Norman G. Vinson

Support for Children with a Disability in Ontario June 30, 2010

My son is disabled and a relative of a friend recently asked my wife what kind of resources there were in Ontario for children with a disability. Her response was so good that I t ought it should be shared with others.  So here it is:

You are really are better off in the bigger centres as there is more offered.  However, there are rehab units for children throughout Ontario (see http://www.oacrs.com/treatment.php).   In Ottawa, the centre is Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre (octc.ca) and in TO, it’s Bloorview Macmillan, (bloorview.ca).  Now, keep in mind it’s been years since we were actively involved, but when Nic was young, Bloorview seem to be more advanced.  They seemed to be more in touch with the current research and thinking about rehab services.  At both centres, you would access PT, OT, and speech therapy, and I believe at Bloorview they were looking at some other allied therapies as well.  At both centres, you would also access seating clinics for wheelchairs and other mobility devices.  The centres are separate from the hospital services, but some coordination is possible.  So Nic sees the neurologist and orthopaedist at OCTC, and the pulmunologist (sp?) and other doctors at CHEO.  Also, there is school up to, I think, Grade 4 at both OCTC and Bloorview.

Schooling in Ontario is complex and related to your child’s cognitive ability.  It could be one of four scenarios:

1) at the rehab centres (good cognitive ability, physical disability);

2) integrated into a regular classroom with special supports;

3) at a special school (mild to moderate cognitive disability with some physical disability);

4) in a special class at a regular school (severe physical and/or cognitive disability).

I won’t even go into all the school stuff, but your child has certain rights under the law regarding access to therapy and equipment, and the school boards never, or rarely seem to, want to support those rights.  We’ve had a few arguments with the schools, but you can easily win because the law is on your side. A lot depends on the principal.

In Ontario, there are two financial support programs, one for lower income families, and one for all families regardless of income.  And I am not sure, but I think there is a waiting list for the later program.  It’s called Special Services at Home (SSAH). Info can be found here:

http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/specialneeds/specialservices/index.aspx

Special services at home helps with respite costs.

Then there is a diaper allowance which is administered through Easter Seals for children who are incontinent:

http://www.easterseals.org/services/default.asp?load=incontinence

Easter Seals provides a lot of support, including support for equipment and wonderful summer camps for individual and family campers.  We’ve gone for years and the kids love it.  It’s a really good time.

http://www.easterseals.org/

March of Dimes in Toronto offers conductive education, which is a variety of PT that some people find quite effective.

http://www.marchofdimes.ca/dimes/people_with_disabilities_caregivers/programs_and_services/conductive_education/

There is a pretty significant tax break for being the parent of a child with a disability.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/cdb.shtml

Finally, there is an assistive devices program (ADP) which provides financial support for wheelchairs, braces, and lots of other necessary equipment.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/adp/adp_mn.html

Both OCTC and Bloorview (and the other centres) would have social workers whose job it is to help you access what you need.  We found the one that was assigned to us at OCTC to be really good.