Empower Simcoe launches Pathway to Support, a free platform to find support for people with developmental disabilities

Families in Simcoe County who care for someone with a developmental disability have a new tool to find help. Empower Simcoe launched Pathway to Support in early November 2026, a free online platform that connects individuals and families directly with Independent Direct Support Providers (IDSPs).

What Pathway to Support is

The platform is a meeting point between people who need support and self-employed workers who provide it. It is administered locally through a partnership between Empower Simcoe and Catulpa Community Support Services, two organizations well known in the region for serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to Empower Simcoe, the goal is to give families more choice, flexibility and control in finding support that fits each person's goals, schedule and preferences. The organization's President and CEO, Dr. Claudine Cousins, noted that the tool also helps build connections between families and providers in their own community.

What kind of support you can find

Independent providers can offer different kinds of support, for example:

• building daily living skills (cooking, organizing the home, using transit);
• support to become more independent;
• taking part in community activities such as sports, classes and outings;
• caregiver respite, when someone else takes over care for a few hours.

How the platform works

On Pathway to Support, families can search and compare provider profiles, see each provider's experience and availability, and get in touch securely. They can also save search preferences, bookmark favourite profiles and post a support request that interested providers can answer.

After the first contact, the family agrees directly with the provider on activities, responsibilities, schedule and rates. In other words, the platform is free, but the provider's work is negotiated between the two parties.

Why this matters for newcomer families

For people who arrived in Canada recently, understanding the network of disability services can be hard. Many families receive funding from provincial programs and don't know where to find workers to use it. A platform that gathers local providers makes the search easier and lets you compare options calmly, including looking for someone who speaks your language or understands your culture.

A few tips before hiring:

• ask for references and about experience with similar situations;
• put everything in writing: schedule, tasks, rate and payment method;
• check that the provider has an up-to-date police check;
• confirm with your funding program which expenses can be reimbursed.

Where to learn more

Information on how families and providers can sign up is on the Empower Simcoe website (empowersimcoe.ca). If you don't yet have funding for developmental supports in Ontario, contact Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) in your region to learn how to request an assessment.

Source: Barrie 360 and Innisfil Today.