How Experiences by People with IDD/DD are Shaping Integrated Care between Social Services and Health Care in Ontario Canada.

Background: True Integrated Care in the context of Universal Health Care (All Canadian residents are eligible for public health insurance, ensuring access to medically necessary hospital and physician services without out-of-pocket costs) in Ontario Canada is challenged by the separation of health care and social care, or social services as it’s called in Ontario.

 

Every resident in Ontario, Canada is entitled to public/Universal health insurance as defined in the Canada Health Act. This means they don’t have to pay out of pocket for things like hospital stays or doctor visits. But even with this universal health care, it’s challenging for certain members of the population to access care because health care and social care operates separately.

Empower Simcoe’s person-centered approach ensures that the voices of those we support guide our advocacy for better access to health and mental care, from individualized planning to building community connections resulting in more integrated care.

 

Approach: This 90-minute interactive workshop introduces participants to six case examples from individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities including the introduction, issue, analysis/findings, and lessons learned. Activities include:

-Facilitated small group case discussions

-Interdisciplinary crowd-sourcing solutions

-Action planning and Q&A with participants

 

 

 

Results: /Expected Outcomes:

-Participants will gain practical knowledge and insights into approaches taken to resolve the issues.

-Participants will acquire insights, and strategies for implementing in their own settings. Actual solutions from the cases will be shared to enable participants to implement lessons learned into their own local contexts.

-Participants will gain inspiration from the advocacy efforts of organizational employees who champion the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and understand how these actions contribute to shaping integrated care in Ontario, Canada.