National Parks & Recreation National Parks & Recreation Conference & Trade ShowConference & Trade Show

‘ ‘Healthy Communities-Healthy Communities-Cultivating the Vision’Cultivating the Vision’

Saskatoon Sask. Saskatoon Sask.

October 18-21, 2006October 18-21, 2006

Getting Services Right for Getting Services Right for People with Disabilities:People with Disabilities:

Demographics and Service Delivery Demographics and Service Delivery ExpectationsExpectations

Elvin DobaniElvin Dobani

OverviewOverview IntroductionIntroduction Toronto’s disability community Toronto’s disability community MethodologyMethodology Key findingsKey findings Recommendations / accomplishmentsRecommendations / accomplishments Conclusions, next steps and resourcesConclusions, next steps and resources

IntroductionIntroduction

SupportSupport FundingFunding CollaborationCollaboration

Purpose and Objectives Purpose and Objectives

Comprehensive demographic profileComprehensive demographic profile Barriers to participationBarriers to participation Program and service improvementsProgram and service improvements

DefinitionsDefinitions

Adapted ProgramsAdapted Programs Integrated ServicesIntegrated Services

Purpose and Objectives Purpose and Objectives

Who in our community has a disability?Who in our community has a disability? What can Parks, Forestry & Recreation do What can Parks, Forestry & Recreation do

to improve the delivery of services?to improve the delivery of services?

Benefit of Participation Benefit of Participation of Physical Activityof Physical Activity

PhysiologicalPhysiological PhysicalPhysical Psychosocial Psychosocial

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community Community

Disability definedDisability defined Participation and Activity Limitation SurveyParticipation and Activity Limitation Survey Canadian Community Health SurveyCanadian Community Health Survey

Torontonians with Participation and Activity Limitations

(Canadian Community Health Survey)

18.6%21.2%

24.3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

2000/01 2003 2005

Perc

enta

ge o

f Tor

onto

pop

ulat

ion

aged

12

and

over

with

a p

artic

ipat

ion

and

activ

ity li

mita

tion

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community Community

Participation in registered recreation Participation in registered recreation programsprograms 6.4% of general population6.4% of general population 0.4% of disability population0.4% of disability population

Our Common GroundsOur Common Grounds disability target disability target Achieving identical participation rates for Achieving identical participation rates for

both populationsboth populations

Overview of Toronto’s Disability Overview of Toronto’s Disability Community Community

Disability types servedDisability types served Perceived barriers to participationPerceived barriers to participation

Active2010Active2010 TheThe Active2010 Active2010 Ontario government sport and Ontario government sport and

physical activity strategy states that, the ultimate physical activity strategy states that, the ultimate benefit of creating more recreational opportunities for benefit of creating more recreational opportunities for people will be:people will be:

“ “A culture of physical activity and sport participation A culture of physical activity and sport participation that directly contributes to healthier Ontarians, that directly contributes to healthier Ontarians, stronger communities, and reduced healthcare stronger communities, and reduced healthcare costs… It’s successes will reduce the incidence of costs… It’s successes will reduce the incidence of chronic diseases associated with inactivity and chronic diseases associated with inactivity and ultimately ease health care costs.”ultimately ease health care costs.”

MethodologyMethodology

Focus groupsFocus groups Survey of residents with a disabilitySurvey of residents with a disability Survey of disability service agenciesSurvey of disability service agencies

Focus GroupsFocus Groups

14 sessions14 sessions 150 participants150 participants RecruitmentRecruitment Accommodations offeredAccommodations offered

Residents SurveyResidents Survey

24 questions24 questions 5,000 residents surveyed through 27 5,000 residents surveyed through 27

agenciesagencies 1,200 surveys out to existing participants1,200 surveys out to existing participants 667 responses – 13% response rate667 responses – 13% response rate

Agencies SurveyAgencies Survey

7 questions7 questions 56 agencies surveyed, from pool of 20056 agencies surveyed, from pool of 200 51 responses – 90% response rate51 responses – 90% response rate

Key Findings – ResidentsKey Findings – Residents

DemographicsDemographics Participation in adapted Participation in adapted

programs & integrated programs & integrated servicesservices

Importance & meaning of Importance & meaning of recreationrecreation

Barriers to participation in Barriers to participation in recreationrecreation

Use of parks, trails & Use of parks, trails & natural areasnatural areas

Program & service Program & service improvementsimprovements

CommunicationCommunication Recreational respiteRecreational respite Employment & Employment &

recruitmentrecruitment Youth outreach workersYouth outreach workers Cultural & social issuesCultural & social issues Policy improvementsPolicy improvements

Respondents by Gender

male47%

no response

7%

female46%

Respondents by Age Group (n = 667)

1%

4%

8%9%

6%

8% 8%

11%

19%

16%

7%

3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Age groups

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

res

po

nd

en

ts

youth22%

unknow n4%older

adults10%

children17%

adults47%

Respondents' Residence by City Service District

Etobicoke York24%

Toronto & East York

28%

no response5%

North York 26%

Scarborough17%

Respondents by Disability Type(n = 1078)

27.3%

20.6%

15.6%

11.3%

5.7% 4.0% 3.1% 2.7%

9.8%

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Disability type

Num

ber o

f res

pons

es

Respondents by Duration of Disability

no response4%

temporary4%

permanent92%

Respondents by Severity of Disability

no response 5%

mild13%

severe30%

very severe 7%

moderate 45%

Respondents' Participation in City's Registered Recreation Programs

no previous participation

46%

participated previously

54%

Respondents' Participation by Program Type

Adapted Programs only23%

both Adapted and

Integrated35%

Integrated Services only42%

Importance of Recreation to Respondents

important 39%

very important 55%

no response3%

not important 3%

Distance Respondents Willing to Travel to Recreational Facilities

5%

12%

7%

16%

33%27%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21+ noresponse

Distance in kilometres

Per

cen

tag

e o

f res

po

nd

ents

w

illin

g to

trav

el

Meaning of "Recreation" to Respondents

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Activity

Nu

mb

er o

f re

spo

nse

s

Respondents' Reasons for Non-Participation(n = 882)

231

128

98

92

77

66

66

63

61

7%

7%

7%

7%

9%

10%

11%

15%

26%

0 50 100 150 200 250

I am not aware of what programs and services are offered topersons with disabilities.

I don't know who to talk to.

I cannot afford the cost of participating

The support or individualized attention that I require to participateis not available.

There are no accessible recreational facilities close to my home.

None of the Adapted programs or Integrated services offered arewhat I really want.

I have no reliable means of transportation for getting toprograms and services.

The programs that I am interested in are not offered atconvenient times.

City recreational facilities are not welcoming to people withdisabilities.

Number and percentage of responses

Respondents' Visits to City Parks, Trails or Natural Areas over Past Year

did not visit 35%

no response2%

visited63%

Program and Service Improvements Suggested by Respondents

83%

82%

72%

70%

69%

69%

66%

66%

62%

62%

62%

61%

55%

52%

48%

40%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Providing ongoing disability aw areness training for all staff.

Hiring more staff w ho are know ledgeable and have experience including peoplew ith disabilities in community recreation programs.

Offering programs throughout the day to accommodate different age groups andtransportation schedules.

Offering 1-to-1 support w orkers during the year

Offering life skills programs combined w ith recreation activities, such as how tomake friends w hile participating in a creative arts program, learning how to shop for

Providing maps that show accessible facilities and routes in city parks, ravines andnatural areas and trail systems.

Offering smaller class sizes to allow for more personalized attention.

Ensuring that recreational facilities are cleaned more thoroughly and frequently.

Providing Adapted & Integrated recreational information through a special accessiblew eb site.

Offering additional subsidies to the existing "Welcome Policy" to help w ith the costof participation.

Providing w armer w ater temperatures in some city sw imming pools.

Offering social programs combined w ith recreation activities such as youth havingpizza after a group sw im program or adults listening to guest speakers after an

Offering Adapted and Integrated summer camp sessions w ith 1-to-1 support formore than tw o w eeks.

Providing improved access to playground equipment in city parks.

Providing Adapted & Integrated recreational information through a special telephonehotline.

Providing interpretive services w hen requested.

Percentage of all respondents

Most Important Service Improvement Initiatives for Respondents

94

37

54

34

13

73

28

28

16

22

40

19

42

9

3

7

87

42

57

64

43

29

31

39

20

15

27

18

9

7

6

10

55

51

56

42

51

22

38

22

27

34

18

24

17

9

6

4

34

72

27

35

38

19

24

23

40

28

13

30

9

9

19

8

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

More knowledgeable staff

Life skills with recreation programs

1-to-1 support year-round

Disabilty awareness training for staff

Smaller classes / more personalized attention

1-to-1 support for more than 2 weeks

Social activities with recreation programs

Throughout-the-day programs

Cleaner facilities

Warmer water in pools

Additional fee subsidies

Maps for natural areas

Accessible website

Interpretive services

More accessible playgrounds

Phone hotline

Init

iati

ve

Number of responses

1st ranked

2nd ranked

3rd ranked

4th ranked

Preferred Means of Receiving Information About Parks, Forestry & Recreation Services

fax3%

other1%

regular mail36%

e-mail14%

website12%

telephone10%

in person9%

media7%

word of mouth4%

bulletin board4%

Respondents Looking for Respite through Recreation

no response5%

not looking42%

looking53%

Frequency of Recreational Respite Needed

3-4 days/w eek22%

every 2 w eeks9%

once a month6%

other1%

1-2 days/w eek61%

Length of Time Needed for Recreational Respite

2 hours34%

half day26%

full day19%

1 hour11%

1.5 hours7%

other3%

Time of Day Needed for Recreational Respite

evenings29%

mornings12%

afternoons22%

weekends37%

Employment and RecruitmentEmployment and Recruitment

AdvertisingAdvertising CoachingCoaching Job search trainingJob search training

Youth Outreach WorkersYouth Outreach Workers

Connecting outreach workers and youthConnecting outreach workers and youth Services providedServices provided

Cultural and Social ConcernsCultural and Social Concerns

Change rooms and washroomsChange rooms and washrooms Gender-specific programmingGender-specific programming Gender of support workersGender of support workers

Policy ImprovementsPolicy Improvements

Registration and subsidiesRegistration and subsidies Program planning and reviewProgram planning and review Photo I.D.Photo I.D.

Key Findings – Disability Service Key Findings – Disability Service AgenciesAgencies

Client demographicsClient demographics Primary functionPrimary function Recreation opportunities and supportsRecreation opportunities and supports Recreation challengesRecreation challenges Multilingual servicesMultilingual services Cultural and social concernsCultural and social concerns

Age Groups Served by Disability Service Agencies

2.8% 2.8%

5.0%

18.8%

5.9%

18.8%

2.7%

4.9%

21.2%

17.0%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

0-5 0-15 6 to 12 6-15, 6-19

13-24 16-44, 20-44,20-59

16+,20+

25-59 45+ 60+

Age groups

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

clie

nts

se

rve

d

Disability Types Served by Disability Service Agencies

learning7%

visual8%

developmental8%

physical16%

hearing47%

psychological2%

other7%

autism spectrum disorder

4%

head injury1%

speech1%

Residence of Disability Service Agency Clients

(by City service district)

Etobicoke York29%

Toronto/ East York

27%

North York19%

Scarborough25%

Primary Function of Disability Service Agencies

spiritual outreach and education

2%

respite services2%

educational services8% children/youth

services14%

children's care agencies

8%

recreational 6%

sports6%

employment services4%

rehabilitation4%

community information and

referrals4%

parental mutual support and

information sharing2%

long term care facility2%

multiservice agency32%

health services16%

Disability Service Agencies Offering Recreational Programs

not offering programs

49%

offering programs

51%

Recreation Activities Offered by Disability Service Agencies

8%

12%

23%

23%

31%

35%

42%

54%

65%

69%

62%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

other

travel

gardening

hobbies

camping

creative arts

fitness

games

social activities

indoor/outdoor sports

life/social skills

Type

s of

act

iviti

es o

ffer

ed

Percentage of agencies

Recreational Supports Provided by Disability Service Agencies

44%

40%

33%

28%

26%

21%

19%

12%

7%

49%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

training for w orkers and recreation service providers

adapted recreational equipment

one-to-one support

leisure counselling

funding and subsidies

transportation

attendant care services

referrals

interpretive services

other

Ty

pe

of

su

pp

ort

pro

vid

ed

Percentage of agencies

Recreational ChallengesRecreational Challenges

TransportationTransportation ConsultationConsultation Awareness trainingAwareness training

Disability Service Agency Clients Requiring Non-English Language Services

required69%

not required27%

no response4%

Disability Service Agencies Providing Multilingual Services

services not provided

43%

services provided

57%

Most Common Non-English Languages Required by Disability Service Agency Clients

Chinese19%

Spanish16%

Tamil8%

other10%

Ukrainian3%

Hindi4%

Russian4%

Vietnamese4%

Portuguese5%

Urdu7%

Somali6%

Italian5%

Punjabi5%

French4%

Non-English Languages Provided by Disability Service Agencies

Spanish23%

Italian13%

French11%

Urdu4%

Ukrainian4%

Tamil4%

Portuguese4%

Russian5%

Polish5%

Sign Language as required

4%

Tagalog4%

Chinese19%

Cultural and Social Concerns Identified by Disability Service Agencies

family changerooms/

washrooms 22%

disability awareness

training19%

first language interpreters

13%

women-only swim programs

10%

RecommendationsRecommendationsDemographicsDemographics

1.1. Increase the number, type and Increase the number, type and

variety of programs and servicesvariety of programs and services

2. Increase the number of social, life 2. Increase the number of social, life

skills, fitness, sports andskills, fitness, sports and

computer training opportunitiescomputer training opportunities

RecommendationsRecommendationsPromotion and Communications Promotion and Communications

1. Promotional material 1. Promotional material

2. Disability Services link on Division website2. Disability Services link on Division website

3. Facility display areas 3. Facility display areas

RecommendationsRecommendations

AffordabilityAffordability

1. Consider alternative payment options1. Consider alternative payment options

RecommendationsRecommendations One-to-One SupportOne-to-One Support

1. Hire more integrated support staff1. Hire more integrated support staff

2. Partner agencies to provide support and 2. Partner agencies to provide support and attendant careattendant care

RecommendationsRecommendations Parks, Trails and Natural AreasParks, Trails and Natural Areas  1. Increase accessibility1. Increase accessibility2. Improve maintenance of outdoor2. Improve maintenance of outdoor facilitiesfacilities3. Improve safety3. Improve safety4. Improve promotion4. Improve promotion

RecommendationsRecommendations

Program and Service ImprovementsProgram and Service Improvements

1. Previous experience 1. Previous experience 2. Increase programs2. Increase programs3. Increase one-to-one support year round3. Increase one-to-one support year round4. Disability awareness training 4. Disability awareness training 5. Programs and service consistency5. Programs and service consistency

RecommendationsRecommendations

Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination

1. R1. Regular mail, email and accessible egular mail, email and accessible websiteswebsites

2. Increase advertising 2. Increase advertising

RecommendationsRecommendations

Importance and Meaning of RecreationImportance and Meaning of Recreation  1.1. Task force on Getting Services Right for Task force on Getting Services Right for

People with DisabilitiesPeople with Disabilities2. Increase number of Adapted and 2. Increase number of Adapted and

Integrated programsIntegrated programs

RecommendationsRecommendations

Recreational RespiteRecreational Respite

1.1. Recreational respite programs on Recreational respite programs on weekends and evenings across the weekends and evenings across the citycity

RecommendationsRecommendations

Employment and recruitmentEmployment and recruitment

1.1. Information at job fairs Information at job fairs

2.2. Advertise to agenciesAdvertise to agencies

3.3. Increase partnerships Increase partnerships

4.4. Increase use of mediaIncrease use of media

5.5. Develop a work experience programDevelop a work experience program

6.6. Hire people with disabilitiesHire people with disabilities

RecommendationsRecommendations Youth Outreach Workers Youth Outreach Workers 

1. Partner with agencies1. Partner with agencies

2. Inform and refer2. Inform and refer

RecommendationsRecommendations

Multilingual servicesMultilingual services 1.1. Promotional material Promotional material 2.2. Interpretive servicesInterpretive services

RecommendationsRecommendations

Cultural and Social ConcernsCultural and Social Concerns    1. Accessible facilities1. Accessible facilities2. Access to first language/sign 2. Access to first language/sign

language interpreterslanguage interpreters3. Disability awareness training to all 3. Disability awareness training to all

Division staffDivision staff

RecommendationsRecommendations

Policy ImprovementsPolicy Improvements

1. Registration and Welcome Policy 1. Registration and Welcome Policy 2. Photo identification card 2. Photo identification card 3. Include and consult with people with 3. Include and consult with people with

disabilitiesdisabilities

ConclusionsConclusions

Disability community engagedDisability community engaged Demographics, barriers, service issues Demographics, barriers, service issues

better understoodbetter understood Opportunities for action definedOpportunities for action defined Progress made Progress made

Recent Accomplishments Recent Accomplishments

Snoezelen roomSnoezelen room ASL interpreters and attendant care services ASL interpreters and attendant care services City-wide steering committeeCity-wide steering committee Education to disability serving agenciesEducation to disability serving agencies Promotion and accessPromotion and access Physical Activity and Youth MentorshipPhysical Activity and Youth Mentorship

Recent AccomplishmentsRecent Accomplishments

City-wide data base of agenciesCity-wide data base of agencies Employment of Disability Youth Outreach WorkersEmployment of Disability Youth Outreach Workers Training and EducationTraining and Education Technology (AIMS)Technology (AIMS) Advertising Advertising

Next StepsNext Steps

Review and adopt recommendationsReview and adopt recommendations Finalize and cost out recommendationsFinalize and cost out recommendations Finalize project reportFinalize project report Approval from City CouncilApproval from City Council Create task force to guide implementationCreate task force to guide implementation

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Disability AgenciesDisability Agencies PFR Steering CommitteePFR Steering Committee Focus Group StaffFocus Group Staff Inter-departmental partnersInter-departmental partners Reference GroupReference Group

Resources AvailableResources Available Ontario disability fact sheet 2001Ontario disability fact sheet 2001 Project outlineProject outline Residents and agencies surveysResidents and agencies surveys Focus group flyer and questionsFocus group flyer and questions Definitions of terms – focus groupsDefinitions of terms – focus groups Performing public consultation – disabilitiesPerforming public consultation – disabilities ODA DefinitionsODA Definitions Accessibility resources – Toronto WebsiteAccessibility resources – Toronto Website http:/http://www.cpra.ca/www.cpra.ca

ReferencesReferences Statistics Canada, (2001) Statistics Canada, (2001) Participation Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). Pg 8-11Participation Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). Pg 8-11

Statistics Canada, (1986 & 1991) Statistics Canada, (1986 & 1991) Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS). Pg Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS). Pg 3-53-5

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities”: Focus Group Summary ReportTorontonians with Disabilities”: Focus Group Summary Report (including meeting (including meeting schedule, questions and a summary of individual comments)schedule, questions and a summary of individual comments)

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation, (2005) City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation, (2005) “Guide to Conducting “Guide to Conducting Community Consultations”Community Consultations”

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) “Recommendations for Performing “Recommendations for Performing Public Consultations for People with Disabilities”Public Consultations for People with Disabilities”

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities- Toronto Residents with DisabilitiesDisabilities- Toronto Residents with Disabilities ” survey (including a summary of ” survey (including a summary of individual comments) individual comments)

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) People with Disabilities, (2005) “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with “Getting Services Right for Torontonians with Disabilities- Toronto Agencies Serving Torontonians with Disabilities”Disabilities- Toronto Agencies Serving Torontonians with Disabilities” surveysurvey

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division: The Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, (2005) People with Disabilities, (2005) Budget for Surveys and Focus Group BudgetBudget for Surveys and Focus Group Budget

For copies of 3-8, please contact the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities For copies of 3-8, please contact the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities at 416-394-8535.at 416-394-8535.

Parsons, Ernie Parsons, Ernie MPPMPP, (2006) , (2006) Report on Consultations Regarding the Transformation of Report on Consultations Regarding the Transformation of Developmental ServicesDevelopmental Services. Pg 14. Pg 14

ReferencesReferences

Contact InformationContact Information

LORENE BODIAMLORENE BODIAM

Advocate for People with DisabilitiesAdvocate for People with Disabilities Ph: 416-394-8532Ph: 416-394-8532 E-mail: E-mail: labodiam@toronto.calabodiam@toronto.ca