Knowledge Exchange

Loss can come when someone passes away, when life changes, as people age and lose the ability to do the things they used to do, or when a person misses out on experiences that are a typical part of life, like relationships or independence. Grief is a response to loss and is a natural human experience. It is important for professionals who work in Developmental Services to be aware of the signs of grief and loss so they can provide appropriate supports.  This webinar demonstrates how people with an intellectual disability may express grief, offers suggestions for providing support through a period of grief or loss, and helps to frame conversations to normalize the human experience of loss before it occurs.

Death is an unavoidable aspect of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and it presents unique challenges for both those we support and the staff working with them. This module was created to address the often-overlooked need for better resources and guidance in navigating grief and loss within the sector. Historically, support workers have lacked the tools and support needed to manage these emotionally demanding situations. This module aims to fill that gap by providing a central resource of valuable information, strategies, and tools to help staff cope with their own grief while offering the best possible support to those in their care during these difficult times.

This module is designed to address employment barriers for youth who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. It highlights some of the challenges faced by people employed with developmental disabilities and shares effective solutions to tackles these these obstacles. Through case studies of successful initiatives, the module demonstrates the power of collaboration between schools, businesses, and employment service providers. By leveraging these promising practices, you can help youth develop job skills, build confidence and secure meaningful employment.

​This module is an essential resource for understanding the unique challenges and opportunities related to employment for job seekers who have disabilities in rural areas. You will learn about factors such as geographic isolation, limited public transit, seasonal employment and digital connectivity gaps that create barriers to workforce participation. Innovative strategies are shared to overcome these obstacles, which in turn help service providers support individuals who have disabilities to achieve meaningful and sustainable work.

Intersectionality plays a vital role in fostering equitable and inclusive environments for individuals with disabilities. This module offers a high-level overview of intersectionality, highlighting its significance in delivering employment services and conducting trainings and workshops for people with disabilities. It equips participants with tools to identify biases, practice reflexivity, understand social location, and apply culturally informed approaches to enhance both professional and personal interactions.

There is an emerging awareness of Aggression toward Family and Caregivers in Children and Adolescents (AFCCA) and its prevalence in families with young people with developmental and other disabilities. Topics included in this webcast are, how research helps us understand families, caregivers, and young people experiencing AFCCA, and how support is provided to families to feel safer.

Montage is a non-profit organization with over 30 years of experience, dedicated to providing person-directed support to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In this module, you’ll learn how to identify victims of human trafficking, understand the trauma they experience, and implement trauma-informed care practices. You will be provided tools and strategies to help you support survivors, bridge systemic gaps, and connect survivors to essential services.

The Talent Acquisition and Workforce Development Group (in collaboration with MCCSS, Barnes Management Group, and REAL Xchange, and with input from families and service providers) developed this module toolkit to help families and organizations in the Developmental Services sector find and retain talented employees.  The module aims to strengthen recruitment and retention strategies to build a strong, skilled, diverse and professional workforce that will help people participate meaningfully in their communities and live good lives.

This module will help you become more aware of what artificial intelligence can offer, how it works, what to watch out for, and how you can use it responsibly to make things faster and easier in your work.  ​By the end of this module, you will be more knowledgeable about Generative AI and perhaps even a bit excited about giving it a try! 

The statistics and facts presented in this module paint a rather stark and sobering picture of the realities of this worldwide crime. In this module you will learn about the realities of human trafficking, why vulnerable people, like those with developmental disabilities, are at a heightened risk for being trafficked, what you can do to respond, and you’ll learn more about what the province is doing to combat this crime through their anti-human trafficking 5-year strategy.

In an era where cybersecurity threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, understanding how to safeguard your agency has never been more critical. Todd Cox of Attache Group, offers actionable strategies for anyone looking to fortify their defenses against the digital dangers of today. Special attention is given to the unique challenges faced by small and mid-size agencies, ensuring tailored advice that’s both practical and effective.

This module aims to assist individuals in the non-profit sector in expanding their current understanding of accessibility, inclusivity, disabilities, and workplace accommodations.  Module viewers will learn the importance, advantages, and current leading practices of providing workplace accommodations for their organizations and strategies for their effective implementation.

The influence of technology reaches every facet of our lives, including the way we offer services and support to people with disabilities. This module aims to keep you updated on the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of technology.  Discover the benefits of emerging technologies and learn how to incorporate them into service and program delivery to assist people with disabilities. Explore the advantages of utilizing Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence to enhance workforce development in our sector.

Navigating the diverse landscape of experiences related to disability and life, our professional interactions often bring us face-to-face with people whose perspectives and experience of disability differ significantly from our own. This module serves as a compass, guiding you in the creation of safe and supportive spaces for meaningful conversations with those whom you provide services and support.

In this webinar, participants will gain insights and knowledge to identify some of the vulnerabilities that people with developmental disabilities face that can lead to human trafficking. The presenters discuss methods for recognizing those at risk and ways provide them with better supports.

In this webinar, participants will learn about the various ways people with a developmental disability experience trauma, the impact this has on people’s lives and where service providers can focus their efforts to support healing.

CanChild's F-Words for Child Development - Family, Fun, Friends, Functioning, Fitness, and Future - give us a new way to think about how children grow and develop. They help us think about the things that children CAN do versus what they cannot do and how to focus on their strengths.

It is critical that everyone in a person’s network be aligned to support their employment goals. In this introductory module, you will gain insight about this interactive in-person or virtual training offered by the Ontario Disability Employment Network. Learn how everyone in a person’s support network can positively contribute to that person’s employment goals.

The Youth Success Strategy for Developmental Services module will explore strategies needed to create an inclusive employment vision for young people who have a developmental disability. Learn more about what needs to happen now to create a future for a person you provide support to, or a client, which includes meaningful, paid employment.

This module provides a high-level overview of ODEN’s DACT course, designed to help staff be more responsive to the broader abilities of people who have a disability. Learn about the benefits of inclusive hiring and dispel the myths surrounding people who have a disability.

Stay up-to-date on featured research projects with the Professional Learning & Development Webinar Series, brought to you by Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and Partners for Planning.