Developmentally disabled Canadians and their families face many challenges dealing with daily life, including where to live, and in Ontario that choice is becoming very limited.

The last three facilities that are home to more than 900 developmentally disabled residents in the province are being closed and it's being left to the families and next of kin to decide where their loved ones will now live.

Since 1975, the province has moved more than 6,000 individuals from 13 facilities into the communities and closed the doors.

According to the Ministry of Community and Social Services website, the move was initiated more than 25 years ago because the government was committed to providing opportunities for developmentally disabled individuals to live in the community.

The closure of the last three homes, the Rideau Regional Centre in Smith Falls, the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia and the Southwestern Regional Centre in Chatham-Kent means that 900 residents will be returning to their community to find alternative living arrangements.

Cheryl Chandler, executive director for Community Living Dufferin says the choice is limited because some of the residents in regional facilities don't know any other home. Families are faced with the decision to bring their developmentally disabled relative home or find another home.

Ms. Chandler isn't expecting an immediate problem with new arrivals (of the 900 residents in regional facilities, none will be repatriated to Dufferin) but Community Living Dufferin is short on space and currently has a waiting list for 32 residents needing a bed in one of 11 community homes.

"The bigger problem is for the families," she said. "Living at home with families may not be ideal, we will have a problem as parents and caregivers get older."

Another alternative that is being questioned is placing the developmentally disabled into long term care facilities for the aged.

The Avalon Retirement Centre and Shelburne Residence are two area facilities that are now home to four developmentally disabled adults.

"We have three residents in Avalon and one in Shelburne who are part of our day program," said Ms. Chandler. "They are involved in the CLD employment and activities - they just live at the retirement homes."

Todd Matthews, 44, is one of the four who live at Avalon. He has Down Syndrome and his sister-in-law, Cindy Matthews, says he has a job and loves socializing with people his own age.

Ms. Matthews was recently interviewed for a Toronto Star article titled "Nowhere else to go".

Writer Trish Crawford found many examples, including Mr. Matthews, of developmentally disabled, not yet at retirement age, who were living in nursing and retirement homes and some of the problems that have occurred.

"Right now we don't have Community Living Dufferin, a choice," said Ms. Matthews.

"It isn't the best solution, but the Avalon has been very accommodating of his schedule and he is well loved by the other residents." part of the Canadian and Ontario associations, offers services and support to children and adults who have developmental delays.

"Funding is always an issue," said Ms. Chandler. "We provide a number of services but it would be nice not to have a waiting list or be able to find room for everyone who needs it."

Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario's community and social services minister, was quoted in the Star on Feb. 16, as saying she is "reviewing the protocol for sending developmentally disabled adults into the long-term care facilities."

She said the choice to use nursing homes as placement for the developmentally disabled is up to the community care access centres and occurs only if the family agrees.

In the Star article, the minister said the province is playing catch-up with funding, since the previous government didn't properly fund the service, and the government now is "providing money for families who want to keep their disabled family member at home and funds to help people live independently."

Community Living Dufferin, with additional funding, added five beds last year but needs more funding from the province to find a space for the 32 still waiting for a space.