- Special Services at Home (SSAH) http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/specialneeds/specialservices/index.aspx from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Benefit: depends on need but can be in the tens of thousands of dollars annually.
Device/Equipment Specific
- Assistive Devices Program (ADP) http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/adp/adp_mn.html.
Benefit: covers up to 75% of the cost of approved equipment - Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/specialneeds/disabilities/index.aspx from the Ministry of Youth and Children Services.
Benefit: depending on family income, $25-$440 a month. - Special Needs Equipment Exchange Service (SNEES) (in Ottawa) http://ottawa.cioc.ca/record/OCR0548?UseCICVw=13 If you need it, take it - no questions asked.. If you don't need it anymore, donate it to someone else so they can use it!
Benefit: absolutely free used mobility equipment and much more. - Easter Seals http://www.easterseals.org/
Benefit: covers approved equipment costs up to $3,000 annually.
Special Needs Camps/Activities
- Day Activities Assistance Funding Program http://www.ofcp.on.ca/programs.html#daf from the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy
Benefit: covers 50% of the activity cost up to $3,000
Fun Stuff (i.e. helping your kid just be a KID)
- Access 2 Entertainment (Cineplex Odeon) http://www.access2.ca/programinformation.html
Benefit: support person for disabled person receives a free admission to movies, museums and more! - Vacation Assistance Funding Program http://www.ofcp.on.ca/programs.html#vf from the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy
Benefit: covers 50% of your vacation expenses up to $3,000
Government Tax Benefits
- Disability Tax Credit for which you must fill out the Disability Tax Credit Certificate http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2201/README.html.
- Medical tax credits. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4064/rc4064-e.html#P193_7724 You can deduct medical expenses (up to $10,000 per dependent) and can even claim moving expenses if you are moving to a more accessible home.
- Child Disability Benefit (CDB) http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/dsblty-eng.html is a tax-free monthly payment per child (up to $205.83 per month depending on family net income)
- Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/rdsp-reei/menu-eng.html is
- Canada Disability Savings Grant is new program where the government will match your investment into the RSDP as follows.
- Canada Disability Savings Bond is where the government will contribute to the individual's RDSP if their family income is less than $21,816
