DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ADVOCACY GROUP UNVEILS REVAMPED BRAND IDENTITY, MARKING NEW ERA OF CHAMPIONING SECTOR NEEDS

The Great Lakes Society for Developmental Services of Ontario will now be known as the Specialized Clinical Developmental Services Network

KITCHENER, ON | APRIL 17, 2024 – The Specialized Clinical DS Network (SCDSN), a 16-member advocacy group for developmental services organizations across Ontario, is excited to reveal its new brand identity that reflects its continued evolution and vision for the future. Unveiled at its recent Annual Clinical Conference in April, the rebranding helps to solidify the network’s commitment to being a strong and cohesive voice advocating for specialized clinical services in the developmental services sector.

“With local healthcare systems stretched like never before, now more than ever the role of specialized clinical services is essential to supporting the health and well-being of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),” says Brian Swainson, Board Chair of the Specialized Clinical DS Network. “The Specialized Clinical DS Network advocates on behalf of those with IDD, ensuring equity in access to healthcare services.”

In addition to the new name, SCDSN, formerly known as The Great Lakes Society for Developmental Services of Ontario, also has a new logo and new website. By simplifying the name and creating new brand assets, SCDSN hopes to enhance visibility and recognition within the developmental, health and social services communities, facilitating greater access to resources and supports for persons living with IDD.

The 16-member developmental services organizations across the province provide an impressive array of embedded clinical services in developmental services. These services include:

Audiology
Applied Behavior Analysis
Board Certified Behavior Analysts
Developmental Therapy
Dual Diagnosis Supports
Registered Dieticians

Kinesiology
Dental Services
Family Medicine
Pediatric Medicine
Neurology
Pharmacy
Psychiatry
Registered Nursing (NP, RN, RPN)
Occupational Therapy

Physiotherapy
Psychology
Psychometry
Seating Technicians
Registered Social Workers
Speech Language Pathology
and more.

SCDSN participates in advocacy campaigns and position papers on the importance of tailoring healthcare to the needs of persons living with IDD and ensuring equitable access to healthcare. The most recent position paper, published by the Provincial Network on Developmental Services in Fall 2023, calls for a commitment of annualized provincial funding to grow and sustain embedded specialized clinical services in the developmental services sector.

This evidence-based recommendation recognizes the critical role of specialized clinical services in preventing and reducing emergency room visits and hospital admissions, enabling timely and successful discharge from hospital, avoiding hospital readmissions, to supporting provincial efforts to eliminate the prevalence of persons with IDD inappropriately housed in hospitals, supports equity in access to healthcare and improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for persons living with IDD.

“Although the recently released provincial budget indicates an additional investment in the developmental services sector, it falls significantly short of the 5% base funding increase advocated for by many provincial associations and service providers in the sector. While health and other community services sectors have benefited from regular annual base funding increases from government to keep pace with inflation, the developmental services sector has not. SCDSN shares the sector’s concern that chronic funding shortfalls put at risk the essential supports and clinical services required by persons with IDD,” Swainson added.

Investing in developmental services is critical to ensuring people with IDD have the supports they need in an inclusive society and to ensure specialized clinical supports protect critical community infrastructure including local hospitals and emergency departments.

To learn more about the Specialized Clinical DS Network please visit: www.scdsn.org

ABOUT SPECIALIZED CLINICAL DS NETWORK MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Access Community Services
Bethesda
Brantwood Community Services
Canopy Support Services
Central West Specialized Developmental Services
CLH Developmental Support Services
Cochrane Temiskaming Resource Centre
Developmental Services of Leeds and Grenville
Hands TheFamilyHealthNetwork.ca
Ongwanada
OPTIONS Northwest
Pathways to Independence
Regional Supports Associates
Sunbeam Community & Developmental Services
Surrey Place
Valor & Solutions