Community Engaged Learning
Community Living London
Community Living London is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential and live meaningful lives. Serving individuals and families in the London, Ontario area, the organization provides a wide range of support services, including housing assistance, employment programs, and recreational activities. Community Living London fosters inclusivity and independence, working closely with the community to promote understanding, accessibility, and opportunities for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities. Their mission is rooted in creating a welcoming environment where everyone is valued, respected, and supported in achieving their personal goals.
Our Capstone Project
Scope: Our project involved performing market research to determine if there is a capacity and a desire from organizations across Ontario to invest in training modules for employees and volunteers working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Objectives & Aims
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Discover if similar training modules already exist
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Demonstrate that there is a need for such training modules
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Discuss with various organization managements as well as their frontline staff to discover any discrepancies in training adequacy
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Summarize our findings in our deliverable, in the form of a report
Below you will find an introduction to our research team. In addition our plan for how the project was implemented. You will also find photos of our team presenting our work at the 2024/25 IMS Showcase at Western University. In addition, you will find portions of our project in this e-portfolio and reflections on the working progress.
The Market Survey
Primary Stakeholders: CLL Learning Team
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The CLL Learning Team will be using our deliverable to determine if there is a desire from organizations across Ontario to invest in their proposed training modules
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They will use the information from our deliverable to either initiate development, or adjust their approach according to our findings and suggestions
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Our findings will act as evidence for a demand in the proposed training modules in order for the CLL Learning Team to secure support from upper management to begin module development
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Survey:
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Questions for both frontline healthcare workers and management/corporate departments
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Current training
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Perceived quality of training
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Importance of training
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Content of existing training modules
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Preparedness to work with individuals with IDD
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Challenges/gaps in existing modules
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Would management be willing to pay for training from CLL
List of Organizations Surveyed:
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Deafblind Ontario
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Crest Support Services
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Alice Saddy
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Family Service Thames Valley
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Welkin
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Ingersoll Support Services
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Humana community services
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Hutton House
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Larche London
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WDDS-Woodstock Developmental
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St. Leonards
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Salvation Army
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Forward House
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Karis – formerly known as Christian Horizon’s
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Participation House
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LiveWorkPlay-Ottawa
Meet The Team
The Landscape Survey
Please click the button below to view a PDF version of the survey. The team administered the survey through Qualtrics. We ensured anonymity and made the survey easy to use with no mandatory questions. This allowed respondents to feel comfortable speaking about their employers and experiences with training. The survey contains all questions asked for both the Direct Support Staff as well as Corporate Staff. Check it out below!
Outreach Reflection
Frustration at the Lack of Responses
One of the rather difficult parts of research was the lack of responses we gathered. It felt defeating at times when we would not hear replies to our emails or have people decline participation. However, this taught me that informed consent is valuable in research because it provides results from motivated participants and minimizes confounding variables. Moving forward in Healthcare, I know informed consent is essential for treatment and is a right for the patients.
The report conducted in partnership with Community Living London found that while most staff and volunteers in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) sector receive formal training, there are significant gaps in content and accessibility. Topics such as "Behaviour as Communication" and "Abuse" were ranked as most critical, but training on mental health, human rights, and boundaries was inconsistent and often lacking. Respondents also identified new, unmet training needs including substance use, sexuality, and intersectionality. Although enhanced training could improve morale and confidence, most organizations lacked clarity on their willingness or ability to invest in such programs, signaling a need for further market research and targeted outreach.
Discussion
Poster
Presentation
CLL Section 002 Team
Final Reflection
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What Went Well?
Our team successfully identified areas of interest for future training modules based on staff feedback, which will help CLL tailor their offerings to current needs in the IDD sector. Additionally, the survey data supported CLL’s initial hypothesis, confirming that "Behaviour as Communication" is viewed as the most important training topic among respondents.
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What Would I Change?
If I were to make a change, I would include additional demographic questions—such as age—to better understand what younger staff members value in training. This would help align the findings more closely with CLL’s belief that younger employees are most impacted by inadequate training.
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Future Directions
Future steps would include conducting deeper research into pricing models to help CLL effectively market their training modules to external organizations. This could support revenue generation, allowing CLL to reinvest in services and expand the supports offered to individuals with IDD.