A private member’s bill that would ensure continuous services and support are provided to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities after they turn 18 passed second reading in the Legislature on February 21st.

Noah and Gregory’s Law, which was brought forward by Windsor West MPP and NDP Critic for Community and Social Services Lisa Gretzky, aims to eliminate the gap in services and end the years-long waitlist that tens of thousands of families currently face.

“When people with developmental disabilities turn 18, they lose their youth support and have to go through another application process to apply for adult support,” said Gretzky, who was referring to Special Services at Home and Passport funding.

“Even though many families apply well in advance of a child turning 18, and even though those supports are supposed to begin as soon as the applicant turns 18, many individuals fall into a service gap – they are cut off from their youth support, and forced to wait years for the adult support to kick in.”

According to Gretzk, as many as 16,000 people with developmental or intellectual disabilities are stuck on the waitlist for Passport funding.

If passed into law, Gretzky’s bill will guarantee that anyone receiving youth support will continue receiving these services until their adult support takes effect.