Disability & Dignity

As an organization, ABLE2 works with partners to provide the tools, choices and connections that empower people with disabilities to build lives of meaning and joy.

One of the ways we do this is to support initiatives that call on local, provincial and federal governments to implement measures that help people with disabilities to build lives of meaning and joy. Recently, after many years of lobbying, the Ontario government announced two key changes to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

The ODSP provides eligible people with disabilities with financial assistance to help pay for their living expenses (such as food, clothing and other necessary personal items) and their housing expenses (such as rent, utilities, property taxes, home insurance and condo fees). Social assistance rates had been stagnant since 2018, with a single person able to receive up to $1,169 a month on ODSP and $733 on Ontario Works — well below the poverty line. This means that the 2.6 million Ontarians with disabilities do not have enough income to live. 

The first change to ODSP is that by July 2023, funding will increase in acknowledgement of the rising costs of living. The second is that individuals receiving ODSP can now make up to $1,000/month without it affecting their funding. Both these changes are important first steps and ABLE2 will continue to work with people with disabilities and organizations that support them to keep up the pressure on the various levels of government to empower people with disabilities to build lives of meaning and joy that respects their dignity.

The way we treat vulnerable populations says a lot about our society. What type of community do you want to live in?

Published by

Heather Lacey

Experienced Non-Profit Executive Director

Read Heather’s other articles here