Developmental Services Worker
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code1207
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Community and Health Studies
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length2 years/ 4 semesters
- LocationAshtonbee Campus
- Emailcommunitystudiesashtonbee@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- Technology RequirementsCareerExplorerPlugin
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising Services
- Indigenous Studies
- The Social Role Valorization Implementation Project
Unlock your potential with Centennial College’s highly esteemed Developmental Services Worker program!
Centennial College's Developmental Services Worker program is highly regarded by established professionals, graduates, families, service agencies and people who have intellectual disabilities. This program is also available online.
Whether you opt for online learning or attend classes in person, your professors will support you throughout your academic journey, and you'll have ample chances to engage with peers hailing from various regions of Ontario and beyond.
Located at the Ashtonbee campus, the in-person Developmental Services Worker Program offers students access to expert faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. This vibrant learning environment provides hands-on training and real-world experiences. Students benefit from direct interaction with industry-experienced educators and globally connected guest speakers and have the opportunity to engage in both theoretical and practical learning experiences. With a commitment to student success, this program ensures that learners receive the guidance and resources necessary to excel in the Developmental Services sector.
The two-year college diploma program falls under the School of Community and Health Studies and will offer a strong foundation in the field of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This health program's curriculum will reflect best practices, current and relevant knowledge and address up-to-date issues. It will emphasize a deep understanding of:
- The life experiences of people who have disabilities
- The nature of intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and Autism
- Valued social roles
- Advocacy
- Critical and reflective thinking
- Problem solving
- Effecting positive change
- Communication and teamwork
- Personal support requirements and techniques
- Teaching skills
- Time management
- Accessing resources
Helping people to fill valued social roles as a part of society, teaching and the provision of personal and educational support are among some of the skills you'll develop. These skills will be applied through virtual experiential practice as well as field placement opportunities. As such, the Developmental Services Worker program will ensure you're equipped with the critical skills and knowledge to start your career directly upon graduation.
Once you complete the Developmental Services Worker program, you'll support individuals of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Support can be provided to individuals in their homes, at work, in schools and to their families. Your goal as a developmental services worker will be to enhance the capacity of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to function in all aspects of community living and to support their full inclusion in all aspects of society.
As a Developmental Services Worker program grad, you'll have the ability to:
- Conduct yourself in an ethical, competent and accountable manner in all professional relationships;
- Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities;
- Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and standards of practice;
- Support the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities;
- Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with developmental disabilities;
- Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities;
- Develop strategies and plans that lead to improved personal job performance and the maintenance of you own well-being;
- Apply entrepreneurial strategies and skills to allow you to plan for your future and the changing needs in the Developmental Services Sector.
Join Centennial College’s Developmental Services Worker program and make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Start your journey towards a rewarding career today!
Program Overview
Unlock your potential with Centennial College’s highly esteemed Developmental Services Worker program!
Centennial College's Developmental Services Worker program is highly regarded by established professionals, graduates, families, service agencies and people who have intellectual disabilities. This program is also available online.
Whether you opt for online learning or attend classes in person, your professors will support you throughout your academic journey, and you'll have ample chances to engage with peers hailing from various regions of Ontario and beyond.
Located at the Ashtonbee campus, the in-person Developmental Services Worker Program offers students access to expert faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. This vibrant learning environment provides hands-on training and real-world experiences. Students benefit from direct interaction with industry-experienced educators and globally connected guest speakers and have the opportunity to engage in both theoretical and practical learning experiences. With a commitment to student success, this program ensures that learners receive the guidance and resources necessary to excel in the Developmental Services sector.
The two-year college diploma program falls under the School of Community and Health Studies and will offer a strong foundation in the field of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This health program's curriculum will reflect best practices, current and relevant knowledge and address up-to-date issues. It will emphasize a deep understanding of:
- The life experiences of people who have disabilities
- The nature of intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and Autism
- Valued social roles
- Advocacy
- Critical and reflective thinking
- Problem solving
- Effecting positive change
- Communication and teamwork
- Personal support requirements and techniques
- Teaching skills
- Time management
- Accessing resources
Helping people to fill valued social roles as a part of society, teaching and the provision of personal and educational support are among some of the skills you'll develop. These skills will be applied through virtual experiential practice as well as field placement opportunities. As such, the Developmental Services Worker program will ensure you're equipped with the critical skills and knowledge to start your career directly upon graduation.
Once you complete the Developmental Services Worker program, you'll support individuals of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. Support can be provided to individuals in their homes, at work, in schools and to their families. Your goal as a developmental services worker will be to enhance the capacity of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to function in all aspects of community living and to support their full inclusion in all aspects of society.
As a Developmental Services Worker program grad, you'll have the ability to:
- Conduct yourself in an ethical, competent and accountable manner in all professional relationships;
- Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities;
- Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and standards of practice;
- Support the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities;
- Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with developmental disabilities;
- Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities;
- Develop strategies and plans that lead to improved personal job performance and the maintenance of you own well-being;
- Apply entrepreneurial strategies and skills to allow you to plan for your future and the changing needs in the Developmental Services Sector.
Join Centennial College’s Developmental Services Worker program and make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Start your journey towards a rewarding career today!
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Companies Offering Jobs
Bloorview School, Common Ground Co-operative Inc., Community Living Toronto, Deohaeko Support Network, Durham Association for Family Respite Services, Nabors, Frontier College, Kerry's Place, L'Arche Toronto, L'Arche Daybreak, Richmond Hill, New Visions, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto District School Board , York Region School Board, Durham District School Board
Program Highlights
- School of Community and Health Studies faculty is guided by years of study and work in the field of intellectual disabilities and by personal relationships with people who have intellectual disabilities.
- Coursework will include projects, seminars, community observations, Internet searches, teamwork and electronic communication.
- Focus on gaining skills and knowledge to support career success (e.g. communication, critical thinking, research, collaboration) – practical lab classes and strong theory framework
- Supervised field placements will be offered in Semester 3 (two days per week) and Semester 4 (three days per week).
- The location of Centennial College's Ashtonbee Campus will enable you to access a large number of field placement opportunities and employment opportunities upon graduation.
Career Outlook
- Educational assistant
- Support worker
- Residential support worker
- Family support worker
- Employment support worker
- Job coach
- Community disability worker
- Integration facilitator
- Community facilitator
- Case worker
Education Pathways
Graduates from this Developmental Services Worker diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are institutions offering pathways for this program.
Please note that each receiving institution has minimum admission requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving institution.
For more detailed pathways information, visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/.
Use the following Education Pathways Checklist as a guide as you explore your options.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Placement Partners
Our Field Placement partners include: Sick Kids Hospital, CAMH, Holland Bloorview, Common Ground Co-operative Inc., Community Living Toronto, Deohaeko Support Network, Durham Association for Family Respite Services, Nabors, Frontier College, L'Arche Toronto, L'Arche Daybreak Richmond Hill, New Visions, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto District School Board, The Centre for Dreams
Areas of Employment
Areas of EmploymentAdmission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test
Additional Requirements
Semester Requirements
A C Grade is required in all core courses, apart from DSWP 107 Pharmacology where a B grade is required.
Field Placement Requirements
Field Placement RequirementsHow to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic Students
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please work with an Employment Ontario service provider. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $150 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
International Students
Apply directly to Centennial College here.
2. Submit Documents
Domestic Applicants
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2025.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,347.33 | $4,068.33 |
| International | $17,148.00 | $1,845.28 | $18,993.28 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Conduct oneself in an ethical, competent and accountable manner in all professional relationships.
- Provide person-directed supports and services that respect and promote self-determination for people with developmental disabilities.
- Provide for the safety of people with developmental disabilities, self and others in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations and standards of practice.
- Support health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities.
- Employ and adapt formal and informal strategies to support the learning of people with developmental disabilities.
- Provide leadership in the development of inclusive communities.
- Develop professional and personal plans that enhance job performance and well-being.
- Apply basic entrepreneurial strategies to identify and respond to new local and global opportunities as a response to changing needs in the Developmental Services Sector.
Advising Services
The Social Role Valorization Implementation Project
- Personality TestSTARTMatch your personality to a career
- Career ExplorerLEARN MOREExplore your future career
Karima Panjwani, Developmental Services Worker GraduateEverything I was doing in my placement was everything I learned in school. Seeing a person as a person as opposed to a disability, building relationships, focusing on the rights of a person, how we were trained over there was how we were trained in school.
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