Searching for Disability Associations

Non-profit group working to help people with Down syndrome to live full and rewarding lives

• provides support for people with Down syndrome and their families
• forms collaborative support networks with relevant organizations

Services:

• bulletin
• meetings
• information sessions for parents, caregivers or teachers of children with Down syndrome
• linkage to other parents
• parent info-pack for parents, caregivers, teachers
• on-demand visits at the hospital for people who just had a baby with Down syndrome, to offer information and support
• links to other community groups dealing with people with special needs
• annual picnic
• GO 21 walk

Support group dedicated to individuals or families affected by anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) or severe allergies to food and other products

• support and education about anaphylaxis
• promotion of allergy awareness in and around the Ottawa-Gatineau area
• quarterly meetings to provide opportunities for formal and informal discussion
• internal group forum allows members to communicate with each other

Information and psychological/emotional support for persons who will or have undergone intestinal or urinary tract diversion surgery

• colostomy
• urostomy
• ileostomy
• ileo-anal reservoir

Meetings:

• supportive visiting service to ostomates, their families and caregivers
• support is available before, during and after the hospital stay
• visitors are trained volunteers who are matched by age, sex, and type of surgery
• members are encouraged to bring their spouses, family and friends to the meetings
• meetings are via zoom (virtual) during the winter, and in person other months. We try to also include a hybrid component to the in person meetings.

Organization of parents and professionals who believe that most hearing impaired children can acquire almost normal language skills.

Promotes early identification of hearing loss

• early use of hearing aids or cochlear implants
• intensive auditory-verbal therapy
• emotional support
• publishes newsletters
• holds workshops
• operates book/video libraries and advocates for hearing impaired children in the school system
• many family get-togethers

Volunteers are dedicated to helping Lupus patients learn about and cope with this chronic disease. They provide a means for Education, Support, Public Awareness and Research.

Gives support by:

• Telephone networking and counselling for new patients
• Holding support meetings for discussion, learning and sharing

Educates by:

• Producing and distributing information via pamphlets newsletters and videos
• Holding public meetings and workshops to learn from experts

Increases awareness by:

• Having displays in malls and health fairs
• Speaking to groups such as service clubs, and community organizations
• Having local and national media do stories about lupus

Encourages research by:

• Assisting in funding lupus clinics in five rheumatic disease units
• Funding a fellowship to enable a rheumatology student an extra year of study with lupus patients
• Funding research pilot programs and special equipment (when funds are available)

International anal cancer support organization

• website contains related information and resources

Support group located in Ottawa

• offers encouragement and advice to patients from their initial diagnosis, through their treatment, and then their life after treatment

Anal Buds:

• one-to-one peer support available in person, by email, or by telephone
• available worldwide
• predominantly English speaking at this time

National, community-based organization of volunteers seeking to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer

• funds cancer research that will help reduce cancer incidence, reduce cancer deaths, and improve the quality of life for people living with cancer
• offers up-to-date credible information on all types of cancer
• provides cancer prevention information
• offers peer support for those fighting cancer and their caregivers
• offers free prevention presentations to businesses or organizations
• helps Canadians every step of the way through their cancer journey
• advocates for healthy public policies
• offers smoke cessation assistance

For free transportation to cancer-related appointments, see separate listing

Information about all cancers including:

• prevention
• treatment
• early detection
• community resources
• facts on tobacco-cancer link and more
• free wigs
• cloth prosthesis and chemo hats
• emotional support
• transportation
• fund-raising

Services for cancer patients, their families and the general public

Cancer Information Specialists:

• one-on-one information on cancer and cancer-related topics for cancer patients, their families, general public, and health professionals

Information on all types of cancer:

• prevention and early detection
• treatments
• drugs and clinical trials
• complementary therapies
• emotional and financial support
• nutrition
• statistics
• help in local communities
• information about being tested
• preparing for or coping with treatments
• managing recovery or recurrence
• supporting someone who is living with cancer

Transportation:

• assistance with transportation to help patients get to their cancer-specific treatments when they are unable to get there on their own

Peer Support:

• connects people to a trained volunteer (survivor or caregiver) by telephone or in person * all calls are confidential

Wig Salon:

• free wigs for cancer patients losing their hair due to chemotherapy

Prevention:

• information at health fairs and presentations about cancer prevention and cancer related topics at no charge

Smokers' Helpline:

• information and counselling to smokers who want to quit, those who have quit and need support, and those who want to help a friend or family member quit and especially to those who have no intention of quitting
• toll-free telephone support line and a series of self-help books form an integrated approach called One Step At A Time

Consumer-based organization by and for Canadians who are hard of hearing

• promotes the development of social, educational and employment environments
• lobbies for accessibility
• strives for mandatory standards for hearing aids
• seeks to guarantee the availability of specialized technical aids
• public awareness programs
• self-help for people who are hard of hearing

Organization of volunteers that brings together, informs and represents French-speaking families of people with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities

Organizes several social and sporting events in person during normal public health conditions or virtually in accordance with public health orders

Moving to a Place of My Own! : guide intended for the loved ones and caregivers of Francophone people living in the Ottawa region who would like to plan for a transition toward a new home. Click here to download the guide

Day program

• offering nutritional breakfast and hot nutritional lunch
• personal and practical support
• shower access
• laundry facilities
• telephone
• referrals and advocacy
• computer with high speed Internet
• emergency grocery cupboard program

Delivers services, support and advocacy for and with people with spinal cord injury

Regional services:

• staff members provide practical help, advocacy and assistance from injury right through rehabilitation and into the community

Connect Peer Program:

• matches people who are newly injured, and their family members, to people who have lived experience with a spinal cord injury

Cortree Disability Education Centre:

• online learning platform for people with SCI and other physical disabilities and their families
• information on relevant topics around living with a disability
• available for professionals

Community support to individuals who have an acquired brain injury

• day program
• outreach support
• residential program
• support groups

Support services

• epilepsy and seizure information
• public awareness
• additional to general support and education

Epilepsy Ottawa offers the following programs:

Clinic to Community: an education program that helps you better understand epilepsy, seizure management, safety tips, and how to live well with epilepsy, a gateway to resources, programs, services, and an epilepsy community

UPLIFT: a mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy program to reduce depression and anxiety in people with epilepsy or in parents/guardians of people with epilepsy

Seizure Smart: a free program for schools, workplaces, and other groups that want to learn more about epilepsy and how to help someone having a seizure

Epilepsy Connect Ottawa: a one-on-one peer mentor program for adults with epilepsy and parents/guardians of children with epilepsy

Employment Support Services

• school support services
• webinars and public information meetings

COVID-19: The centre is open for showers. Call to book a time.

This information is regularly updated on their website.

Drop-in counselling centre for any adult (alone or with children) who finds it difficult to access services elsewhere due to illness, disability or homelessness.

Practical assistance: shower and laundry facilities

• telephones
• small clothing items (underwear, socks, and seasonal accessories)
• hygiene items
• condoms
• needle exchange

Social Recreation Program: creative expressions program including literacy and writer's group, music appreciation, and visual arts

• board games
• card games
• bingo
• arts and crafts
• special events
• karaoke
• chaplaincy

Counselling: short-term supportive counselling

• advocacy
• crisis intervention
• housing
• employment support and resume writing
• addiction
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) / Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and Hepatitis A, B, C
• groups (addiction, life skills)

In-Reach visits by: Housing Help

• Royal Ottawa Hospital Outreach Teams (psychiatric and addiction)
• University of Ottawa Community Legal Clinic Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Application Support Program: Assists individuals with significant disabilities and barriers to navigate the complex application process

General medical practice

Medical team using a multidisciplinary model of care, including these health professionals :

• medical doctors
• nurse practitioners
• registered nurses
• clinical pharmacists
• mental health counsellors
• dietitians
• health educators
• social workers
• psychiatrists and chiropodists

Complete list of services and programs at https://bywardfht.ca/our-services/

Provides opportunities for individuals to participate in social, recreational,educational and volunteer activities and benefit from social and health services

Programs:

• day centre activities
• Adult Day Program
• Community support services
• Seniors' Centre Without Walls (telephone-based programming)

Food Services:

• reasonably priced meals
• nutritious hot lunches, soup and sandwiches, muffins, desserts, snacks, beverages
• take-out meals
• festive and theme dinner parties
• some diet restrictions can be accommodated
• grocery shopping/food delivery

Physical Activities:

• chair exercise
• fitness centre
• yoga
• dance classes
• well-being classes
• weights or cardio
• zumba
• pole walking

In House Services:

• hair salon
• foot care
• massage therapy
• esthetics
• wellness clinic

Craft Program:

• painting
• quilting
• stained glass
• knitting
• crochet
• jewellery making
• woodworking

Performing Arts:

• choir
• choir chimes
• performing groups and bands
• home of the Grey Jazz Band

Education and Health Program:

• computer classes
• current affairs
• language classes
• wellness seminars
• guest lecturers
• day trips

Games and Social Program:

• cards
• dance
• sing along
• monthly birthday party
• special events and teas
• bingo

Fitness Programs:

• for adults regardless of fitness level, mobility or agility and for persons who suffer from osteoporosis, arthritis, or other muscular or cardiovascular conditions

Integrated community health and social services, provides primary care with emphasis on health promotion and assistance to clients in maintaining maximum health status.

Services include:

• Walk-in medical services
• family medical care
• chiropody
• home visits
• community outreach
• group sessions for information and advice on a wide variety of health concerns such as arthritis, menopause, nutrition, healthy weight, diabetes and quitting smoking

COVID-19 (23 April 2020) The Centre's operations have shifted to provide only essential services. If you are registered in an upcoming group or have an appointment and have any questions, please call 613-789-1500.This information is regularly updated on website

Integrated comunity health and social services centre

Services include:

• telephone support
• treatment planning and referral as appropriate
• walk-in social services support
• assessments
• advocacy
• crisis intervention
• information and referral
• seasonal life skills and therapeutic group programs

Promotes increased awareness and respect for persons with learning disabilities (LDs) among the community at large, professional groups and relevant educational, social, recreational, medical, legal and vocational organizations

• provides support, guidance, resource materials and opportunities for sharing of information and concerns
• advocates for research endeavours in the field of learning disabilities and for legislative initiatives that will benefit individuals with learning disabilities

Services:

• lending library
• resource centre and travelling education kiosk [resource lists (local tutors, schools, psycho-educational assessments etc), connection with community resources]
• advocacy coaching
• presentations at schools, businesses, community centres, government departments, other community organizations
• social skills camp
• referral and informational services
• coordination with School Board SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) representatives
• local representation at public consultations

Sunshine Day Camp Social Skills program: camp for children age 7 to 14 years of age who have a learning disability and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• aims to provide an inclusive childcare experience and providing programming with the goal of developing social skills in a safe, fun environment
• runs from early July to late August in three 2-week sessions
• offers a strong ratio of 1:5 counsellors to campers

Appointment is strongly encouraged

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) individual and group support.

Provides:

• community education
• risk reduction education
• treatment information
• liaison with organizations and health care professionals
• immigration support

The Living Room drop-in centre:

• complementary therapies
• laundry facilities
• clothing
• supplementary grocery program

Support Groups:

• ongoing facilitated discussions about HIV/AIDS

Health Promotion:

• risk reduction education
• treatment information
• information on HIV/AIDS related issues
• professional and community referrals

Speakers Bureau:

• trained volunteers offer presentations to schools, community organizations, and businesses on various HIV/AIDS issues

Community Education:

• staff and volunteers liaise with other community organizations and health care professionals

Drug-Checking kits:

• test kits and strips for the presence/differentiation between various substances including fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, MDE, amphetamine, ketamine, PMA/PMMA, heroin, morphine, codeine

Peer-led support group

• share experiences, discuss challenges and learn coping strategies

Federally chartered, national consumer and advocacy organization for the blind or visually impaired

• nation-wide association
• assists and enhances the efforts of individuals who are blind or vision impaired
• aids in regaining self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence

Promotes:

• equality for Canada's blind and visually impaired
• their integration in the sighted population
• recreational and social activities
• equal treatment of the blind and visually impaired in a free and democratic society without limitation or discrimination

Monitors and assesses the services provided by the service delivery agencies

• ensures quality of service throughout Canada
• development of technology training programs
• Peer-driven Get Together with Technology program where those with vision loss coach others with vision loss on how to use various kinds of technology

Community Health Centre

• Primary care
• Walk-in clinic
• Prenatal and Postnatal Care
• Obstetrics
• Foot care
• Dietetics
• Acupuncture
• HIV testing
• Dental screening
• Outreach nursing
• Immunization
• Counselling
• Practical assistance and social services in English (drop-in, for anyone living in the Somerset West Community Health Centre boundary)
• Practical assistance, social services and case management in Cantonese, Cambodian, Mandarin and Vietnamese (for anyone in the City of Ottawa)
• Health promotion and education
• Needle exchange and safer inhalation harm reduction services (drop-in room and mobile van; for anyone in the City of Ottawa).