Financial Information:
Financial security is important for everyone. You may have a long wait time to access many supports, so planning for as much financial independence as possible is critical. Parents need to start thinking about this when your child is young, taking advantage of things like the Registered Disability Support Program (RDSP), setting up a Henson (discretionary) trust fund for your son or daughter and making sure that you have advice about your will and other financial matters.
For more information visit Windsor Essex Family Network events page: Events – Windsor-Essex Family Network (windsoressexfamnet.ca)
and Ensemble Community Activities page: Ensemble Community Activities – Ensemble (ensembleunderstands.com)
Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities(ACSD)
This program provides funding for extra expenses associated with your child’s disability and is geared to income. If your child is under the age of 18, you can call the Ministry of Community and Social Services find out more about the ACSD Program.
Phone: 519-254-1651
Website: Children with disabilities (gov.on.ca)
Incontinence Supplies Grant Program
Available for Ontario residents ages 3 to 18 years of age, who have a chronic disability resulting in irreversible incontinence or retention problems requiring them to use incontinence supplies.
Call the toll-Free number at 1-888-377-5437
Website: services.easterseals.org/incontinence-supplies-grant/
Ontario Disability Support Program
Provides a monthly income for persons with disabilities from the age of 18 and up. You can apply for this six months before your child turns 18. Visit the Ontario Ministry of Community & Social Services website for more information.
Phone: 519-254-1651
Website: www.mcss.gov.on.ca
Passport Program
Financial support for community involvement and respite for adults is available through the Passport Program. You must access this program through Developmental Supports Ontario. People receive “individualized” funds, meaning that you receive a specific amount of funding to be used to support the individual. Individuals use their Passport funds to purchase support that will help them live as independently as possible in the community. This might mean using the funds for a Direct Support Provider to help support the person to participate in activities, to cover costs of recreation activities, to have someone assist you with person directed planning or to have help with everyday tasks. Families and individuals can manage/administer the funds themselves. Family Services Windsor assists families to do this through the “Avenues” program. Individuals can also purchase support through a number of community programs including Community Living Windsor and Community Living Essex County. Individuals who qualify for services through Developmental Services Ontario will qualify for $5000 in support automatically, but may apply for additional support and funding. There may be a waiting time to receive this funding after the individual turns 18 years of age.
Phone: 1-855-437-6797
Website: www.dsontario.ca
The Government of Canada gives funds to people who have an RDSP for use later in life, even if you are not able to set aside money yourself. For more information on the RDSP program.
Website: www.cra-arc.gc.ca
Special Services at Home
Provides financial assistance for families of children with developmental or physical disabilities up to the age of 18. The funding helps families to hire in home support persons or pay for specialized programs. This is a program funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex coordinates this program for Windsor Essex. Applications go through FRS. Families can administer the funds themselves or have assistance from Family Respite Services to do this. There may be a waiting time to access this program. Funds from this program end when the person turns 18.
Contact Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex to apply for this program call: 519-972-9688.
Family Respite Services SSAH: www.familyrespite.org
Ontario SSAH Website: Special Services at Home (gov.on.ca)