A failing grade for a broken system

THE SPECTATOR’S VIEW

Back in the bad old days, Ontario had a relatively simple way of dealing with adults with developmental delays. We put them in warehouses (known most commonly as mental hospitals) and walked away, leaving them to languish in a cold, institutional environment in perpetuity.

Eventually, we recognized what a destructive and inhumane piece of social policy this was, and did the right thing.

We blew it up. Closed the warehouses. Moved the vulnerable people into smaller, less institutional settings. That was the right thing to do. We got that part of the job right.

But then we messed up in a way our society has become quite good at. We’re good at breaking things that don’t work, but not so good at replacing them with better alternatives. We closed the warehouses but didn’t invest nearly enough into the system that was supposed to take adequate care of that vulnerable population.

We allowed an uneven patchwork quilt of support and services to develop. We ended up leaving the vulnerable population in a different place but one that isn’t much better than the old system.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube brought that message home — with a sledgehammer — this week with the release of a damning report based on 1,400 complaints from desperate families of adults with developmental problems.

There was a man who is blind, has a seizure disorder and cerebral palsy and needs a wheelchair. No care facilities in his area will take him. There are stories of people moved into facilities, who are abused there, moved out and then moved back again. The number of people waiting for residential support — 9,700. Number of adults with a developmental disability — 70,000. Number receiving support and services — 42,000.

It is often said that a society is judged on how well it treats its most vulnerable citizens. In that case we should be judged harshly indeed. This isn’t new. But it is getting new attention because of a spike in the number of complaints about developmental services — 1,525 to be precise.

How did things get this bad? That’s hazy and complex, but one thing is clear: The Ministry of Community and Social Services has not been providing adequate leadership.

Minister Helena Jazcek acknowledged as much when confronted with the report and stories told by families who attended the launch event at Queen’s Park this week. She apologized to the families and promised to do better, and to adopt all 60 of the recommendations Dube made in his report.

That’s something. Let’s wait and see if and how the government follows through on that pledge.