Inside the Guide
For caregivers, families and service providers
The guide that expedites the search for essential resources for persons with developmental disabilities.
Information Resources and Research
What Is Included In This Section
The resources that follow are based on recommendations provided during consultation sessions when developing this Guide.
In the first section you will find recommended search terms and websites to use, and those to avoid, in order to promote more effective on-line searches.
In the second section you will find information sources recommended by service providers and researchers who attended the consultation sessions, as well as by subject matter experts in related fields.
The categories of resources listed are:
- Enabling/Adaptive Technology Websites for Persons with Disabilities
- Websites to Help Access Ontario Health and Community Resources
- Websites Recommended by Service Providers & Researchers
- University Websites
- Recommended Academic Journals & How to Access Them
- Strategies, Reports, Videos, Toolkits, Courses
- Books Recommended in Consultation Sessions
- Articles Some resources are provincial or federal, while others are international.
Some resources are web-based, while others can be found in hard copy format in books and journals. Canadian sources are listed first in each category.
When reviewing these resources, there are two key points to remember.
Firstly, the information is selective and not exhaustive.
Secondly, in other individual sections of the Guide, we included references that were relevant to the specific topics being covered, so that users did not have to “flip” back and forth to find the information. Therefore, if you are looking for resources on a specific topic, they will be included in that section of the Guide. However, we did repeat certain resources in this part of the Guide, because we felt that some resources had broader applications in other subject areas, and would be of interest and benefit to all users.
We have included some descriptions, or mini-abstracts, for some information sources that might not be well-known to users, to give a sense of the contents.
Search Terms and Websites to Use and to Avoid
Participants suggested avoiding:
- Broad terms like “Cognitive impairment” or “learning disability”
- Personal blog posts/advice from strangers, website chats
Favourite search terms included:
- Seniors, mental health, home services, outreach, frailty
- Developmental disability and aging
- Intellectual disability and aging (for use beyond Canada, in U.S. sites and Europe)
- Identify specific supports such as “transportation”, “meal programs”, “day programs” community support
- Link between developmental disability and dementia.
Enabling/Adaptive Technology Websites for Persons with Disabilities
The Canadian network AGE-WELL Canada’s Technology and Aging Network brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions. AGE-WELL researchers produce technologies, services, policies and practices that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers.
The ThisAbles project is designed for people with special needs to allow them the ability to enjoy the quality of life provided by IKEA products.
On the website, new products are shown that bridge some of the gaps between existing IKEA products and the special needs of people belonging to these populations. This website was built for the project and adapted for people with disabilities, along with the products themselves.
Design to share Enabling Technology products. All are encouraged to provide feedback and experiences, as well as useful products. There is also a presentation “How Technology Can Help Make Life Easier & Safer At Home & In The Community”, with suggested “apps”. The presentation was developed by family leaders, members of Windsor-Essex Family Network, and participants from a local 3 Housing Task Force project called “Continuing Housing Innovation in Windsor- Essex.”
Websites to Help Access Ontario Health and Community Resources
The Healthline.ca is an online resource for community and health services in Ontario. You can access services in your local area by postal code, or by service category. There is a tutorial on the site to show you how to search. If you start by searching your region, you will then find in your region a category listing Health Care Options, and in that section you will find a list of Home Health and Community Supports.
There is another category called Health Topics, and in that category there will be a section for People with Disabilities listing specific resources. The website can also take you to the individual Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) in your area, which will also list services. A number of service providers suggested looking up specific LHIN websites, e.g., the Central LHIN website, or looking up the Central Health Line.
Note: If you already know your geographic region, you can use the Central Healthline and look under Health Services. You may also wish to click health care at home (this is another shortcut to finding local home and community care by searching the LHINs, where you can refer to the maps or enter your postal code).
Geriatric Services (sometimes called Geriatric Outreach Teams) consist of healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of seniors living in the community, promoting independence and vitality for seniors through assessment, consultation, referrals collaboration and support. Their goal is optimize the health and wellness of frail seniors living in the community. If you search under “geriatric clinics”, you will find a variety of other geriatric services/clinics.
Your search may be more efficient if you:
- Go to Central Healthline and click on the coloured tab for the geographic area of interest to you.
- Below the heading “Health Services”, there is a heading called “Your Health”, and within that category you can click on “Seniors”.
- Under “Seniors” you will find a listing for Geriatric Services (Aging Related Health Care). Once in the Geriatric Services listing, you can check the geriatric services available in the other regions by going up to the top of the page and clicking on the top coloured tabs for other geographic areas.
Please see the screen shot below as an example.
Another suggested area of interest was websites pointing out agencies offering Mental Health Services. Community-based agencies may offer a range of case management and community crisis services, to support individuals with a developmental disability and/or a serious mental illness. Some agencies may also provide services within the Children’s Services Sector, offering Children’s Case Coordination.
In order to find out what is available:
- Go to Central Healthline and click on the coloured tab for the geographic area of interest to you.
- Below the heading “Health Services”, there is a heading called “Health Topics”, and within that category you can click on “Mental Health.”
- You will then find a variety of listings for mental health services, including Mental Health for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and Mental Health for Seniors.
- Once in these mental health listings, you can check the mental health services available in the other regions by going up to the top of the page and clicking on the top coloured tabs for other geographic areas.
Please see the screen shot above as an example.