By: Wendy Dyke

If you have not already begun planning for summer respite for your loved one, then you may want to start now to look into what your options are for activities and programs in your neighbourhood.

You can find other fee-for-service options from many other service providers on:

• The City of Toronto offers day camps at local community centres throughout the city. Many of these programs are inclusive with support workers for individuals who require one-to-one support. If your child needs individualized supports, let Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation know when you are registering your child for one of their day camps. The regional fun guides on toronto.ca, have complete listings of programs. Some of the programs are adapted for children with special needs – You can find the full list under the section titled ‘Adapted and Integrated Services’. If you need financial assistance, you can apply to the ‘Welcome Policy’. Applicants approved for the Welcome Policy will be set up with an account containing credits that can be applied to fees for programs. Information about the city’s Welcome Policy can be found inside each regional fun guide brochure.
• The Toronto Public Library offers programs that may be suitable for your child. You can check with your local public library about what types of programs they offer by speaking to the librarian. The Public Library also  offers free passes to many attractions within Toronto. These venues may be options for your child if you have a support worker who takes them out into the community or for family outings. A full list of participating attractions can be found on their website. Quantities are limited so be sure to check them out ahead of time. For more information visit Museums and Arts Passes  

If you already have a support worker for your child who takes them out into the community and you are a member of Community Living Toronto, you might want to check in with your regional Membership Coordinator for information about Community Living Toronto’s discount program. If you don’t have a worker, you may want to check with your Membership Coordinator to find out if a summer support staff is available in your region for summer day respite.

Other resources:

• TTC SUPPORT PERSON ASSISTANCE CARD – If your child with a disability must be accompanied on the TTC you can apply for a TTC Support Person Assistance Card. This card belongs to the individual with the    disability. When they travel with a support worker, they pay for the TTC fare and their support worker rides free.
• WHEEL TRANS – Did you know that eligibility for Wheel Trans is no longer limited to individuals with mobility issues? If a person has a disability that presents a barrier to using conventional transit some or all of the time, they are eligible to apply for Wheel Trans services.
• ACCESS 2 CARD – An Easter Seals program, formerly called the Access2Entertainment card, is for people of all ages with permanent disabilities who require assistance from support persons to participate in entertainment, cultural and recreational venues. There are over 500 venues across the country that participate in this program. In addition to a number of theatre companies, there are an extensive number of other venues that honour the card. The website provides information about how it works, how to apply and lists venues by province and city.

Read the full newsletter here: April Connections Newsletter