Frequently Asked Questions

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The primary focus of SDRC Clinical Consultants is with clients in their home. Clinical reports are provided to guardians, who may, if they wish, share reports with school or other service providers. Some suggestions/recommendations made by clinicians may be appropriate for home, community and school environments.

ACSD is a financial support program for low and modest income families who have children with special needs who live at home. The program helps parents with the costs that apply to their child’s disability, e.g., travel to doctors or hospitals, special shoes/braces, parental relief, wheelchair repairs. For more information and applications, go to Ministry of Children Community & Social Services.

The Child Disability Benefit is a nontaxable supplement to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). It provides financial assistance to families of low and modest income to help with the costs of raising a child (under 18 years of age) who have a severe and prolonged mental or physical impairment. For more information go to www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

SDRC serves individuals who live within the geographical boundary of the Region of Waterloo. For certain services; i.e., Transitional Age Youth, clients may also come from Wellington, Dufferin, Halton and Peel Counties.

For adults with developmental disabilities, you may contact the local office of the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services or your local Developmental Services Ontario agency.

For children with developmental disabilities, who live outside our catchment area, you may contact the local office of the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services.

In areas surrounding Waterloo Region, you can contact:

Perth, Oxford or Middlesex Counties

Community Services Coordination Network

Brant County

Contact Brant

Hamilton-Wentworth Counties

Contact Hamilton

If a potential client is 18 years or older, Developmental Services Ontario Central West Region will determine eligibility for services. Applicants must provide evidence of a developmental disability (normally a psychological assessment).

To make a referral, individuals, parents, or guardians can submit a referral electronically or by mail or fax.  A third party can also facilitate a referral on behalf of an individual, parent or guardian as long as they have obtained consent to do so.  For more information, click here to learn about SDRC’s referral options.

Services that can be accessed through SDRC include consultation in the areas of behaviour, speech and language, health care, counselling, autism services, service coordination, service resolution, Applied Behaviour Analysis, residential supports, respite supports, and community participation supports.

Brightside ABA Services do have a fee attached.  For more information, please visit their website at brightsideabaservices.com.

SDRC collects personal information such as name, date of birth, address, family contacts and historical/current information such as:

• Diagnoses and cognitive/developmental needs
• Health and medical information
• Early childhood and social history
• Behavioural/emotional/psychological needs
• Independent living skills
• Vocational or work-related skills
• Other agency involvement
• Other information relevant for referral purposes including that held by other agencies.

SDRC uses the information it collects in several ways:

• To establish eligibility for developmental services
• To allow our team to provide appropriate services
• To make referrals to other agencies for services
• To manage wait list information
• For quality assurance activities
• To comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

SDRC typically seeks self-consent from individuals who are 16 years of age or older; but accepts consent from a person who has been designated the legal guardian. For individuals under age 16, we will seek consent from a parent or guardian. Signed consents are valid for a twelve-month period and may be withdrawn in writing at any time.

• Where the protection of an individual from neglect or physical/emotional/sexual abuse is a potential issue.
• Where our records are subpoenaed.
• Where the Ministry of Children, Community & Social Services requests to see our records.
• Where there is a duty to warn.
• Where a communicable disease must be reported to the Chief Medical Officer of Health.
• Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a health care professional has abused a client.
• Where a physician’s care or treatment in under investigation by the College of Physicians & Surgeons.
• Where a coroner is investigating the death of an individual.
• Where a legal assessor is evaluating an individual’s ‘capacity’.
• Where the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee is investigating an allegation of adverse harm.