Hi, Attached is a Communique, developed and endorsed by the Ontario Disability Employment Network, with respect to our recommendations to move ODSP/OW to Employment Ontario. Please feel free to share this with your agency representatives and your network connections. Joe -- Executive Director Ontario Disability Employment Network A professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability

1. Communiqué
Ontario Disability Employment Network reassesses
itsposition on the best way to manage employment
services for people who have a disability.
London, Ontario, June 1, 2012
The Ontario Disability Employment Network (the Network) has reassessed its position with
respect to which level and department of government is best positioned to manage employment
services for people who have a disability.
Over the past few months, Employment Ontario has demonstrated a deeper understanding that
people who have a disability require a substantially different type of service basket than other job
seekers to be successful. At the same time, there is an apparent willingness to be flexible and to
compromise on the one-stop model when it comes to meeting the employment needs of this
audience. The Network now concludes that Employment Ontario is best positioned to manage
employment services for people who have a disability.
This does not alter the fundamental underpinnings of the Network’s position. Those being:
1. The need to maintain specialized services.
2. The need to retain a separate service delivery stream for people who have a disability. This
will be within the context of a ‘no wrong door’ approach, giving people who have a disability
ultimate choice of service delivery agent.
3. The disability stream will capture all eligibility status, e.g. EI, ODSP, CPPD, etc.
4. Government should not directly deliver services and supports. Rather, its role should be to
fund and manage systems and accountability.
5. The Network rejects any notion of ‘Capacity Assessments’ that may be used to determine
employability. All persons who are motivated to work must have access to the services and
supports they need in order to be successful.
6. Benefit entitlement (income support) should be separate from employment supports.
7. Ontario needs a clear Employment First Policy Framework for people who have a disability.
8. There must be a clear and transparent selection process for Transfer Payment Agencies that
takes into account their area of specialty and track record of successful service delivery, not
just their administrative capacity.
9. Capacity to ensure innovation, creativity and flexibility must be built into the new system.
Ontario Disability Employment Network
379 Dundas Street W, Suite 120, LondonOntarioN6B 1V5
www.odenetwork.com
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2. At the same time, the Network believes that an employment system managed by Employment
Ontario will lead to a more efficient single funding stream for all employment services, give
greater consistency to the way services are applied across the province, and give people who
have a disability access to the same range of services and supports that other job seekers have.
That said, there is an important role for municipalities when it comes to local planning, service
coordination and community collaboration.
The Network has not changed its recommendations with respect to the necessary changes and
improvements for the delivery of income support and benefits.
To read the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s full report and recommendations go to:
http://www.odenetwork.com/library/submission-to-the-social-assistance-review-commission/
For more information, contact:
Joe Dale
jdale.odenetwork@gmail.com
905-706-4348
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Ontario Disability Employment Network
379 Dundas Street W, Suite 120, LondonOntarioN6B 1V5
www.odenetwork.com
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