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Independence through Senseability
If 95% of what we learn comes from our eyes and ears, imagine what it must be like to be deafblind.
About Us
Mission Statement
To support individuals who are Deafblind to live within the community through the provision of intervention, residential
and other specialized services.
Vision Statement
We envision and advocate for a communitywhere individuals who are Deafblind have every opportunity to reach their full potential. DeafBlind Ontario Services contributes to this vision by:
. Delivering individual programs with intervention.
. Providing specialized residential services.
. Strengthening the competencies of people who touch the lives of individuals who are Deafblind.
. Providing expertise in the fields of Deafblindness and intervention.
History
In 1989 a group of motivated parents lobbied the provincial government of Ontario as advocates for their deafblind children in an attempt to secure funding for community based supported living programs to commence when the children completed their education. Independent Living Residences for the Deafblind in Ontario (ILRDBO), was born out of this movement, and on April 6, 1989 we were incorporated as an not for profit organization. Initially there were three homes in York Region with three congenitally/early adventitious deafblind individuals residing in each location.
The support offered in the homes would model that of the education system that the deafblind individuals were familiar with where “Intervention” would be provided to promote independence and help the deafblind person realize their potential.
Toward the end of 2007, ILRDBO changed its name to DeafBlind Ontario Services. Today, the organization supports deafblind adults across the province with community-based housing, trained intervention support, independent living skills, work experience and other specialized support.
Honorary Patron
DeafBlind Ontario Services Board of Directors is proud to announce that the Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has agreed to be the Honorary Patron of DeafBlind Ontario Services. His Honour has extended patronage to not-for-profit organizations in Ontario which are dedicated to improving the quality of life in the community.
DeafBlind Ontario Services is a proud member of Deafblind International and the Deafblind Coalition of Ontario.