HAMILTON, Ont. – Across Ontario on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, developmental service workers (DSWs) will be in their communities and their workplaces celebrating the essential role their work plays in helping people with developmental disabilities and their families. They are asking their elected provincial representatives to acknowledge the contribution they make in supporting people with disabilities, ensuring they can live inclusive lives in the community.
DSWs across Ontario will be spending the week meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to inform them about challenges facing the sector and to ask them to sign a pledge to work with developmental services workers in their community and across the province to advocate for increased provincial funding.
In Hamilton, front line developmental services workers will be meeting with local MPPs Monique Taylor (Hamilton-Mountain) and Paul Miller (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) on Tuesday, January 17 at their constituency offices. DSWs will be meeting with Taylor at 11:00 a.m. and Miller at 1:00 p.m. to underline how their work is essential for so many local families.
“Ensuring all Ontarians can live meaningful lives in inclusive communities is what developmental services workers do everyday,” said Jim Beattie, CUPE Local 3943 President, representing workers at Community Living Hamilton, Able Living Binbrook and Palmer Place. “But far too often this work goes under the radar and is not recognized by government. DSW Appreciation Day is an opportunity to reach out to community leaders and speak up together for improved provincial funding for developmental services.”
With nearly 23,000 children and adults with a developmental disability languishing on waiting lists for services and supports, it is crucial that the provincial government provide more financial support for development services. In the absence of more provincial funding, more and more Ontarians will find themselves unable to access the services they need to participate fully in their communities.
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For further information, please contact
Jim Beattie, CUPE Local 3943 President, 905-928-0030
Mark Greenan, CUPE Communications, 647-993-3073