cyasoon

My child has a diagnosis of autism. Can anyone say if the government helps with payments like DLA or carer's allowance (Canada) like they do in the UK? I am a full -time carer for him and up to now couldn't work, though he is getting older now, so I hope to get the time to start our own business.

If anyone has any relevant info, it would be much appreciated.

thanks

iaink

dbd has experience of this. I expect his advice, based on previous threads, is "Stay in the UK"

cyasoon

Hi thanks for that. I expect he is right. No nanny state in Canada - but, moving home for opportunity that simply isn't here. I suppose i will have to resign myself to some new facts.

dbd33

I suppose you're Canadian, otherwise the child would likely not be an eligible immigrant due to "excess demand".

Assuming the child is totally disabled, unable to perform basic functions unassisted, then in Ontario there is an disability allowance, I don't remember how much, a few hundred dollars a month. The government will also fund "respite care", essentially babysitting, for a sensible number (20 maybe) of hours per week if the parent can find someone willing to it at the rate they'll pay. There's a tax break on medical expenses over, I think, 3% of salary.

So far, so generous. Disabled adults however are on their own. Unless you are going to live forever or have funds to make provision for a lifetime of care you would be derelict to take a disabled person to Ontario.

cyasoon

Hello, thank you for those informative responses. How dire (Ontario) I am not moving to Ontario. Looking at NB or PEI. Trying to escape the nanny state in the UK which inevitably is going to go bust and re-adopt my old Canadian 'do it yourself' ethos.

God help people in Ontario.

I don't expect anything will be forthcoming from the state regarding my child, but just enquiring anyway as my child's needs are over and above other children, particularly regarding education.

many thanks

dbd33

I believe Ontario to be one of the more generous provinces with regard to disabilities and there are a number of private funded or charitiable organizations that provide, for example, horseback riding and swimming. Life can be fine for an autistic child in Ontario, especially one with affluent parents.

In the case of disabled adults I don't think a 'do it yourself' ethos is of any value. Regardless of one's political or moral stance, one is going to die and, at that point, someone else will have to assume responsibility for the disabled person. In Europe that's the State. In Canada it's the siblings, if any, of the disabled person. Disabled adults without responsible silblings may be found wandering in Allan Gardens.

While it's possible that the nanny state in the UK will go bust, as I see it that would leave the people currently in the care of the nanny state in the same position as they would have been had they been in Canada. I suggest that, if you are going to choose Canada as a place for a disabled person to live you should ensure that the person will be rich and that the funding is administered by someone who will, at least, take the interests of the disabled person into account when making decisions. If you can't ensure that the person will be rich, leave him or her in the UK; this is a matter of physical wellbeing, there's no place for a moral or political stance in this decision.

Kitslane

hi there,

May I ask how old your child is? Im a behaviour consultant & specialise in working with children with Autism. I'm hoping to move to Vancouver after previously living there temporarily a few years ago and loving it. In BC there is a good degree of support for interventions for children with autism, from what I understand, families are given a sum of money per year and are able to decide themselves where & how to spend it (on Behaviour Interventions, SLT or OT services). I know they receive more funding under the age of 6 but are still given some funding after 6 also. To me this is far better than the provisions (or lack thereof) available here in the UK - well in the North of England at least. Different provinces provide different funding options and i'm afraid I don't know what the situation is in PEI or NB but it is certainly worth looking into as it may not be quite as bad as you think. Of course, the funding I refer to isnt for 'care' necessarily but you mention how education is important and these interventions will certainly help on that front.

Here is a link to the Autism Handbook for Parents in BC which may help point you in the right direction for other provinces also:
http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/pdf/...ndbook_web.pdf

Best of luck!

sarahloo

Hi,
i work in the field in Ottawa and work with adults with a variety of disabilities providing day program/respite services to families. I no parents here are frustrated with the lack of funds and services available for there loved ones. The government tells them there are funds available for this sector but there is such a long waiting list to get some funds and then when you do, trying to get services is a nightmare for families. The health service here is not the best either they are closing residential beds/respite beds that are funded for the families which leaves the families no choice but to have out of pocket expences.I would not recommend bringing anyone with a disability here from the uk . You get alot more services and help there than you will ever get here.I worked in the field in the uk for over 10yrs compared to 6 years here and they do not compare .

Jackandvictor

Hi
I am a speech and language therapist who has recently moved to BC. I have accepted a job as a SLP ( speech and language pathologist here) working with children on the autistic spectrum in the past two weeks. The funding was discussed with me as it is a private therapy company the job is with.

BC Autism Program allows $22,000 a year for those under 6 and $6,000 a year for those over 6 years. This is to fund all services for children. I believe the parents have to make their own financial decisions as to what their child needs most. From what I have been told this allows parents to purchase two hours of SLP time per month, mainly in a consultative role. The autism interventionist does the follow up during the week.

Obviously having worked in the NHS for 17 years, this is alien to me! However this is the system. I do not know what is available for adults.

I am sure the clients will get a good service but only as long as the money is there......

Aviator

There are no cash handouts from the govt. You can apply for a T2201 Disability Tax Credit, if approved you can claim this off your income as a further deduction. This can be claimed at source on the TD! or on filing.

If the 2201 is approved, start a RDSP, you put in $1500, to govt put in $3500. Even if you don't' contribute, the govt put some in. This is as close to free money as you'll get. The is a 10 year withdrawal condition though.

You may also be able to claim an additional home owners grant on your property tax for a person with disabilities.

Govt. services have been cut back over the past 20 years for the disabled, less school help and fewer services now. The provinces are not dissimilar in what the provide (or don't). Now if you want funding for an art show with ketchup thrown at the wall, of some stone article that bears no resemblance to anything living then funding can often be found.

cyasoon

thank you to all who took the time to reply. Utterly dire!

6000 dollars per year? hmm, that's £3,000 and at £300.00 for an afternoon for an ABA consultation like it costs here, that won't last too long, much less the rest.

Maybe wait till Canada gets a new government? hard to know. Autism isn't going away any time soon, they will have to do something. It's 1 in 56 for boys right now.

I presume there is no such thing as carer's allowance or DLA etc. Maybe I should start looking at Sweden instead or else start an 'autism resistance' party.

Almost Canadian

Why do you state this? Should money be spent on: Improving the lives of First Nations living on reserves? Improving the lives of those requiring expensive medications? Assisting the homeless? Paying teachers, doctors and nurses more? Allowing people to take more paid maternity/paternity leave? Providing free dentistry to people? Providing diabetics with cheaper insulin pumps?

Lots of demands on the public purse. Don't assume that, just because this affects you in a big way, others will feel the same way that you do about it.

cyasoon

Clearly 'they' don't. I am not looking for an argument. However, people with disabilities are at the bottom rung of 'priorities' here in the UK as well and I am far from surprised at the lay of the land in Canada. Protecting the vulnerable is a sign of a decent society. Doesn't seem many are decent these days.

bats

Comparing the UK to Canada for disability I would put the UK miles ahead in terms of legislation, govt support, and the built environment. In my experience Canada wins on the helpfulness of individuals.

MikeUK

They may be on the bottom of the rung in both countries; it’s just that the bottom rung in Canada is much lower than in the UK.

I'd say that goes for just about any comparison when thinking of the shitty'er end of the stick when comparing both countries; the safety net is pegged quite a bit lower over here,
A little bit more of a "settler” self sufficiency approach and attitude in the new world perspective

Or put another way, we’re socialist when compared to the US, but conservative when compared to Europe