Ahila Poologaindran
Since its inception in 1998, the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) has been a parcel of Ontario’s social assistance program, providing income support benefits and employment support services to people with disabilities. Due to a recommendation in the 2008 Poverty Reduction Strategy that identified removal of barriers and importance of employment support as a vital poverty reduction strategy, the Ontario government appointed Frances Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh to review the province’s social assistance program.
In October of this year, the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance released Brighter Prospects: Transforming Social Assistance in Ontario. By consulting various stakeholders for nearly two years, it proposed some recommendations that, if implemented, would radically change the system. Though many of the recommendations are promising, one particular proposal might take the Province backwards.
Under the newly proposed system, all ODSP recipients would be required to set out employment goals and a course of action to get there – a Pathway to Employment Plan. Devised in collaboration with a caseworker, a recipient’s plan would identify and develop a “pathway” to employment, taking into consideration his or her limitations and abilities.
If a recipient cannot work full time or at all, a temporary deferral would be granted and he or she would be expected to participate in activities identified in the plan to prepare for and find work eventually. A recipient would have to meet these conditions in order to receive income support.
In order to understand the seriousness of such a regulation change, it is important to contextualize the challenges that currently face the Ontario government.
- For 2011-12, Ontario’s expenditure on ODSP totalled $4,101 million, excluding drug benefit program costs. In fact, the number of ODSP cases continues to increase at a higher rate than expected.
- Only 10% of primary recipients report earnings from employment.
- From 2009-10, 60% of new ODSP grants were due to a mental health disorder, either as a primary condition or a secondary condition.
- In 2010, 5% of Ontario’s working-age population was receiving disability-related income. This number is expected to be higher of recipients of all disability-related income support sources were taken into account.
Despite the pressing need for including people with disabilities in the labour market, Ontario should not mandate some of its most vulnerable residents to find employment. The above-noted figures are due partly to the systemic barriers to employment that people with disabilities face.
Without addressing some of these pervasive factors contributing to low employment rate, it is unrealistic to expect all recipients to find and maintain employment by simply creating a plan. Granted, the Commission recommended options that would raise awareness and promote the employability of ODSP recipients. Nevertheless, recommendations that highlight the employer’s role in integrating people with disabilities in the labour market must make substantial headway before ODSP recipients are forced to pursue employment options.
Research highlights that when many people with disabilities are employed, they are often relegated to the margins, receive low wages with no benefits, and are often the first to get laid off. In order to fully integrate people with disabilities into the labour force, they must be able to obtain meaningful employment that would make mobility within the workplace possible.
The Pathway to Employment Plan hopes to encourage and incentivize recipients to prepare for and find employment. However, it is blind to the fact that entrenched systemic barriers as well as employment conditions are not conducive to integration, even when the Plan considers the recipient’s abilities and limitations.
This is not to say that many recipients would not benefit from such a plan. On the contrary, the individualized approach to employment may facilitate a greater number of recipients into the labour market.
But recipients must not be threatened by reduction in income support. Rather, the Plan should recognize the value of volunteer work and child care along with employment-related activities. The value of an Ontarian should not simply be reduced to his or her ability to earn.
Ahila Poologaindran is a 2014 MPP Candidate at the School of Public Policy and Governance. She holds a joint degree in Political Science and International Development Studies from McGill University. Ahila has worked for the non-profit sector as well as for the Ontario Public Service. Her interests include migration, mental health, and social policy.
PP+G REVIEW 
The Commission’s report says exactly what you’ve said here. Recommendations 10 and 11 in the report (on page 54) say that until such time that these structural barriers are addressed, people with disabilties should not be penalized for failing to meet the terms of their Pathway to Employment Plan. No one with a disability will be forced to take a job that don’t want or are unable to do. Rather than being “blind” to these entrenched barriers. the Commission specifically considered them, and has put forward a reasonable approach.
It needs to speak to *practicable* elimination of barriers, not theoretical (legally mandated) elimination. Further, the AODA is simply silent on the barriers facing many disabled persons, even those who are expressly considered by both the Ontario and federal Human Rights Commissions to have disabilities for which accommodations must be made.
The ODSP offices, themselves, are not accessible, for heaven’s sake!
I am more concerned that each and every single one of the recommendations is attached to a de facto rate cut for people on ODSP, which could, in some cases, reduce support by over 40%.
I also think people who discuss rates need to make it clear that a 1% increase in rates *is* a cut in times when the actual cost of living increases more than 1%. Using that standard, disability support payments have been cut every single year since the beginning of the Harris era — and that is even before taking into account the actual reductions inherent in cuts in or cancellation of various “extra” programs.
“…with eligible individuals and families receiving up to $1,500 and $799 every two years, respectively.”
Surely the opposite, with individuals receiving up to $799 every two years, and families receiving up to $1,500, no ?
Disregard : mispost.
I can’t speak for all people on ODSP, but i can speak for a few. We don’t have jobs because we’re lazy or lack direction. We don’t work because WE CAN’T! I was making 25$/hr when i fell ill, if there was any job out there that i could do, i would have found it. Do you think i want to live on what works out to be 2.50$/hr?
I find it sickening that in a province with the average household income of 71,000$, the government wants to save money on the backs of those forced to live on 12,000$/yr
I’ve worked hard my entire life, growing up on a farm, i may have worked harder then most, payed untold amounts of taxes, and now, that i need help from my government, it kicks me when i’m down…very sad.
” We don’t have jobs because we’re lazy or lack direction”
I think you mean, We don’t have jobs, *NOT* because we’re lazy or lack direction; we don’t work because WE CAN’T
How on earth can people with disabilities find work when those with university degrees cannot????? How can you force someone with mental or physical illnesses to work, when they are suffering 24/7. Do people think we enjoy feeling this way?!
Please don’t assume that people on odsp can’t also have university degrees. many do
a ffirst i was horrified at the thought of odsp pensions being cut, but the more research i have done I’m now in agreement of the propose changes.
yes, there are many of us who are actually disabled, but i see the 60% rise in mental illness as something not a lot of people are willing to talk about because of controversial it is.
bipolar is the easiest of the mood disorders to mimic. yes, i said it, MIMIC.
there ARE too many young people being misdiagnosed with this, and to be honest I’m thrilled with the DSM-V because i see it as a crackdown. by too many young people who are drug users, yes i am saying it out loud, DRUG USERS, i personally know many, who by being drug addicts they’re the ones who are overloading the disability system, and they’re actually making odsp a CAREER!!!
the proposed changes, in my mind, is the province’s way of weeding these ones out. the ones who are perfectly capable of being responsible, productive members of society, but mimic a mental illness in order to “get more money.” it’s in quotations because I’ve actually heard people say this.
the stigma attached to odsp recipients is very unflattering to those of us who actually ARE disabled. it’s been referred to as glorified welfare, and to the lazy drug addicts it IS!!!
i WANT to work and have tried to over the 15 years I’ve been receiving odsp. I’m an artist.now, and I’m successfully building my business, albeit slowly. I’m 39 and have finally found a way to support myself a little, have meaning in my life, and try to maybe one day be able to go off of it.
by offering enjoyment support and requirements osdp is trying to help people help themselves. it doesn’t have to be a life ending support, because many people who need it are unable to support themselves due to.various, legitimate circumstances.
but my own outrage is at.the group of lazy drug addicts who lie, scheme and DECIDE to mimic a mental illness, because it’s THEIR fault i have to hide my main source of income. it’s that group who are making me, and every other legitimately disabled person LOOK BAD!!!!
if the system wasn’t so overloaded by lazy liars the chances are we WOULD be able to receive more help to live dignified, independent lives without the stereotypical stigma of lazy bum attached to us.
odsp, weed them out!!!
You must be aware, of course, that there are those who will say that artists are posers, especially those who don’t make money, and ask you what you intend to do as a day job. Meaning they’d say if you’re “well enough” to “be an artist” you must surely be “well enough” to do “real work.”
I think the rule of thumb is something about walking a mile in those shoes …
And btw, the whole “weed them out” rap is used to *justify* rate cutting, not to *improve* rates!
The fact that you are reading this is evidence enough that you are either in business or would be interested in doing some big time business. You can teach for universities or sites that allow you to offer classes. You may have never heard this term before, but I can almost guarantee you know what it is.
With affiliate marketing you will make a commission. They will start to realize that you are a nice person that likes to help, so they will check it out what your signature link is, because that can help them even more. You can’t find them if you are in antagonistic frame about what life has dealt.
Tell them you are just starting out and need their guidance. No need to develop products, handle orders or address customer complaints and refunds. Writing on your own blog of course have its advantages and disadvantages but let us focus on the advantages for now.
There are many ways to make great money online even if all you want to make an extra income or if you want to turn it into a full time income. If you want to find real ways to make money online just plan to put in a little time and effort. When you get a sale, you contact the drop-shipping company, send them their percentage of the sale, and they ship the item.
Let’s say you picked out some keywords from Google Ad – Words, and the monthly searches on those keywords is sixty thousand. It means that the same kinds of homework must be attended to and amount of time to be rendered. Some pay hourly while others pay per piece kind of work.
(My parents were share-croppers) I know the feeling of hungry pains, cold from not having winter clothes and ignorance from lack of education. Being able to provide clear and precise information to your clients will help you give them a clear idea of what they can be expecting now and in the near future. When you decide that instead of a regular job you will try out an alternative way to earn money from home, you need to be just as prepared and organized as if you were working a regular job.
Indeed. And that with lessened capacity and more to do. Everyone doesn’t get the same number of hours in a day, or days in a week. Or the same necessary “chores of living.”
And you need also to be aware that while ODSP has already charged back 50%+ of earnings, in addition, everything you earn during the last 2 years prior to retirement will be charged back against your GIS (50%) and GAIS (50%) entitlements. Regular employment comes with a $3500 exemption; not so self-employment.
That’s right. There is a “fine” of 50+% for being on ODSP and working “from home” rather than working “for someone else.”
It is actually very simple and that is why that is a great place to start. Usually, professionals will first discuss and get done with sensitive issues such as budget. Those wanting to try earning money could not resist asking what is the easiest way to earn money over the internet.
The installation procedure differs depending on the hosting company you are with. Honesty Makes Money Online because: It Proves Your Creditability:. This is because if the work is to carry out by an office worker, there are overheads that they need to take care of for running the work in an office environment.
Thanks designed for sharing such a pleasant opinion, piece of writing is nice, thats why i have read it entirely
What’s up, every time i used to check webpage posts here in the early hours in the daylight, since i like to find out more and more.
Another useful outlet is to join a forum where you can ask question and gather information on certain RV
from those that already own the particular motorhome. Keep in mind
the Cooper Mountain resort design their activities.
Players doing solo or non-healing players benefit most from
this profession as they can replenish themselves with
food.
Asking questions are truly good thing if you are not understanding something entirely, however this paragraph offers good understanding yet.
Hello There. I discovered your weblog the use of msn. That is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your helpful information. Thank you for the post. I will certainly return.
You could very well be on your way to creating a better life for yourself and your loved ones. Introduction – let the student know that you are going to watch a short scene from a popular movie to learn natural spoken English, and to improve listening and understanding. For example bank notes are printed on paper and these can be A£5, A£10, A£20 or A£50.
Asking questions are really fastidious thing if you are not understanding anything entirely, except this piece of writing provides pleasant understanding even.
Fantastic site you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Bless you!
Recruit your friends to help you search their ‘hidden market’ for available positions. Otherwise, take a look at what is happening in your area by looking for recruitment agencies which specialize in finding work for over 40s. I’ve seen people who couldn’t hold a glass of water without spilling it all over themselves after being sober for a week.
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I found this board and I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to present one thing back and help others like you aided me.
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
Every weekend i used to pay a visit this site, as i wish for enjoyment, as this this web site conations in fact pleasant funny information too.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
I believe everything wrote was very reasonable. However, consider this, what if you composed a catchier post title? I ain’t saying your information isn’t solid, however what if you added a title that grabbed folk’s attention? I mean ODSP Reform: Why Mandatory Employment Wont Work – Public Policy and Governance Review is kinda vanilla. You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and note how they create article titles to get viewers interested. You might try adding a video or a related picture or two to get readers excited about what you’ve got to say. In my opinion, it might make your website a little livelier.
Everything is gathered from the directors, the actors, the production crew, publicists and the whole 9 yards. A compensation plan with the right company can pay millions over time. Then comes opening day, and the movie is released to the public.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be really something that I believe I would never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely vast for me. I am taking a look forward to your subsequent put up, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!
The installation procedure differs depending on the hosting company you are with. Provide high value to other people and get paid back can be very frustrating if you don’t know how to do. A good keyword could be ‘how to roast coffee beans’ from the example above.
If you intend to achieve success and financial freedom in your MLM businesses, you must first have the right mindset. Most of all, you need to have passion for the product so that you can give your promotional tactics the authenticity that consumers crave. For those looking for something different, one of the above ideas is a great place to start to create residual income.
Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design. Many thanks
Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, very good site!
After going over a handful of the blog articles on your web page, I seriously like your way of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Please check out my website as well and tell me what you think.
Spot on with this write-up, I honestly believe that this website needs far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the advice!
I was recommended this blog by means of my cousin. I am not sure whether or not this submit is written by way of him as nobody else know such certain about my problem. You’re amazing! Thanks!
I think this is among the most important info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The website style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
This article will help the internet viewers for setting up new web site or even a weblog from start to end.
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after browsing through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly!
excellent issues altogether, you just received a new reader. What could you suggest about your submit that you made some days in the past? Any sure?
Corporate banking is a highly important part of the economic side of the world and it includes financial operations in which huge amounts of money are involved. For instance, if a company asks you to pay them before you start working for them, this is a red flag ‘ no legitimate stay home jobs will ask this of you. The makeshift toys that she has at first fashioned to hold Alyssa intrigued with lessons and research was now patented permitted by many universities and early childhood schooling industry experts and are on their way to for mass manufacturing.
One of the most devastating has been the change in the skills needed to earn a living today. The process always starts with a product or a service. These forums will educate you very quickly on what is good and what is a scam.
It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I’m happy that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours today, but I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It’s lovely worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the internet will likely be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Make sure they reflect the job requirements for the position you are applying for. Many people want to work from home to have that flexibility in their lives. You’ll also receive support and encouragement from fellow consultants or team members.
I’ll immediately grab your rss as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Aw, this was a very good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to generate a good article… but what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Excellent article. I definitely appreciate this website. Keep writing!
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back very soon. I want to encourage you to continue your great writing, have a nice afternoon!
I’m pretty pleased to find this great site. I want to to thank you for your time for this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every part of it and I have you bookmarked to see new information in your website.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always helpful to read through content from other authors and use a little something from their web sites.
I am genuinely thankful to the owner of this site who has shared this impressive paragraph at at this place.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author. I will remember to bookmark your blog and may come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great posts, have a nice evening!
We’re a gaggle of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with useful info to work on. You have done a formidable activity and our entire group will likely be thankful to you.
Link exchange is nothing else except it is simply placing the other person’s web site link on your page at proper place and other person will also do similar in support of you.
I know a lot of moms my age (40ish) who are looking for a change. Just decide what you want, make a plan, and do something every day to work for it. This is great to begin with as you can get the hang of how everything works and whether you enjoy doing it.
The last thing you want is to charge too much or too little money so be sure to first do some research about the amount of money you will charge and the operational procedures. It’s defined as the length of time it takes to actually make money. If it is something that you love then you can gradually take on more hours and more children.
Quite frankly, contrary to popular belief, making money online isn’t as hard or difficult as most folks make it out to be and once you understand and implement what is often called the ‘power of duplication’, then anyone – regardless of age, sex, education or technical background can start making money just as fast. However, once you choose to do this, make sure that you have the right content and necessary applications to avoid wasting the time of the user. Of course as a beginner it is better to start with the free methods to promote your products.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It’s always helpful to read through articles from other authors and use a little something from their sites.
Only wanna admit that this is very helpful , Thanks for taking your time to write this.
magnificent issues altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What might you recommend about your submit that you just made a few days in the past? Any sure?
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at this web page is actually nice.
I’m gone to inform my little brother, that he should also pay a visit
this blog on regular basis to get updated from hottest news.
I do not even know the way I finished up here, but I believed this post used to be good. I do not realize who you are however definitely you are going to a famous blogger for those who are not already. Cheers!
Spot on with this write-up, I really feel this amazing site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the info!
Hello, this weekend is nice in favor of me, since this moment i am reading this impressive educational paragraph here at my house.
This unit is designed for individuals without previous marketing qualifications.