Calendar Year 2007

December 2007
NEW ADMIN ASSISTANT
The recruitment for a new project Admin Assistant has been completed. An announcement will be forthcoming as soon as hiring is completed.

NEXT OPADD MEETING
11:45 AM Friday January 11 2008. Robin Hurst of the Seniors Health Research Network (SHRTN) will be attending to bring us up to date on the activities and direction of the network. For more info on SHRTN do a search using “SHRTN” in your web browser.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION ‐ NIAGARA MOVES FORWARD
The Niagara Region, situated within the OPADD South Central Region has been moving forward with its strategy to build partnership between the DS and LTC sectors. Last winter the Niagara planning group hosted a workshop for people in the DS sector to learn more about aging and developmental disabilities. This November a second workshop is being hosted to bring LTC caregivers together. These workshops provide learning opportunities and opportunity to dialogue. A third workshop is being planned for February 2008 to bring DS and LTC players together in partnership.

NORTHEAST EXPANDING REPRESENTATION
Following its meeting with the Sudbury Regional LTC Committee, the Northeast Committee on Aging and Developmental Disabilities has enlarged its membership to include additional representation from the long term care sector as well as from the North Bay Association for Community Living. This brings new perspective to the work ahead. Northeast is planning its follow‐up workshop for 2008.

The North Bay and District ACL as well as developmental service agencies in the surrounding area have expressed an interest in learning more about the work of OPADD. These agencies are experiencing the pressures related to an aging clientele and want to know more about aging and developmental disabilities.

SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING
A report on sustainability, now being prepared, will analyse input from the regions and sustainability discussions of the Collaborative Committee. The document will present options for moving forward after the exhaustion of project funding March 31 2009. The report will be reviewed by the Collaborative Committee at their December meeting. More information to follow.

FACILITY CLOSURES
This information about progress in facilities closures was shared at the October 12 OPADD meeting:

South Western Regional Centre – placed 174 – remaining
Rideau Regional Centre – placed 168 – remaining 228
Huronia Regional Centre – placed 191 – remaining
Provincially ‐ 2% of all those who have moved from facilities have moved to a LTC

October 2007
ANNE AMORE IS MOVING ON
Anne Amore, Administrative Assistant, has provided invaluable support to the project since July 2004. Anne is leaving the project on October 5 for a permanent position elsewhere. She will be missed here at the office by regions and others who received so much assistance from her over the past three plus years. We wish Anne every success in her new permanent position. Thanks Anne! If you want to send wishes to
Anne, you can reach her this week at 905-889-2690 x2204 or aamore@reena.org

NEXT OPADD MEETING
12 Noon Friday October 12 2006 in the Training Room at Reena. Lunch will be served.
Elizabeth Estevez of the Seniors Secretariat will be presenting on the role and priorities of the Secretariat. Joe Persaud of Reena will be reporting as a member of a panel looking at curriculum reform in the DS sector.

OTTAWA/CHAMPLAIN DEVELOPING LOCAL PROJECTS
At its meeting Sept 27, the Ottawa/Champlain Regional Committee began working on proposals for local cross sector initiatives that support planning and service delivery for older adults with a developmental disability. Ottawa/Champlain reports that they are also consulting with the Southeast Region to learn from them.

NORTHEAST TO MEET WITH SUDBURY REGIONAL LTC COMMITTEE
The Sudbury Regional LTC Committee has invited representatives of the Northeast Regional OPADD Committee to meet with them to explore broadening cross sector participation. A meeting date has not yet been set but it is expected to be sometime in October or November.

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY
Thank-you to the five regions that have participated in the sustainability dialogue to date. We are waiting on a date from South Central, Southeast and Northwest to ensure all eight regions have input. The perspective of regions is key to building an effective sustainability strategy prior to the exhaustion of funding March 31 2009.

LOCAL PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS – we know you’re out there somewhere
Thank-you to regions and local projects that have been submitting project descriptions for posting to the web site. There are more out there. We are looking for real life examples of cross sector partnering in planning and service delivery. These will be posted to the OPADD web site for sharing across Ontario. Help your colleagues identify
ideas and models that can duplicated in their jurisdictions. Provide a brief description and send it via e-mail to rcoristine@reena.org

TRAVEL COSTS
For the most part, the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant has covered travel costs for project staff to visit regions and participate in workshops. Due to the pressure this poses on the project’s travel budget, regions are now being asked to contribute to travel costs for project staff to present at workshops. This “fiscal” partnership will help us
get to the end of the project and the end of project funding at the same time. If you have any questions about this please e-mail Ron at rcoristine@reena.org

September 2007
NEXT OPADD MEETING
12 Noon Friday October 12 2007 in the Training Room at Reena.
Elizabeth Estevez of the Seniors Secretariat will be presenting.

SUSTAINABILITY
The Collaborative will be reviewing the findings of the Sustainability discussions held earlier this year and considering the input of those regions that have so far responded to the sustainability focus questions (Northeast, Southwest, Toronto and Central East.) Regions that have not yet scheduled a time for Ron to attend a meeting (in person or by phone) to discuss the sustainability focus questions are asked to do so as soon as possible.

Sustainability will require continuing leadership from all OPADD members to broaden the cross sector dialogue so every older adult with a developmental disability has opportunity to maintain quality of life through inclusion in services and programs for Ontario seniors. We must also begin to think about ways to sustain the infrastructure that has been created to support the dialogue (updates, newsletter, web site, meetings, task groups).

LOCAL PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS ARE NEEDED
There are areas across Ontario that can benefit from learning about how cross sector partnering gets translated into action at the local level. We need descriptions of local projects to post on the web site so others can learn. Projects may be large or small, old or new. Please send a brief description of local projects to aamore@reena.org Send bullet points, short notes, brochures or any material that helps to explain your project along with the name of a contact person.

BUILDING THE MODEL OF TRANSITION PLANNING
OPADD’s work has contributed to the development of a model of transition planning. The model is presented in PowerPoint Format on the opadd web site. Choose the News/Resources Tab; then click on and go to . This year we will be refining the model so it can provide a framework for establishing transition planning practices that suit local conditions and capacities while respecting best practices. Volunteers are needed to focus the dialogue on this project. If you are interested please contact Ron at rcoristine@reena.org Our dialogue can be done in virtual space and via teleconference.

CANADIAN CENTRE ON DISABILITY STUDIES (CCDS)
The Canadian Centre on Disability Studies is a university-affiliated centre dedicated to research, education and information dissemination on disability issues. The Centre is establishing partnerships with the disability community, the corporate sector, the academic world and governments. For more information about the CCDS visit their web site at http://www.disabilitystudies.ca/index.htm

PARTNERSHIPS IN OTHER PROVINCES
One of OPADD’s objectives is to establish links with other related partnerships across Canada. As we make these acquaintances we establish links to their web sites on the opadd web site. Currently you can learn more about other similar work being carried out in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia by going to ww.opadd.on.ca select the LINKS Tab and then click on <other ADD Partnerships.

August 2007
NEXT OPADD MEETING
12 Noon Friday October 12 2007 in the Training Room at Reena.
Elizabeth Estevez of the Seniors Secretariat will be presenting.

MOVING FORWARD – TOGETHER
Surgeons are learning from jet pilots about how to communicate more effectively in the operating room. Researchers and policy makers in some jurisdictions are forging new links to enable better dissemination and application of research results to social policy. New knowledge is being created and challenges are being met through sharing of
information and resources.

The OPADD experience of working in a cross sector partnership has contributed to improved planning capacity and better support for older adults with a developmental disability. Many service providers are witnessing improved outcomes for those they serve. However, there are many organizations that remain on the sidelines because they have not yet connected to regional committees or local projects. Others are reluctant to enter into a process that presents new challenges on the road to inclusion. OPADD members everywhere are reminded to reach out to colleagues: share what is being learned; encourage others to become involved.

LOCAL PROJECTS – CALL FOR INFORMATION
Sharing information is a key OPADD strategy. Please send a brief description of local projects to aamore@reena.org so we can post them to the OPADD website. Others can learn from what you have done. Your description can be brief. Bullet points are fine. Also include a contact person who can be reached for more information.

NORTHEAST REGION – BUILDING CAPACITY
The Sudbury Regional Hospital is a key player in strengthening system capacity. The hospital has been active in building a seamless delivery system for older adults, people with mental health problems and people with disabilities. The Northeast regional committee has been invited to attend a meeting this fall to share OPADD’s work and explore opportunities for cooperation.

FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOPS
Three OPADD regions have yet to hold their follow-up workshop: Northeast; Ottawa/Champlain; South Central. Once these workshops have been completed this fall, OPADD will be poised to move forward on developing a discussion paper on what we have learned and accomplished and what remains to be done. We will also be commencing an evaluation study of the project.

GUIDE TO PERSONAL CARE AND PROPERTY
The final draft is being prepared. Watch for the guide later this fall.

July 2007
NEXT OPADD MEETING
12 Noon Friday October 12 2006 in the Training Room at Reena.

NORTHEAST REGION PARTICIPATES IN CROSS SECTOR PLANNNING DAY
A committee representing service providers and planners in healthcare, mental health, developmental disabilities and long term care delivered a day long planning workshop in Sudbury on June 19. The focus of the day was twofold: 1.) To create a document that describes a cross sector model of care; 2.) To develop a focused broadbased
consensus on service needs for submission to the LHIN. The information generated from the workshop will be tied into the LHIN’s current examination of alternative levels of care. The workshop was the culmination of a process that included engagement of physicians and a literature review in the pursuit to build cross sector capacity.

SOUTHWEST WORKSHOP EVALUATION
Participants identified several significant outcomes of the workshop. Their top three are: 1.) Building cross sector relationships; 2.) Acquiring information on aging and developmental disabilities; 3.) Developing and encouraging practical examples of cross sector activity.

SUSTAINABILITY – MOVING FORWARD
Thank-you to Northeast, Southwest, Toronto and Central East for devoting a portion of their June meetings to the discussion on sustainability. Input from the Northwest, Southeast, South Central, and Ottawa/Champlain will be gathered in September.

OPADD WEB SITE – LOCAL PROJECTS
The OPADD Website now features local projects more prominently. Local initiatives are the core strategy in testing new models in the search for a service system that works for older adults with a developmental disability. Service providers and planners across Ontario need to share what they are doing to help others who are still grappling with
how to respond to the growing numbers of older adults with a developmental disability. Send info on your projects in point form to aamore@reena.org We will contact you if we need clarification and then post the project description to the web site.

GUIDE TO PROPERTY AND PERSONAL CARE
On June 29, a new draft of the guide was submitted to the Task Group and to two family readers for review. The newest draft includes sections on the federal government’s recently announced disability savings plan, Henson Trusts, caregiver credit and more. Stories of actual cases are also included to illustrate some of the issues and
safeguards around personal care and property. A section of the guide will provide information in a simplified form using pictures and text to help caregivers explain substitute decision-making to older adults with a developmental disability. The guide will be submitted to the Collaborative for approval prior to distribution this fall.

OPADD ON THE EAST COAST
OPADD is listed in the Nova Scotia Community College Project: Retirement Planning Resource Guide. The publication is available to older adults with a developmental disability and their caregivers in Nova Scotia.

June 2007
NEXT OPADD MEETING
June 15 2007 in the Training Room at Reena.

SOUTHWEST HOSTS FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOP
The Southwest regional committee hosted its follow-up workshop on Wednesday May 16 near London, Ontario. Colin Hamilton, Co-Chair of the Toronto Regional Committee, spoke on the history of the Community Living Movement. Participants learned about LHINs, about the unique health care needs of older adults with a developmental disability and about building professional relationships with health care providers. Several people came forward following the workshop to offer help with furthering the work of the regional committee.

CENTRAL EAST HOSTS COUNTY WORKSHOPS
The Central East Committee has taken regional development to a new level. Workshops were held in counties within the Central East during the month of May. Participants learned about the work of the regional committee, had opportunity to explore issues through focus group discussions and became acquainted with their counterparts in the other sector. Players across the Central East are also engaged in furthering the work of six project ideas that came out of the CE regional workshop held last fall.

SUSTAINABILITY – MOVING FORWARD
Regional committees are being contacted to arrange a time in June or September for focused discussion on sustainability of the partnership. Project staff will be facilitating a focus group discussion at each regional meeting to collect qualitative information about the continuing need for the partnership, how the partnership may be supported in the future and how we can embed our evolving cross sector work within the mainstream activity of both sectors. The input will be analysed to identify potential strategies and capacity to move forward after project funding is exhausted in April 2009. The findings will be shared with the regions and will comprise some of the input to an OPADD Discussion Paper due to be completed after all regions have held their initial and follow-up workshops.

OPADD WEB SITE – TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
The OPADD Website has been re-organized with a new banner (the eight buttons at the top of the page) and with new content on regions, local projects, information on issues such as personal care and property and much more. Unfortunately we are continuing to experience technical difficulties with the site and have postponed an “official”
announcement until they are resolved. In the meantime please note that it can take up to 4 or 5 minutes for the banner at the top of the home page to load onto your computer. We are continuing to work with the web developer to resolve the problem.

WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY
Ontario will join a number of jurisdictions in Canada and around the world to mark the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Thursday, June 15, 2006. For more information visit: http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors/english/weaad/

GUIDE TO CHOOSING AND USING ASSISTIVE DEVICES
This guide contains ideas for selecting assistive devices and adapting items in the home to the needs of older adults. It is available for download at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/go_for_it/goforit_toc_e.htm#content

May 2007
BUILDING REGIONAL CAPACITY
Building cross sector planning capacity is a key strategy to realize OPADD’s Vision. Responses to the follow‐up survey distributed to regions following the regional Co‐Chair Training provides some insight into how well we are doing. Highlights of regional responses appear below.

The Focus of Regional Committees
Responding regions identified the focus of their work in terms of:

Open Communication.
Identifying problems and solutions.
Cooperative projects and initiatives.
Collaboration, joint approaches and sharing of resources.
Training.
Sharing knowledge, training tools and best practices.
Smooth transition from one system to the other.

Partnering with Ministries and Planning Bodies

4 of 5 regions have a CCAC rep.
4 of 5 regions have an MCSS rep.
1 of 5 regions is re‐inviting an MCSS rep to attend.
3 of 5 regions have a MOHLTC rep.
1 of 5 regions is identifying a MOHLTC contact.

Working with LHINs
Some regions are beginning work on establishing a connection and working relationship with their LHIN(s).

Protocols and Agreements
Some regions report using the Joint Ministry Protocol for Access to Long Term Care but none report any other cross sector agreements or protocols in place.

SUSTAINABILITY ‐ ‐ ‐ THE WAY FORWARD
The next step in identifying willingness and potential strategies for sustainability, is to engage the regions in a dialogue on “where to” and “how to”. In the coming weeks, project staff will be in touch with each region to schedule a venue for exploring sustainability questions and issues.

April 2007
OPADD DISTRIBUTES PRESS RELEASE
Opadd distributed a press release to all regions and other members across Ontario to re-iterate the work of the partnership and accomplishments that are building system capacity to support older adults with a developmental disability. The release was prepared as a growing public discourse in the media about older adults with a developmental disability seemed to be uninformed about the progress that is being made across Ontario through cross sector partnership. OPADD members have work to do to contribute to the discourse and help others understand how much has been accomplished and what remains to be done.

FACTS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IN LONG TERM CARE HOMES
Media coverage about older adults with a developmental disability has contained some factual errors about numbers in long term care homes. Data from the MOHLTC provides an accurate and current source of information such as:

Number of people with a developmental disability in long term care homes in 2005/2006:
The average number of people with a developmental disability in LTCHs between 1995 and 2006:
Of the 420 residents with developmental disabilities under 65 years of age, more than 95% are between 45 and 64 years of age.
The proportion of LTC residents with a developmental disability under 45 years of age has decreased from .11% in 1999 to .09% in
Since 2002 the number of long term care beds has increased by 35% the numbers of people with a developmental disability increased by 7%.

BUILDING LOCAL EQUITY
Share the wealth of knowledge and innovation taking place in local communities across Ontario. If you are part of a project, have developed a policy or protocol or are aware of a cross sector initiative, please send us a brief written description or tell us who to contact for information. Send info to Ron at ronc@tnt21.com

SUSTAINABILITY
The Collaborative Committee has completed discussions about sustainability. A summary of their findings appears in the spring edition of the OPADD Letter. One important piece in the way forward will be to focus discussion with each of the regions around the value of the partnership, expectations for support and accountability, and strategies for sustainability.

REGIONAL CO-CHAIR TRAINING FOLLOW-UP
We are still waiting on a response from some regions. The findings from the survey on how we can build our communication capacity will be tabulated in the near future. Watch for an update.

OPADD GUIDE ON ACCESSING SENIORS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Copies of the Guide in CD ROM format can be made available to all participants at your workshop or other regional event at a reduced price. The Access Guide provides an excellent resource for front line staff working in either sector as well as adults with a developmental disability who have some computer literacy.

March 2007
LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER
The OPADD Project is now entering its second half. An important piece over the next while is to build an inventory of local cross sector projects, processes and protocols. The inventory will provide a brief description of the initiative and who to contact for more information. This material will be posted to the OPADD web site. If you are part of a project, have developed a policy or protocol or are aware of a cross sector initiative, please send us information or tell us who to contact for information. Send info to Ron Coristine at ronc@tnt21.com

SUSTAINABILITY
The project is now just past the midpoint. The Collaborative Committee, responsible for oversight of the OPADD ADD Project is in the midst of discussions about sustainability. Some regions are also examining how they can sustain their work. It is important to keep in mind that the aging boom, which is now just in its initial stages, will become much more pronounced and will last for decades. The work of supporting quality of life for older adults with a developmental disability will continue to be a challenge for some time to come. If your region or your organization has developed some strategies around sustaining the work of cross sector dialogue and planning, please share them – either via a submission to the OPADD Letter or to the OPADD website. Send submissions to aamore@reena.org

REGIONAL CO-CHAIR TRAINING FOLLOW-UP
The findings from the survey on how we can build our communication capacity, sent out to the regions in January, will be tabulated in the near future. Watch for an update.

REGIONAL WORKSHOPS and EVENTS
The Southwest will be hosting its follow-up workshop on May 16 2007. The program will include a presentation about the LHIN and how to work with health care practitioners in supporting healthy aging for older adults with a developmental disability.

The Central East Region is organizing a series of focus groups with stakeholders in Simcoe County this May.

The Toronto Region is exploring a continuation of its “Walk a Day in My Shoes” Project. Exchange visits allow staff to learn about a service provider in the other sector.

Central East has set up a task group to explore how the region can best establish effective communications and working relationships with their respective LHIN(s).

OPADD GUIDE ON ACCESSING SENIORS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Copies of the Guide in CD ROM format are available for $12.00, which covers the cost of publication and distribution. The Access Guide provides an excellent resource for front line staff working in either sector as well as adults with a developmental disability who have some computer literacy. Multiple copies can be purchased at a reduced rate.

February 2007
PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY
The OPADD Project Collaborative Committee met on January 26 to examine questions pertaining to the sustainability of the project. Discussion identified successes to date and a vision of the future. Some of the successes include the regional committees and the work they have done to bring the players together, initiate cross sector dialogue and planning processes. The OPADD guides and other documents were also identified as important practical contributions to the work of service providers and planners. The Vision of the future includes a landscape where planning and service delivery silos have given way to a fluent cross sector dialogue and integrated planning that supports quality of life for older adults with a developmental disability.

Ideological barriers that keep some players from entering the dialogue to learn from one another and build new approaches that support quality of life were also noted. The Collaborative will be meeting again in the coming weeks to continue the discussion.

REGIONAL CO-CHAIR TRAINING FOLLOW-UP
During the Co-Chair sessions, Regional Co-chairs identified a number of ideas for building our communication capacity. A summary of these ideas were included in the last project report to OPADD. A survey has now gone out to the regions asking for an update on how regions are putting some of these ideas in place and requesting input on how we can achieve others with provincial implications. Thanks to the regions!

REGIONAL CO-CHAIR TRAINING COSTS
When the idea for the regional meeting was first proposed, regions were asked if they could contribute to the costs. Some indicated that this would be possible. We subsequently received funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Reena and New Leaf to help. However, the high cost of travel and inflation in the cost of hotel accommodation and meals has left us a little short. We will be sending a request out to the regions very soon to ask for some help in defraying the deficit. This approach helps us to fund some important additional activities, which are not covered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant.

WEB CHANGES CONTINUE BEHIND THE SCENES
Many changes have been made to the web site over the past several weeks: updated text, new content and new links. A more comprehensive set of changes is now being put in place by our web developer. Once these have been completed we will be uploading the new site structure so all can see it. In the meantime changes will continue behind the scenes.

LOCAL PROJECTS
If you are part of a project, have developed a policy or protocol or are aware of a cross sector initiative, please send us information or tell us who to contact for information. Send info to aamore@opadd.on.ca

OPADD GUIDE ON PERSONAL CARE AND PROPERTY
Second draft is being prepared. We will be going with a guide that focuses on older adults with a developmental disability. An expanded version that includes other special needs populations may be considered in the future.

January 2007
REGIONAL CO-CHAIR TRAINING PROCEEDINGS
All Presentations, Handouts and PowerPoint Presentations have been posted to the OPADD website. You can access these by going to the opadd home page, then to the Quick Links on the right hand side, then to the partner updates section and clicking on the link to “Proceedings from Co-Chair Training.” You will have to scroll down through the entire set of documents to find each one. We are working on an easier format so you can find each one via a table of contents.

LOCAL PROJECTS
We are now building an inventory of local projects, new models of cross sector service delivery, protocols and policies. If you are part of a project, have developed a policy or protocol or are aware of a cross sector initiative, please send us the information. We will build the inventory with a brief description and who to contact for more information. This will allow people to learn from others across Ontario and support broader dissemination of new ideas and best practices related to aging and developmental disabilities. Send info to aamore@opadd.on.ca

REGIONAL WORKSHOPS
Southwest – workshop re-scheduled to May 16 2007; to be held near London.

CANADIAN CONSENSUS PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE OF ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
The Canadian Guidelines provide an evidence-based approach to addressing the health care needs of adults with a developmental disability. The implementation of these guidelines will improve the health of adults with developmental disabilities and minimize disparities in health and health care. Practitioners in health care and developmental services are currently receiving training in the use of the guidelines. We are working on obtaining a copy of the guidelines and related resource materials for posting to the opadd website or information on how you can obtain a copy directly.