Ontarians who have a developmental disability in eastern Ontario are one step closer to having a better, more streamlined way to apply for services and supports.

The province is creating nine new regional contact points for people who apply for developmental services, a response to feedback from people with developmental disabilities and their families. The regional contact points will be a single window to provide information, determine eligibility for services, determine service and support needs and link people to services and supports in their community. The one-window system will be easier to navigate, eliminating the need to apply at multiple places or fill out multiple forms to access services.

Following a competitive selection process, Ontario has chosen Service Coordination des services to be the single contact point for people who live in eastern Ontario.

The nine regional contact points will be known as Developmental Services Ontario when they open in July 2011. They are a key part of Ontario’s plan to modernize services and supports for people with a developmental disability.