Searching for Assistive Devices

Planning and development of services under the Child and Family Services Act, including child welfare, child treatment, child and family interventions, child development, and adoption information

• provincial authority for supervising agencies providing these services, including children's aid societies
• also planning and development of services for adults with developmental disabilities

Special Services at Home (SSAH) -- financial assistance for the purchase of in-home supports for children with physical and developmental disabilities, and for adults with developmental disabilities

Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Benefit (ACSD)

• financial assistance for families who have children with severe physical and developmental disabilities
• monthly amount based on severity of disability, family income and special costs incurred

COVID19 -- Assessments by Access York are by telephone only


Provides financial assistance to stabilize housing to eligible York Region residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who are not receiving funds from Ontario Work or the Ontario Disabiity Support Program

Eligible Expenses

• first and last month's rent
• rental arrears
• assistance with mortgage payments or arrears
• utility arrears
• utility security deposit
• utility reconnection fees
• moving costs
• identification replacement
• funds for urgent medical needs
• landlord and tenant mediation

Follow up services are provided

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs-- automated information and payment details, file status * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca -- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

If you have low vision, learning to use the sight you have left can be life-changing. Our certified specialists can:

• provide a functional vision assessment designed for people with low vision
• explain eye diseases and how they affect vision in an easy-to-understand way
• teach techniques for maximizing eyesight, like how to use lighting and contrast

Give one-on-one instruction on helpful sight-enhancing devices, like specialty magnifiers

Financial assistance program and other services for individuals and their families impacted by life threatening illness

• accepts financial donations, items for backpacks, toy drives, knit materials and has gift catalogue

Rainy Day Fund -- monthly program

• emergency payments directly to the utility companies and landlords
• grocery gift cards and hospital transportation and parking costs
• reviews other special requests

Rainy Day Gifts -- gift packages for children and adults

• online form asks about recipient's clothing size, wish list and interests

Camp Scholarship -- for children in remission to attend camp of their choice

Programs and Services

• First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
• Workplace Safety and Mental Health First Aid Courses
• sales of first aid kits and supplies for home, work or play
• purchase AEDs for the workplace or for the family
• Home Alone and Babysitting courses for children

Medical First Response Services -- trained volunteers provide first aid assistance at venues such as community fairs, concerts and sporting events

Therapy Dog Services -- volunteers and their dogs make regular visits in partnerships with hospitals, palliative care units, older adults' residences, workplaces and schools

Youth Services Program -- provides training in first aid, health care, life and safety skills and promotes social, educational and personal development through community service and leisure activities for youth

Car Seat Safety Program -- volunteers educate and coach parents/guardians in the use of child restraint systems

Incontinence supplier for individuals or organizations. Offering a
wide variety of Prevail and Attends brand protective underwear/pull-ons,
adult diaper briefs,pant liners/pads and under-pads.

Call or visit website for further details.

Homecare and nursing services

• Registered Nursing Services
  • Motor Vehicle Accident Care
  • Complex Care/ Catastrophic Injury Care
  • Spinal Cord Injury Care
• Home Support Services
  • Homemaking - meal prep and light housekeeping
  • Personal Care Services
  • Companionship
  • Respite Care
• Child Care Relief
• Foot Care Services
• Palliative Care
• Home and Vehicle modifications
• Medical Equipment Sales/Rentals, a registered ADP vendor
• minimum of 3 hours per visit

Medical Equipment Supplier, services include:

• home oxygen therapy
• sleep apnea units and products (CPAP)
• sell and rent bath safety devices, bedroom assist devices, home respiratory supplies, walkers, canes, crutches, commodes, wheelchairs, scooters, special cutlery and braces
• rent hospital beds
• home recovery supplies such as surgery dressings and wound management supplies
• Registered vendor for Home Oxygen, Mobility - Ambulation Aids, Mobility - Seating, Mobility - Wheelchairs, Respiratory Equipment

Provides Police Services with quick access to critical information about a registered vulnerable person such as emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines, favorite attractions or special needs

• caregivers of vulnerable persons submit vital information to a database that will be used by police and other emergency services during a crisis situation
• information in registry will assist officers in communicating with, attending a residence of, or dealing with an emergency involving vulnerable persons who are registered

Provides hot and frozen meals, seniors' social, health and wellness programs, friendly visiting and Project Lifesaver

Hot and Frozen Meals

• meals prepared fresh daily and can be ordered 1 to 3 times a week on a long-term or temporary basis
• hot meals are available in minced form
• special meal options are available for those with dietary needs or restrictions
• frozen meals are available/delivered every two weeks
• daily meal orders or cancellations must be received by 9 am

Friendly Visiting

• regular visits from caring volunteers
• in-person or over the telephone (COVID dependent)
• provides friendship and support
• 3 types of visits offered: Let's Get Together, Let's Do Lunch or Let's Exercise

Health and Wellness Programs for Seniors

• promote and support senior health, wellness and independent living
• guest speakers or entertainers
• seasonal parties and special luncheons
• exercise class
• discussion group
• creative activities
• programs available in local senior buildings and throughout the community

Project Lifesaver Caledon

• for individuals who may wander due to cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's Disease, autism, Down Syndrome and acquired brain injury
• individuals are equipped with a wrist transmitter which sends a radio signal that can be tracked

Volunteer opportunities

Provides programs and services that focus on meeting the social and emotional needs of people living with vision loss to enhance their independence and to be the leader in promoting vision health

• nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to research, public education and vision health for all Canadians
• Call 1-800-563-0887 or 705-728-3352, ext 5281 or email lucia.ricardo@cnib.ca for service
• CNIB Phone It Forward Program: accept donations of smartphones
  • through a partnership with Fixt Wireless Repair, donated smartphones are wiped to the highest data security standards, loaded with accessible apps, and provided to people with sight loss who need them, along with technical training, discounted maintenance, and data plan support
  • a tax receipt will be provided
  • visit phoneitforward.ca or call 1-833-554-5020 for more information

• Falls Prevention:
  • changes in vision, whether associated with the aging process or other causes, can increase the risk of falling
  • use of services and programs provided by CNIB can help those experiencing vision loss remain independent
  • orientation and mobility services may help seniors be more aware of their surroundings, thus making falls less likely

No cost dental program for children 17 and under who do not have access to any dental coverage and who meet the program's eligibility requirements

• Covers regular visits to a licensed dental care provider, such as a dentist or dental hygienist
• Covers a full range of dental services including check-ups, cleaning, fillings, X-rays, sealing, urgent/emergency dental services, and more
• Does not cover cosmetic dentistry (such as teeth whitening), or orthodontics (such as braces)
• Children eligible for the Healthy Smiles Ontario program will receive care through the full service dental clinics at 80 Bradford St, Barrie and 5 Pineridge Gate, Gravenhurst
• Adults covered by publicly-funded dental programs can also access full treatment services at the full service dental clinics at 80 Bradford St, Barrie and 5 Pineridge Gate, Gravenhurst

Financial assistance for assistive devices -- subsidizes mobility equipment, ramps, tub transfer benches, wheelchairs (both manual and electric), grab bars, seat cushions, commodes, beds, transfer boards, bath chairs, computer software

Subsidized gym memberships -- for persons with disabilities

Accessible gym equipment-- funded by RH Mobility and housed at Ed Sackfield Fitness Centre

Community development -- works with other organizations to foster inclusion and create new programs and events for persons with disabilities

Financial assistance for seriously ill children and their families

• special treatment needs
• medical expenses
• transportation

Provides services to increase the independence of people who are culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened

CHS Interpreting & Translation Services (OIS)

• professional sign-language interpreters
• set fee - organizations and businesses are responsible for the cost of making their services accessible no matter who requests the interpretation service
• advance booking preferred
• for after hours emergency interpreter services for health and mental health emergencies, contact:
  • CHS Interpreting & Translation Services, After Hours Emergency Interpreter Service at 1-866-256-5142 or TTY: 1-866-831-4657 or
  • email urgent@chs.ca or awareham@chs.ca

Communication Devices Program

• carries a wide variety of devices to assist individuals who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing including TTYs (text telephones), visual smoke detectors, baby monitors, signaling devices and alarm clocks
• registered ADP vendor for Teletypewriter for the Deaf

Program for vulnerable citizen's that are affected by Alzheimer's and Dementia and those who, due to their cognitive ability, have a tendency to wander

• a watch sized tracking device that emits a unique FM radio frequency signal every second is worn by vulnerable residents
• caregivers are tasked with daily battery testing to ensure device is operating properly and immediately share vital information with police in case an individual wanders off
• batteries and bracelets are changed every 60 days by volunteers with Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue
• all participants are added to the Barrie Police Service's Vulnerable Person's Registry
• Program is run by volunteers
• monetary donations welcome

Students from Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Denturism programs offer preventative oral health care for members of the community

• all services follow professional standards and current infection control practices
• clinics are supervised by registered Dental Hygienists, Certified Dental Assistants, registered Denturists and Dentists
• low cost services
• Services available:
  • complete oral assessments
  • any necessary x-rays
  • thorough cleaning
  • fluoride application
  • oral health education
  • dietary counseling
  • pit and fissure sealants
  • professional whitening
  • sports mouth guards
  • complete and partial dentures - fabrication, reline and repair

As students require time for instruction and evaluation, appointments are three hours long and it may take a series of appointments to complete all treatment

Perform hearing assessments and hearing aid evaluations

• sells, services and repairs hearing aid and other hearing assistive devices
• provides counselling for hearing aid users regarding selection and fittings
• assists families in coping with the effects of hearing loss
• registered ADP vendor for Hearing Aids

If visiting the hospital:

• See Visitor Information
• See Parking and Transportation Information
• See COVID-19 Information

Government program which pays for oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment (100% for older adults and those on social assistance, home care or residing in a long-term care homes and 75% for all others), such as tanks, tubes and masks * also helps pay for delivery, set-up and maintenance

Financial assistance to Ontario residents with long term physical disabilities for assistive devices essential for independent living

Pays a percentage or fixed amount of the cost of equipment * 8,000 pieces of equipment or supplies are covered by the program * includes prostheses, wheelchairs/mobility aids and specialized seating systems, enteral-feeding pumps and supplies, ostomy supplies, monitors and test strips for insulin-dependent diabetics, insulin pumps and supplies for children, hearing aids, respiratory equipment, orthoses (braces, garments and pumps), visual and communication aids, oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment * does not cover repair costs

Oral and Maxillofacial Rehabilitation Program (OMRP) - Funding for patients for implants * implants support jaw and facial prosthetic devices which restore jaw function (chewing, swallowing, etc) * patients usually have had jaw reconstruction surgery

For an in-depth list of ineligible items, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistive-devices-program#section-5

Services and Programs:

• Home Oxygen Therapy

Allocates funding from the Social Assistance Restructuring Fund to support low income and non-social assistance recipients with health related expenses for the following items:

• eyeglasses
• dentures
• dental for relief of pain

Program is closed due to being redesigned. When it reopens, the urgent needs fund will only be available to those who have never received funding in the past.
If you fit under this criteria, call back in July for the new program details.

A discretionary fund available to provide individuals in Simcoe County who are experiencing or are at-risk of poverty, emergency financial assistance with modest one-time grants to address basic needs including:

• food security (e.g. grocery gift card, baby food, etc.);
• transportation (e.g. gas gift card, taxi voucher, bus ticket, medical transportation, etc.);
• basic needs (e.g. clothing, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, footwear, etc.) including delivery of items;
• social integration (e.g. access to a cellphone or phone cards, computer rentals, etc.);
• health and wellness (e.g. medication, emergency dental, eyeglasses, etc.);
• housing start-up costs (e.g. furniture, kitchen supplies, bedding, mattress, etc.);
• child care;
• family supports (e.g. parenting courses, educational resources and supplies for children/youth);
• personal Identification (e.g. birth certificate, health card, SIN, driver's license);
• student assistance for elementary and high school students (books, supplies, registration / application fees); and/or,
• mental health supports;
• income tax filing costs;
• utilities

Requests for assistance will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.