A sign of relief

A mother was concerned about the lack of support and funding for her 19-year-old son, who has autism and aggressive behavioural issues. He had recently been taken to hospital by police after an incident when he became agitated and violent.

A mother was concerned about the lack of support and funding for her 19-year-old son, who has autism and aggressive behavioural issues. He had recently been taken to hospital by police after an incident when he became agitated and violent. The family had short-term support workers funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services through a staffing agency, but the workers were unreliable, causing additional stress for the son. As the sole caregiver, the mother worried she wouldn’t be able to keep herself and her son safe in her home.

Ombudsman staff made inquiries with DSO, two local service agencies and the Ministry, and discovered that the agencies had never told DSO about the family’s recent difficulties. DSO officials met with the woman and her son immediately, resulting in a reassessment of his needs and a significant increase in the family’s priority rating for extra supports. Staff at the local agency also agreed to review procedures to improve communication with their provincial counterparts.

The family was allocated $16,000 in annual funding through the Passport program, which provides funding for services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities. The mother told our Office she hoped to use the funding to find a day program for her son.