Durham Regional Centre

• Durham Centre

• Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped

• Whitby Durham Regional Centre

The facility, originally named the Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped and later changed to the Durham Regional Centre, was opened in 1974 housing approximately 130-150 residents. It was a Schedule 1 facility, which was one that was directly operated by the Ministry.

Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped was located off Victoria St. (Base Line Road), Whitby, behind Dr. J.O. Ruddy Hospital.

The Centre closed in 1986

Durham Regional Centre was a facility of the Ministry of Community and Social Services, located in Whitby Ontario that housed, assessed and treated developmentally disabled individuals. It provided care, treatment and training for developmentally handicapped children and adults mainly from the Regional Municipality of Durham and Borough of Scarborough. The aim was to foster living and learning patterns to enable individuals to take a greater part in the activities of everyday life. Staff worked as a team, encouraging residents at the Centre and clients in the community to live as independently as possible.

Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped provided the following non-residential services for agencies and families: -assessment and diagnostic services -crisis intervention, counseling and parental relief -parental training and instruction in behavior management techniques -consultation and support to other agencies. The Durham Board of Education provided schooling for residents under 21 years of age at Durham Centre itself. The regular curriculum was followed, with the added emphasis on life-skills, development and pre-vocational training.

Many of the adults were enrolled in night schools courses designed to meet their special needs. Counselors and teachers helped with this program, which was unique at the time, and operated in classes held at local high schools. Registered nurses provided the centre's residents with health care 24 hours a day. Doctors, dentists and other specialists gave treatment and care when needed. For more intensive nursing care there was an infirmary, and arrangements could be made to transfer residents to a local hospital if necessary. Psychology staff, working closely with residential counselors and resource staff, assessed the residents and designed individualized programs to teach daily living skills.

The Recreation Department provided programs and activities for the residents during their leisure hours. Development of leisure skills was the main objective, with emphasis on the individual's personal growth through increased physical and social activities. A kinesiologist at Durham assessed each resident and developed appropriate physical activity programs, which emphasized nutrition and weight control, gross and fine motor skills, physical fitness, and walking or other ambulatory skills. Each resident had privacy of his or her own bedroom or shared a larger room with one or two others. Space for socializing, enjoying leisure activities and dining was included in each living area.

Staff developed and monitored programs to teach daily living and social skills. Each resident had a 'prime counselor' who took a personal interest in him or her, as well as helped to celebrate birthdays and holidays, buy clothes, co-ordinate case conferences, monitor program progress and ensure that close contact with the resident's family is maintained. Liaison between Durham Centre and residents' families was continuously maintained by the centre's social workers. They also provided assessment and counseling for residents and their families, organized admissions, and played an important role as members of the interdisciplinary team.

A speech pathologist worked with all departments in the Centre to ensure a consistent approach to communication development through language assessment and communication programs. Vocational Services assisted individuals to attain their highest level of vocational functioning, and worked in co-operation with local associations and community agencies for special needs. Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped also operated its own vocational program, providing work assessment, work adjustment training, skills training, sheltered employment and life-skills training. Clients received counseling to assist them in developing social, educational and vocational goals for employment. The Centre had a store and workshop, called 'Brock Stop', which was located in downtown Whitby, where residents manufactured ceramic items and helped to sell products from other workshops across Ontario.

No statute or order in council could be identified establishing this agency.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government Telephone Directories, 1974-1986; Ministry of Community and Social Services, 1974. Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services pamphlet: Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped (no date, circa 1978).

Archivist(s):
Solovitch