Important programs parents should know about

After 6yrs of raising my first child, after numerous times of asking for help, it took one worker to inquire about WHY I wasn't taking advantage of resources before I found out about them. Not once did any of his doctors, nurses, or therapists mention any such programs to me, after finding out about them and bringing them up in clinics and asking why no one told me about them the only response I got was "we thought you knew". Yes, as a first time mother of a child with medical issues I was expected to know everything without being told.

I am not the first person this has happened to and I wont be the last! I was talking to a mother of a child with special needs last year, her son has had these needs since the day he was born, now at 10 years old I was the FIRST and ONLY person to tell her about these programs. With $10,000 now in their pocket from back payments I have not seen them without getting numerous thank yous.
(My first pay out was just as high, between the government readjusting my previous tax years and the back payments from the Child Disabled Benefit that gets added to your Canada Child Tax Benefit)

The first and in my opinion the most important thing you NEED TO DO when you find out your child has a disability is file for the Disability Tax Credit! (forms found here) This entitles you not only for a huge tax break but as soon as it's approved you will be entitled to the (Child Disability Benefit). Once you have applied and you have been accepted follow exactly what the letter tells you, to get them to back date to previous years you MUST ask them to do it. If it has been more than 5yrs since diagnosis you must tell them WHY you did not apply sooner, tell them these exact words "I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM UNTIL "X" DATE". Now your amount back might not be as high as mine, this is because it is based on your tax returns.

The second program is just as important, even if you don't think you need it or qualify apply for it. This program is ACSD (Assistance For Children with Severe Disabilities) do NOT let the name fool you, your definition of "severely disabled" is nothing like their definition. I thought for sure we would not get it, my son was not "severe" in my eyes, but in theirs he was qualified as severely disabled. Find your local office and apply, do not fret over the paperwork, I could not for the life of me figure out how to put a price on some of my son's costs, but they have special workers that will come out and help you fill it out. Some offices don't even wait for you to ask or even give these papers to you (just the income form) they have the person automatically come out and do them with you. If for some reason they send you the forms phone them and ask for help filling them out, within a few days someone will come to your home and help you.


Special Services at home is another resource, but a warning to parents in the Toronto catchment area they are NOT APPROVING NEW APPLICATIONS! They are claiming they do not have the money, yet they gave themselves handsome raises, if you wish to read more on this please read the newsletter and if you wish join in on the action to correct this.

If you are in any other area they are a great resource, you can go to the following website and download the application and find your regional office to send it to. It is also worth noting ACSD will recommend that you apply for this program, they are the very few people who will tell you where to get additional resources.