Adults in Transition an Evaluation of a Life Skills Programme for People with Developmental Disabilities in Ontario, Canada.

The move away from institutional/custodial care to community care poses many problems for service planners, providers and consumers. Taking people out of institutions requires careful planning and a comprehensive network of alternative services to be in place, to receive those people. In Ontario, Life Skills Programmes are a component of community services for adults with developmental disabilities. This article provides an analysis of the impact of one such programme, including negative side effects, upon the lives of those who attend. Taking the institutions out of people is a complex matter and some of the fears of parents and professionals are discussed because they are wary of a situation occurring which is tantamount to moving people from back-wards to back-alleys. As Australian services for adults with disabilities are moving towards a community orientation, ten years of experience in Ontario should provide some guidance.