Addressing Gaps in the Healthcare Services Used by Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Ontario

This report is an initiative of Healthcare Access Research and Developmental Disabilities (H-CARDD), an Ontario-based research program that aims to enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities through improved healthcare policy and services.

Building on previous work by H-CARDD, the report takes an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to further study how adults with developmental disabilities differ from other adults in Ontario with regard to five key outcomes: 30-day repeat emergency department visits, 30-day repeat hospitalizations, alternate level of care, long-term care and premature mortality.

The five outcomes are examined by age group, sex, neighbourhood income level and type of developmental disability, as well as by planning regions of the province’s health and community services sectors. Recommendations that can enhance policy, practice and intersectoral planning for each of the five outcomes are included.