ODSP

Media Release                                                                February 16, 2006

McGuinty Government Helping People with Disabilities

Find Jobs and Increase Their Income

Simcoe Community Services welcomes the upcoming changes to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) announced on February 8^th, 2006.

For more than twenty years, Simcoe Community Services has been assisting individuals who have an intellectual disability to become employed.  Some have made the transition  to full-time employment but many more choose to work part-time hours, fearing their benefits will be terminated.

The proposed changes, most of which come into effect on November 1, 2006, will motivate individuals towards employment without reprisal.

Proposed changes include:

·                    improving access to employment services helping individuals to find and keep real, sustainable jobs

·                    keeping more of what they earn – only half of their income will be deducted from their ODSP payment, meaning most current earners will automatically see an increase in their disposable income

·                    providing ongoing health-related benefits to recipients who find employment and leave ODSP until they receive employer benefits

“The proposed changes address the challenges and concerns that many of the individuals  we support have had,” remarks Debbi Soucie, Supervisor of Employment Supports at Simcoe Community Services.  “It gives credence to the fact that people with disabilities want to work and contribute to their communities.”