Category Archives: Community

Algonquin College LIFE Program

This fall, the Academic Assistance for Students with Developmental Disabilities (AAADD) program at Algonquin College will relaunch as, “Living Independence, Functional Skills and Employment Readiness (LIFE).”
Led by Ottawa’s Horizons Behaviour Consulting, the new program will continue to focus on independence, life skills, and employment readiness.
Read more about what this change means for students with developmental disabilities and their families here: New LIFE for students with developmental disabilities | Ottawa Citizen

Register for CHEO Foundational Family Services’ Transition to Adulthood series

Transitioning to adulthood is a process that requires planning and preparation. This 2-part series from CHEO Foundational Family Services, Transition to Adulthood, is for teens and parents, and covers a variety of topics related to preparing your teen to become an adult.

Sessions take place on Tuesday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 26 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Please note: This session is offered in English.

Register here: Foundational Family Services – CHEO

Register for Autism Ontario’s Journey to Adulthood Discussion Workshops

Autism Ontario’s Journey to Adulthood Discussion Workshops are a series of six virtual discussions featuring topics relevant to the transition from youth to adulthood:

Attend Project SEARCH Ottawa: Virtual Information Night

Project SEARCH is an innovative school-to-work transition program designed for students with an intellectual or developmental disability, who have completed high school, and are ready to transition into the workforce.

It is a partnership between the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)Project SEARCHThe Ottawa Hospital, and LiveWorkPlay.

To participate, students must be 18+ years old as of September 2026 (must not turn 21 before January 1, 2027).

Eligible students and their parents/caregivers are invited to join a virtual information session via Google Meet on Wednesday, April 15 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. to learn how Project SEARCH bridges the gap between high school and the workforce. No registration is required.

Waitlist Watch

At SCS, our goal is to connect you with case management services as soon as possible.

The current average wait time for Children’s Case Management is 40 days, a decrease of 22 days from the previous quarter.

The current average wait time for Adult Case Management is 108 days, a decrease of 2 days from the previous quarter.

We remain committed to helping ensure you are connected to services promptly.

Waitlist Watch – EN – PDF

Have Your Say: Help Improve the SCS Brand

At Service Coordination Support (SCS), we’re working on refreshing our brand so it better reflects the people we serve. As part of this process, we’re gathering feedback from our community, and we’d love to hear from you.

There’s still time to have your say. Help shape what comes next by completing this quick, anonymous survey: https://forms.gle/8CE3dBjWF3PsDaxy9

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mackenzie Braithwaite at mbraithwaite@scsonline.ca.

Thank you for being part of our community, and for taking a moment to share your perspective.

Virtual Developmental Services Ontario Housing Strategy Forum

EN 2026 Housing Forum Flyer

Join Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) on Tuesday, May 12 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. for the fourth annual virtual Housing Strategy Forum, Pathways to Home: From Barriers to Belonging.

This event will highlight creative initiatives and practices strategies that are increasing inclusive housing opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Topics include:

  • Keynote presentation from Michael Braithwaite, President & CEO of Jack.org
  • Exploring the National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs, and how they help communities develop innovative housing solutions
  • Panel discussion from individuals with lived experiences in creating a path to independent and supportive living
  • Speakers include:
    • Phillippe Cyr & Nicholas Cyr, Affordable Technology and Open-Source Software
    • John Barclay Legacy Homes, Brockville
    • Voices of Lived Experience
    • Gary Galdstone, Reena
    • Tracy McGarry Participation House, Durham Region
    • National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs
    • Updates on projects featured in previous forums
    • Aaron Nunes, EnviroCentre
    • Sarah Cipkar, Resimate Inc.

Register here: 2026 DS Housing Strategy Forum – Pathways to Home: From Barriers to Belonging

For questions please contact DSOhousing@dsoer.ca or info@dsontario.ca

 

 

 

 

Free DSO Housing Webinar: A Story of Shared Living

lunch and learn_A Story of Shared Living April 23 2026 (002)

Join Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) on Thursday, April 23 from 12 – 1 p.m. for a free webinar discussing shared housing with guest speakers with experience of a shared supported living environment.

Learn about:

  • Benefits and challenges of shared supported living
  • How the living arrangement was created
  • Impact on independence, well-being, and family stress

Register here: Lunch and Learn: A Story of Shared Living

For any questions or inquiries, please contact DSOhousing@dsoer.ca

Free DSO Housing Webinar: How Technology Can Support Daily Living and Independence

lunch and learn_Technology March 27 2026

Join Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) on Friday, March 27 from 12 – 1 p.m. for a free webinar discussing daily living and technology.

Topics include:

  • How affordable technology and free software can support daily living, safety, and community participation
  • Examples of working systems currently used in everyday life
  • How simple, low-cost tools can reduce caregiver stress, and support greater independence without technical expertise

Register here: Lunch and Learn: How Technology Can Support Daily Living and Independence

For any questions or inquiries, please contact DSOhousing@dsoer.ca

Summer Camps List 2026

Ottawa has a wide range of Summer camps. We’ve put together a list of programs, organized by age group, to help you explore options.

These resources are shared for informational purposes only, and do not imply any endorsement or affiliation with SCS. Participation in these programs is optional, and families assume responsibility for their own involvement.

_________________________________________

Specialized Camps

Programs for ages 0-4

Programs for ages 5-7

Programs for ages 8-10

Programs for ages 11-13

Programs for ages 14-17+

Integrated Summer Camps

Programs for ages 0-4

Programs for ages 5-7

Programs for ages 8-10

 Programs for ages 11-13

Programs for ages 14-17+

French Day Camps

Programs for ages 0-4

Programs for ages 5-7

Programs for ages 8-10

Programs for ages 11-13

Programs for ages 14-17+