Homulos: Critical staff shortages hurt those with developmental disabilities

The following is offered in response to the article “These ‘invisible’ Ottawa support workers deserve better,” published May 16.

Recently, the Citizen published an opinion piece by union leaders representing staff who work at several local developmental sector organizations in Ottawa, including ours, the Ottawa Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD).

As community board members, entrusted with overseeing OCAPDD, we believe the community needs to recognize that the developmental sector is experiencing a “staffing crisis” with significant short-term and long-term impacts on both the individuals supported, and staff.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of staffing in long-term care facilities was highlighted daily in the media. Government at all levels responded quickly to address this crisis.

The issue touched everyone because most of us have someone in our lives who needs or will need long-term care. We want the best possible care for our loved ones. This means ensuring that there are properly trained staff, in sufficient numbers to meet their needs.

This grave staffing shortage issue has been mirrored over the past several years in the developmental service sector.

Organizations in this sector provide residential supports for 20,000 individuals provincewide, and a diverse range of crucial services for thousands more. What concerns our board however, is that people with developmental disabilities, who rely on supports from the sector, are often invisible to the community. This needs to change. These individuals need a voice; they are our neighbours.

The core staff in our sector — known as Developmental Service Workers (DSWs) — are in many ways parallel to Personal Support Workers (PSWs), and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs). Similar to people in those professions, DSWs are leaving the field because they are physically and mentally exhausted due to the past three years of unbearable work stress related to the pandemic.

OCAPDD has averaged 15 to 20 vacant positions monthly since the beginning of the pandemic. The funding is there for these positions but the employees aren’t, exacerbating the workload of those staff who remain. In consequence, this funding is drained by the increased costs of necessary overtime pay for the staff available.

There is now widespread government encouragement to pursue training as a PSW, but nothing is being done to incentivize students to choose the DSW program. Data obtained from community college reports shows a drop in enrolment for DSW students of 18 per cent between 2014 and 2021. More students during their career exploration are now selecting a career as a PSW because it is being offered with subsidized (free) tuition.

As we collectively hold our government accountable on proper health-care staffing for our elderly, we need to do the same thing for the developmental services sector. While the public has successfully called for more government support of nursing and PSW recruitment efforts, the same outcry hasn’t happened to address DSW recruitment. Attractive tuition subsidies for DSW training would help more students discover this very rewarding profession.

Lack of proper staffing can lead to dangerous, unsafe situations for individuals in need of constant care. You may not know someone who needs this care but ask yourself this question: if my child, grandchild, or sibling needed these supports, what services would you expect to be available in Ontario?

We’re pretty sure your answer is the same as ours: the best care possible in a safe and engaging environment. This has been jeopardized for several years. Throughout the pandemic the news was filled with heart-wrenching stories of the challenges faced by our seniors in long-term care. Little was written about the identical effect the pandemic had on individuals with developmental disabilities.

Imagine the impact on individuals with special needs who lost connection with their closest relationships. This hardship took a serious toll on our clients, and it was our staff who shouldered this gap.

There is a promising opportunity for change as Ontario embarks on a multi-year developmental services revitalization project called “The Journey to Belonging” through the ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. We as board members are excited to be part of this, but as we look at the looming challenges facing OCAPDD and other organizations in the next several years, we know that fixing core problems, in particular having an adequate labour force, is essential. We are committed to fighting for quality of care, but we need your help.

We ask concerned community members to join us in recognizing the “staffing crisis” in the developmental sector adding your voices to those advocating with your elected representatives. Together we can ensure that those with intellectual and other special needs, who enrich our communities, get the quality of care they deserve.

Peter Homulos is chair of the board of directors of the Ottawa Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities.