What Does it Mean to be Dual-Diagnosed?

"Disability" is defined by the Government of Canada as a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person's body and mind and features of the society in which they live. Because of its complexity, there is no single, harmonized “operational” definition of disability across federal programs.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health defines "dual-diagnosis" as a situation where a person has both a developmental disability and a mental health problem.

According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people on Earth (~15% of the world's population) live with some form of disability whereas almost as many (970 million) live with a mental disorder. Almost every single person will experience a form of disability in their lifetime.

There are many unique and difficult challenges that people who are dual-diagnosed face, including but not limited to:

daily living (challenge with and/or dependence on other people for hygiene, getting dressed, laundry, following a schedule, taking medication on time, cooking, cleaning, work-life balance, driving, groceries, etiquette, house and car maintenance, time management, emotional regulation, therapy and therapeutic activities, participation in community programs, etc)
health concerns (higher risk of obesity, trauma, and malpractice. Medication conflictions or rejection, dependence on medication, lack of medical professionals well versed in dual-diagnosis, poor access to treatments and services, poor mental health, insurance, need for a wide variety of services, medical professionals dismissing patient's concerns or misassigning symptoms, lack of accessible equipment, little to no communication between patients and/or families)
family (caregiver burnout, grief and loss, lack of adequate support, financial burden experienced by caretakers, sibling rivalry, adoption, foster families, orphanages, dependence on others, bonding and attachment challenges)
relationships and social life (lack of education on how to build and keep relationships (especially romantic ones), lack of sex education, vulnerable to human/sex/drug trafficking and domestic violence, lack of social etiquette, underdeveloped social skills, challenges with Internet dating, social exclusion, discrimination, bullying, bonding and attachment challenges, dependence on partners, friends, and family members. Humans are complex and even abled individuals have difficulty at times with relationships)
community (limited participation in the world, lack of related eligible programs, exclusion, discrimination, limited travel possibilities, general public do not regularly encounter or know how to interact with people with disabilities or dual-diagnosed individuals, ignorance, lack of acceptance)
language and communication (understanding and comprehension, communication barriers such as using sign language or an electronic communication tool, use of small print, no Braille, videos without captioning)
education (often difficult to complete education or keep up with children their age, more time needed to understand concepts, may need more one-on-one help, part-time education, exclusion in unadapted activites. General lack of support, special education, and accomodations)
finances (lack of available or eligible funding, poverty. It's challenging to pay for assistive devices, technology, and mobility tools. Government assistance is most likely needed but may not provide enough, heavy restrictions, or limited eligibility. Funding is even more difficult to receive for adults. Many dual-diagnosed individuals depend on their family members and partner's financial support to make ends meet. It is also odten difficult for many to comprehend money in terms of it amount or value and how to calculate their own monitory needs.)
emotional regulation
employment (finding jobs that match their capabilities and needs,accomodating workplaces, and adequate pay. They also may struggle to keep jobs)
policy (de (finding jobs that match their capabilities and needs, accommodating their needs in workplaces, and adequate pay for people with disabilities to participate in their communities)
spirituality and religion (acceptance into communities, may be difficult to comprehend immaterial and abstract concepts)
accessibility (transportation is not always possible or accessible. There are a lack of services offered for disabled and dual-diagnosed individuals with assistive technology. Physical accessibility into buildings, rooms, and vehicles are common concerns. Activities and choices must be altered to be developmentally and age appropriate in addition to being realistically possible given the individuals' income, capabilities, travel arrangements, needs, and more)
technology (Internet dangers, technology aids, assistive/adaptive/rehabilitative devices and technology, pervasive negative media perceptions, lack of accurate and positive visual representation in media)
Disabled and dual-diagnosed individuals are misunderstood, underestimated, overestimated, discriminated against, abused, taken advantage of, patronized, and constantly reminded of their disability. The general public's ignorance of disabilities, myths, stigma, stereotypes, and prejudice lead individuals to develop very low self-esteem and sense of self-worth. For instance, The term "overcame" being used in conjunction with disabled individuals is very harmful because it implies that disabilities are negative, and that they should not hold you back if you just try hard enough
Some interactions with abled individuals results in the dual-diagnosed individual to be reduced to their disability. This happens when people only see the disability without getting to know an individual's personality, preferences, life experiences, hopes, dreams, hobbies and interests
Disability is experienced, displayed, and handled differently for every individual!
Our society naturally, unconsciously hides what is deemed as "flaws" (i.e. people who cannot or will not conform to society's expectations of being a happy, productive, and valued member of society. Some examples of this are the elderly, disabled, physically ill, and criminals). These people are therefore isolated and largely forgotten, disconnected from "normal" living and the working world.

References:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/disability/arc/reference-guide.html#h2.3-h3.1

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders

https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/dual-diagnosis

https://www.goodwillcardonation.org/blog/5-challenges-that-intellectually-disabled-people-face-in-the-workplace/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15506159/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/sep/19/disability-social-obstacles-real-problem

https://www.narayanseva.org/blog/10-problems-faced-by-people-with-disabilities

https://hcbsprovider.com/challenges-facing-young-adults-with-disabilities/

https://medicircle.in/challenges-faced-by-disabled-people

https://www.insider.com/challenges-for-people-with-disabilities-who-have-office-jobs-2019-8

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-barriers.html

https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/sites/default/files/challenges_disabilities_schools_eng.pdf

https://www.ices.on.ca/Publications/Atlases-and-Reports/2019/Addressing-Gaps-in-the-Health-Care-Services-Used-by-Adults-with-Developmental-Disabilities

For Families

The Help and Crisis Lines through the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies can be found here: https://www.oacas.org/what-we-do/communications-and-public-engagement/resources-and-supports-for-ontario-families/

The Government of Ontario has implemented the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program to help financially support families: https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistance-children-severe-disabilities-program

Resource Directories:

Organizations:

Childhood Disability LINK
ConnectABILITY, Family (Support) Groups
Developmental Disabilities Association, Family Support Services
Family Voices
Parents Helping Parents

*Please see the other sections as some of these resources may also apply*

*Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are PLENTY of resources out there that you can access with a quick Internet search. This list is only to get you started*

For Client Population

Programs and Services:

Rights of People with Disabilities:

Resource Directories:

Organizations:

Ability Online
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
Addus (Developmental Disabilities and Community Partnerships)
Adult Protective Service Association of Ontario
Affordable Therapy Network - Canada (ATN)
Allies Inc.
ARCH Disability Law Centre
Asperger's Society of Ontario
Association for the Neurologically Disabled of Canada (AND)
Autism Ontario
Autism Society Canada (ASC)
Autism Speaks
BEACON
Best Buddies Canada
Blooming with Autism
Canadian Association for Community Living
Canadian Disability Resources Society
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Child and Parent Research Institute (CPRI) (specifically the Applied Research and Education Department)
Christian Horizons
Citizens With Disabilities - Ontario (CWDO)
Community Living Ontario
ConnectABILITY
ConnexOntario
Developmental Services Human Resources Strategy
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)
Down Syndrome Association of Ontario (DSAO)
Easter Seals Ontario
Family Alliance Ontario
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Friendship Circle International
Geneva Centre for Autism
Goodwill Industries International
Hellenic Hope Centre for Persons with Special Needs
Job Oppurtunity Information Network (JOIN) employment for people with disabilities
John Howard Society
Justin Eves Foundation for Students with Learning Disabilities, Minds in Motion
Kerry's Place Autism Services
Learning Disability Association of Ontario (LDAO)
Make a Change Canada
OCL
Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD)
Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services
Ontario Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disabilities (OPADD)
Ontario Psychotherapy & Counseling Referral Directory (OPC Referral Directory)
ParaSport Ontario
Project Work
Provincial Network
RealXchange
Surrey Place Centre
The Arc
VITA Community Living Services

*Please see the other sections as some of these resources may also apply*

*Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are PLENTY of resources out there that you can access with a quick Internet search. This list is only to get you started*

For Professionals

Defining disability in different contexts: https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/perspectives-meaning-disability/2016-10
Collection of articles on developmental disabilities: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/articles.html, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/articles.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The National Benefit Authority
Resources and research on how to teach students with learning disabilities: https://www.ldatschool.ca/
Administration for Community Living professional resources: https://acl.gov/node/659
Government of Canada resources: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/just-for-you/people-disabilities.html
CAMH's list of resources on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities/idd---resources
Disability resources organized by provinces in Canada: https://canasstech.com/pages/resources
Online resource directory by the Canadian Disabilities Resources Society: https://www.disabilityresources.ca/about
The Autism and/or Intellectual Disability Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada): https://aidecanada.ca/learn
The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada for current research on learning disabilities and ADHD/ADD: https://www.ldac-acta.ca/ldac-research-hub/
TEDtalks from qualified professionals
search for related academic resources on Google Scholar

*Please see the other sections as some of these resources may also apply*

*Please note that this list is not exhaustive. There are PLENTY of resources out there that you can access with a quick Internet search. This list is only to get you started*

Chamomile Adult Services

What Does it Mean to be Dual-Diagnosed?

For Families

For Client Population

For Professionals

Regarding Finances

Chamomile Adult Services

What Does it Mean to be Dual-Diagnosed?

For Families

For Client Population

For Professionals

Regarding Finances

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