Author: Dorothy M. Griffiths, Frances Owen, Rosemary Condillac

Publication Date: November 2, 2015

Description: On September 9, 2004 the government of the province of Ontario, Canada announced that it would close the last three remaining large, government-run residential facilities for adults with intellectual disabilities. This final phase of the Ontario deinstitutionalization process became known as the Facilities Initiative and was completed on March 31, 2009. Four studies were undertaken to evaluate the Facilities Initiative implemented by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. The current study reports on the findings from a survey that recorded the perceptions of 61 family members of former facilities residents. The surveys were distributed to families beginning one year following the final closure of the three facilities. The survey results indicated that families perceived that the vast majority of individuals who were placed in the community as a result of the Facilities Initiative have excellent or good quality of life. Families reported that the transfer to the community and the subsequent adjustment were generally good to excellent, and they indicated an overall satisfaction with the present placement and with the supports and services provided. Although “counter-stories1” were evident and of note, the overall results revealed that of the families who participated in this study, most families, even those who were initially concerned, were pleased with the outcomes of the Facilities Initiative.

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Keywords: deinstitutionalization, community feedback, intellectual disability