A new campaign by Community Living Ontario is targeting the reduction of waitlists for tens of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities.
The campaign, titled #WaitingToBelong, shines a light on those long waitlists as clients wait for the supports they need to live fulfilling, inclusive lives.
The new Public Service Announcement began airing across the province on November 12 through television, radio and digital platforms.
The powerful and moving message asks, “How long should anyone have to wait to belong?”
The announcement invited viewers to imagine a more inclusive future — one where belonging isn’t a privilege, but a right.
The campaign focuses on families and individuals, urging the public to take action by visiting waiting2belong.ca to learn, share and add their voice to the growing movement for change.
#WaitingToBelong highlights the struggles and barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families as they languish on the Developmental Services (DS) waitlist, waiting for critical support services, such as housing, employment and community connections.
According to CLEC Executive Director Corey Dalgleish, about 53,000 individuals and families are still waiting for supports, which includes over 1,000 locally.
Community Living Essex County (CLEC) helps over 700 individuals and families with intellectual disabilities by providing accommodation supports, job supports, respite services and independent living arrangements, as well as many other supports and services.
“We’ve been chronically underfunded for about 30 years,” says Dalgleish. “Families are at a tipping point.”
Dalgliesh says that lack of funding and the extraordinary wait times for services to reach families leaves the caretakers burnt out and in need of care themselves, prompting an overflow into other sectors such as healthcare, policing and even homelessness.
He says that they have a very specific ask of the Ontario government: a three per cent increase in base budgets, followed up with a two per cent increase in ongoing years.
“We’re looking for a long-term solution,” he said. “And we hope the campaign will convince the public to help spread the word.”
The word can be spread by visiting waiting2belong.ca where you can sign a petition, watch and share the public service announcement and learn more about the waitlist issue as it affects individuals across the province.
