

Hearing Care Counselling Program for ages 55+

Program to develop, maintain, or augment sensory capacity to promote maximum independence

• assessment and support for seniors with hearing loss
• home consultation or virtual visits on coping with hearing loss, communication strategies, use, care and maintenance of hearing aids
• assistance with selecting specialized communication equipment including telephones, alerting devices, TV accessories, etc.
• education and training are also provided to caregivers and service providers such as retirement homes, long-term care homes, etc.

Hearing Help Classes - Sound Advice on Hearing Health Workshops - virtual workshops in a supportive group environment for hard of hearing adults and their significant others

• information on coping with hearing loss and improving communication skills in a variety of listening environments
• information on hearing loss, hearing aids, technical devices
• speech reading and other communication and coping strategies
• classes at various times throughout the year

Employment Services - work with employees and employers to put the right supports in place, employment consultants provide help with:

• career planning
• preparing for interviews
• accessing funds for work-related expenses, such as appropriate clothing or assistive devices, including hearing aids

Sign Language Interpreting Services

• facilitate clear two-way communication between Deaf and hearing people through sign language and spoken language
• interpreters provide communication in American Sign Language (ASL) - English, or la Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ) - French
• available on-site or through video remote technology
• interpreters can assist in a variety of settings including: at a job interview, at a medical appointment, in a business meeting, banking matters, reporting a crime, court proceedings, in crisis in a hospital, shelter and police station

Emergency services

• offered 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year
• emergencies may occur in hospital emergency rooms, after-hours medical clinics, crisis centres, shelters, police services, court settings, and child welfare cases

For emergency service email [email protected], SMS/Text 416-712-6637, or call 1-866-518-0000
General Support Services - services to support Deaf and hard of hearing people 16 years and older

• guidance, advocacy, support and counselling to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals who need assistance managing everyday life events such as completing government forms, navigating systems, and coping with hearing loss
• includes help with renewing driver's license and health card, navigating government services, attend meetings where additional support is needed

CONNECT Mental Health Counselling - professional support for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, 16 years and older, who are living with mental health issues or other serious challenges.

• counselling includes (but is not limited to) support in times of stress, marital, family or relationship problems, coping difficulties, addictions, mental health issues
• counsellors are aware of the specific issues and cultures of Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people and can be a great support

Advocacy and support to people with developmental disabilities

Residential Programs

• supported independent living program for adults living in their own apartment or townhouse, who require some staff assistance
• associate living residential supports for children and adults living in a family setting or supportive roommate environment in their own community
• group home for children and adults who wish to live together with others and require a higher degree of support

Day Programs for Adults

• Clarington Project Hub drop-in activity centre for adults with a developmental disability, see separate listing
  
• Community Access and Wellness Centres assist with development of living skills, grocery shopping, meal preparation, safety awareness, hygiene skills and social skills, and community participation in recreational activities such as bowling, swimming, library and community excursions
• 'My Day. My Way.' for adults with developmental disabilities includes individualized access to community participation and engagement, with personalized interactive experiences offered in-house, in the community or virtually; unique experiences may include social/recreational activities or events, therapeutic opportunities, fitness/exercise and are tailored to each individuals needs and preferences
  
• Supported Employment Program assists in finding meaningful and gainful employment in the community

Individual Support

• resources for individuals and families to help in targeted areas such as education, transportation, housing, recreation and leisure, support groups, employment and advocacy
• volunteer services work with individuals as role models to provide guidance for daily living skills, recreational and leisure, and literacy
• Children and Adult Respite Programs includes access to short term and weekend care and accommodation, for families of children or adults with developmental disability; children up to 18 years supported by staff in CLOC's respite home
  

Summer programs

• Summer Sizzlers recreational/leisure service for teens and young adults
  

Information, support, advocacy and service coordination

• assist in obtaining resources, services for family and promotes family involvement
• accommodation services including supported group living, treatment homes, intensive support residences, host family program
  
• employment supports
  
• Passport funding supports
  
• assistance with funding applications
• long and short term planning support
• access to urgent response
  
• Community Participation Support includes recreational and social support
  

Support to people with intellectual disabilities to live, work and be active members of the community

• adult residential supports in home-like settings
  
• community supports programs (day services) include social, recreation and education opportunities for young people graduating high school and requiring support for independence
  
• respite care
• family support
• adult social group

Housing and Homelessness Support Program, separate listing

Supportive housing for patients with serious mental illness, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness: Gatesview House - capacity 6; 25 Neilson - capacity 30

Pathways - program for adults with serious mental illness

• psycho-educational groups
• work activity
• social/recreation opportunities
• medication clinic

Educational support programming, mental health services, advocacy and one on one support for individuals and their families living with epilepsy

• Living Well With Epilepsy
• information and education
• Thinking About Epilepsy - school presentations
• Understanding Epilepsy - from agency to community
• Peer-to-Peer Network
• Epilepsy At Work - employment support
• Project UPLIFT - group mental health programming
• HOBSCOTCH - individual cognitive support
• counselling

• individualized guidance and support: immediate assistance (no w/l)
• education and self help workshops/groups
• respite options: March Break and Summer Camps for Children, Youth, and Adults in Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan * weeknight and weekend programs are offered on an as needed basis
• parent operated programs: led and driven by parents and participants to create program options with the support and guidance of CLYS Coordinators

• Day program for the developmentally delayed teaching life & social skills to enhance ones quality of life.
• Saturday and Sunday program for the developmentally delayed for persons to engage in leisure activities and community outings to receive assistance in meeting developmental milestone
• Afterhours/ Respite program for the developmentally delayed to aid persons with communication, socialization and other life/ social skills.
• Senior program for seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia or any other impactive disorder

• counselling services for families
• literacy
• summer camp
• community outings
• respite and drop-in
• March break
• PA days
• arts and craft
• vocational training
• budgeting
• fitness

Advocates for and provides support and services to children, youth and adults with an intellectual disability
Children and Youth

• information on early childhood programs, school placement, registration, education plans
• help in accessing funding and programs
• development of a plan to ensure consistency between home, school and community programs
• employment programs for youth

Adults

• skills development including literacy, money management, social skills, and travel training
• job placement
• Case Management Program (Formerly Adult Protective Service Worker Program (APSW))
  • supportive services, including counselling and advocacy, for adults 18 years and older living or planning to live independently in the community

Families

• Family and parent support groups
• in-home consultation and collaboration with other professionals to plan for services

Residential Services

• supported group living
• supportive home share
• supportive independent living
• LIGHTS,www.lights.to -- helps families explore community residential options and funding eligibility

Respite Services

• adult fee-for-service programs
• residential respite for children and adults
• summer camps

ConnectABILITY, www.connectability.ca -- online information, tools and workshops for people with a developmental disability, their families and support networks

Provides training programs and support services for persons with developmental disabilities to enrich their quality of life, wellness, individual and social functioning, and community integration

Professional Services

• speech language services with registered Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
• mental health counselling with registered social workers
• occupational therapy consultations
• family support and parents group
• community education, outreach, and partnerships

Adult Programs

• daily living enrichment program (Mon-Fri day program)
• vocational training and employment support program - with practical co-op experience (full time and part time options available)
• group living adaptation program
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• Saturday social club

Children's Programs

• Kids Link Social Club
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• children's interest/extracurricular classes
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

Youth Programs

• Youth Connect program (everyday Saturday)
• personal growth enhancement program (1:1 training)
• volunteer/vocational training projects
• summer/winter/March break holiday camps

Employment supports including Career Café drop-in resource centre and pre-employment skills building workshops

• assistance with job search
• job coaching
  
• resume writing
• interview skills
• problem solving

Community-based day program

• recreation
• academics
• arts and crafts
• social skills
• sensory activities
• physical fitness
• communication and vocational training
• spiritual care

Vocational rehabilitation program for persons with mental health challenges

• assessment and training
• basic work assessments
• life skills
• light packaging and assembly work experience and/or volunteering in Meals that Heal Program
• supportive counselling
• mental health wellness groups
• social activities and community outings

Participants who have developed competitive employment skills can then be referred to Transitional Employment Program (see separate listing), the Affirmative Business (packaging and light assembly business) or other programs

• work skills training
• job shadowing
• supportive counselling
• various competitive job opportunities and work experience
• reintegration support and follow up

Autism programs for children

• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programs under the Ontario Autism Program for children with autism
• School Age Bridge Program
• after school academic help
• individually scheduled one-on-one ABA programs

Progressive Bridge Program

• year-round program, Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm
• enriched ABA program focusing on school readiness
• program delivered in three progressive levels
• children move forward at their own pace until they are ready for school
• children taught in a combination of individual instruction and groups according to clinical assessments

After School Academic Help: individual academic help scheduled after school

Individual Scheduled Program:

• tailored to individual children based on their needs and the family's time and resource constraints
• number of hours and goals are decided collaboratively by the parents and the clinical supervisor

• The Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
• consultation services
• Resource Centre and Library
• adult Supports
• transitional adult services
• respite and recreational services
• workshops
• Social Skills groups and sibling groups and Camps
• residential services and supports

Social enterprise courier service staffed and run by people with lived experience of mental illness and substance use

• supported employment opportunities including permanent and transitional employment
• employment includes transition and service navigation support and advocacy, and social support network opportunities such as staff breakfast, social activities, alumni and art clubs
  

• individualized guidance and support: immediate assistance (no w/l)
• education and self help workshops/groups
• respite options: March Break and Summer Camps for Children, Youth, and Adults in Stouffville, Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan * weeknight and weekend programs are offered on an as needed basis
• parent operated programs: led and driven by parents and participants to create program options with the support and guidance of CLYS Coordinators

• Markham
• Vaughan

• direct service including counselling
• advocacy
• escort to appointments
• help to navigate different systems, such as housing, legal, health care
• help with application for ODSP, connecting to housing workers, finding a doctor
• referrals for case management through The Access Point (see separate entry)

• using different therapeutic methods, such as Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), Solution Focussed, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Narrative

• on-call mobile crisis service for adults 65 years and older, with addictions or mental health challenges
• partners include LOFT Community Services, Haven Toronto, and South Riverdale Community Health Centre; see Toronto Seniors Helpline listing for details

• community based program that helps adults experiencing mental health issues find paid employment

COVID19

• visit website for list of current changes and closures including visiting policies
• expanded virtual programming

Pediatric rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital
Inpatient Services

• brain injury rehabilitation
• specialized orthopedic and developmental rehabilitation (SODR)
• complex continuing care
• Get Up and Go - pediatric pain service

Outpatient Services

• augmentative and alternative communication; writing aids service
• autism diagnosis and treatment services; Autism Assessment Diagnostic Hub
• brain injury rehabilitation, concussion centre
• cleft lip and palate/craniofacial service
• clinical seating
• creative arts and music therapy
• dental clinic - by referral by physician or dentist only
• feeding
• neuromotor and neuromuscular
• orthotics, prosthetics and myoelectrics
• respite
• snoezelen rooms for inpatients and the community
• spina bifida and spinal cord services
• swim programs
• therapeutic recreation and life skills
• youth engagement and employment programs

Early Learning and Development

• infant and child development consultation and early intervention
• consultative support to childcare centres on programming, occupational therapy and school transitions
• 2 nursery schools -- see separate entries

Adult Services

• orthotics
• prosthetics and myoelectrics
• swim programs

Community-based day program

• recreation
• academics
• arts and crafts
• social skills
• sensory activities
• physical fitness
• communication and vocational training
• spiritual care

• Employment Services