Resource Centre for Independent Living

Different people have different needs. Direct Funding is intended as an option for individuals with physical disabilities who are willing and able to assume the additional management responsibilities (and potential risks) associated with the program.

 

Available province-wide, the Direct Funding Program enables adults with physical disabilities to receive monthly funds for attendants of their own choosing, to schedule as they please - whether their needs are at home, at work, or in the community. Individuals self-manage their lives, making their own choices with greater flexibility and control.

 

Through the Direct Funding Program, people with disabilities become the employers and self-managers, taking full responsibility for hiring and managing their own attendants and determining how and when their services are provided. The program is portable, meaning participants can live and travel anywhere within the province of Ontario, taking their services along with them.

 

Direct Funding operates within guidelines set by the Ontario government. You can apply if:

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• you are age 16 or over

• you are a resident of Ontario

• you require attendant services due to a permanent physical disability

• you can complete the written application on your own initiative and in your own words (you may receive physical assistance to complete the form; however, submissions may not be made by professionals, family members, or others on your behalf)

• you can meet with a Selection Panel to discuss your needs and determine your eligibility for the program

• you can schedule attendants;

• you can hire (and fire, if necessary), train, and supervise one or more attendant workers

• you can meet all the legal requirements associated with being an employer (these will be clearly explained during the interview process)

• you can manage and account for your funding, according to the DF program guidelines