National Parks & Recreation Conference & Trade Show ‘Healthy Communities- Cultivating the Vision’ ‘Healthy Communities- Cultivating the Vision’ Saskatoon Sask. October 18-21, 2006

Getting Services Right for People with Disabilities: Demographics and Service Delivery Expectations

Elvin Dobani

Overview  Introduction  Toronto’s disability community  Methodology  Key findings  Recommendations / accomplishments  Conclusions, next steps and resources

Introduction  Support  Funding  Collaboration

Purpose and Objectives  Comprehensive demographic profile  Barriers to participation  Program and service improvements

Definitions  Adapted Programs  Integrated Services

Purpose and Objectives  Who in our community has a disability?  What can Parks, Forestry & Recreation do to improve the delivery of services?

Benefit of Participation of Physical Activity  Physiological  Physical  Psychosocial

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community  Disability defined  Participation and Activity Limitation Survey  Canadian Community Health Survey

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community  Participation in registered recreation programs 6.4% of general population 6.4% of general population 0.4% of disability population 0.4% of disability population  Our Common Grounds disability target  Achieving identical participation rates for both populations

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community  Disability types served  Perceived barriers to participation

Active2010 The Active2010 Ontario government sport and physical activity strategy states that, the ultimate benefit of creating more recreational opportunities for people will be: The Active2010 Ontario government sport and physical activity strategy states that, the ultimate benefit of creating more recreational opportunities for people will be:  “A culture of physical activity and sport participation that directly contributes to healthier Ontarians, stronger communities, and reduced healthcare costs… It’s successes will reduce the incidence of chronic diseases associated with inactivity and ultimately ease health care costs.”

Methodology  Focus groups  Survey of residents with a disability  Survey of disability service agencies

Focus Groups  14 sessions  150 participants  Recruitment  Accommodations offered

Residents Survey  24 questions  5,000 residents surveyed through 27 agencies  1,200 surveys out to existing participants  667 responses – 13% response rate

Agencies Survey  7 questions  56 agencies surveyed, from pool of 200  51 responses – 90% response rate

Key Findings – Residents  Demographics  Participation in adapted programs & integrated services  Importance & meaning of recreation  Barriers to participation in recreation  Use of parks, trails & natural areas  Program & service improvements  Communication  Recreational respite  Employment & recruitment  Youth outreach workers  Cultural & social issues  Policy improvements

Employment and Recruitment  Advertising  Coaching  Job search training

Youth Outreach Workers  Connecting outreach workers and youth  Services provided

Cultural and Social Concerns  Change rooms and washrooms  Gender-specific programming  Gender of support workers

Policy Improvements  Registration and subsidies  Program planning and review  Photo I.D.

Key Findings – Disability Service Agencies  Client demographics  Primary function  Recreation opportunities and supports  Recreation challenges  Multilingual services  Cultural and social concerns

Recreational Challenges  Transportation  Consultation  Awareness training

Recommendations Demographics 1.Increase the number, type and variety of programs and services variety of programs and services 2. Increase the number of social, life skills, fitness, sports and skills, fitness, sports and computer training opportunities computer training opportunities

Recommendations Promotion and Communications 1. Promotional material 2. Disability Services link on Division website 3. Facility display areas

Recommendations Affordability Affordability 1. Consider alternative payment options

Recommendations One-to-One Support One-to-One Support 1. Hire more integrated support staff 2. Partner agencies to provide support and attendant care

Recommendations Parks, Trails and Natural Areas Parks, Trails and Natural Areas 1. Increase accessibility 2. Improve maintenance of outdoor facilities facilities 3. Improve safety 4. Improve promotion

Recommendations Program and Service Improvements 1. Previous experience 2. Increase programs 3. Increase one-to-one support year round 4. Disability awareness training 5. Programs and service consistency

Recommendations Information Dissemination 1. Regular mail, and accessible websites 2. Increase advertising

Recommendations Importance and Meaning of Recreation 1.Task force on Getting Services Right for People with Disabilities 2. Increase number of Adapted and Integrated programs

Recommendations Recreational Respite 1.Recreational respite programs on weekends and evenings across the city

Recommendations Employment and recruitment 1.Information at job fairs 2.Advertise to agencies 3.Increase partnerships 4.Increase use of media 5.Develop a work experience program 6.Hire people with disabilities

Recommendations Youth Outreach Workers Youth Outreach Workers 1. Partner with agencies 2. Inform and refer

Recommendations Multilingual services Multilingual services 1.Promotional material 2.Interpretive services

Recommendations Cultural and Social Concerns Cultural and Social Concerns 1. Accessible facilities 2. Access to first language/sign language interpreters 3. Disability awareness training to all Division staff

Recommendations Policy Improvements Policy Improvements 1. Registration and Welcome Policy 2. Photo identification card 3. Include and consult with people with disabilities

Conclusions  Disability community engaged  Demographics, barriers, service issues better understood  Opportunities for action defined  Progress made

Recent Accomplishments  Snoezelen room  ASL interpreters and attendant care services  City-wide steering committee  Education to disability serving agencies  Promotion and access  Physical Activity and Youth Mentorship

Recent Accomplishments  City-wide data base of agencies  Employment of Disability Youth Outreach Workers  Training and Education  Technology (AIMS)  Advertising

Next Steps  Review and adopt recommendations  Finalize and cost out recommendations  Finalize project report  Approval from City Council  Create task force to guide implementation

Acknowledgements  Disability Agencies  PFR Steering Committee  Focus Group Staff  Inter-departmental partners  Reference Group

Resources Available  Ontario disability fact sheet 2001  Project outline  Residents and agencies surveys  Focus group flyer and questions  Definitions of terms – focus groups  Performing public consultation – disabilities  ODA Definitions  Accessibility resources – Toronto Website 

References  Statistics Canada, (2001) Participation Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). Pg 8-11  Statistics Canada, (1986 & 1991) Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS). Pg 3-5  City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities”: Focus Group Summary Report (including meeting schedule, questions and a summary of individual comments)  City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation, (2005) “Guide to Conducting Community Consultations”  City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Recommendations for Performing Public Consultations for People with Disabilities”

 City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities- Toronto Residents with Disabilities” survey (including a summary of individual comments)  City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities- Toronto Agencies Serving Torontonians with Disabilities” survey  City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) Budget for Surveys and Focus Group Budget  For copies of 3-8, please contact the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities at  Parsons, Ernie MPP, (2006) Report on Consultations Regarding the Transformation of Developmental Services. Pg 14 References

Contact Information  LORENE BODIAM Advocate for People with Disabilities  Ph: 