November 26, 2025
Yesterday’s Ombudsman report Lost in Translation highlights the urgent and growing challenges facing adults with developmental disabilities and complex needs in Ontario. We are pleased to see that the province has accepted all 24 recommendations and we look forward to working with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and across government in support of implementation of the report’s findings.
Developmental disabilities refer to lifelong conditions such as intellectual disabilities, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders that affect learning, communication, behaviour, and daily living. Many adults with developmental disabilities also have significant mental health needs, known as dual diagnosis, which can make accessing the right supports even more difficult. As the Ombudsman shared, across Ontario, too many people with developmental disabilities are spending months, and sometimes years, in hospital despite no longer needing inpatient care. This affects individuals, families, and places a significant strain on the entire health and social services system.
A cause of this is the severe shortage of appropriate community-based housing and mental health supports. Without the right partnership providing the needed health supports and proper transition planning, people experience delayed recovery, declining health, caregiver strain, and rising system costs.
Ontario already has a roadmap for how to do this work well. With resources from the Ministry of Health, more than 100 experts, including families and people with disabilities from across the province, gave input into the development of practice guidance to support this population to transition out of hospital. This guidance includes implications for patients and families, community mental health, primary care and developmental service providers, and health and developmental service planners. Hospitals can identify patients earlier and strengthen staff training. Community agencies can work proactively with hospitals. Decision makers can ensure system-level coordination and investment.
The Ombudsman’s findings reinforce what our organizations see every day. This is a system-wide challenge that requires coordinated action across health care, housing, developmental services, and government. CAMH and Reena have learned much by working together across sectors and are ready to move forward and work alongside the government and partners to create a coordinated, equitable system where people with developmental disabilities can live safely and with dignity in their communities.
CAMH and Reena are dedicated to ensuring that every person receives the right support, in the right place, at the right time.