Support For Rare Disease
Supportive Resources
Listed below are supportive services for rare diseases through various facets of life including: daily living, life activities and travelling.
Daily Living:
AADL (Alberta Aids to Daily Living)
Who is providing this?
Government of Alberta
What’s it for?
Equipment and supplies.
Who is eligible?
Those with a long-term disability, chronic illness or terminal illness to stay independent
What is needed?
A clinical assessment by a health care professional based on what type of equipment and supplies are needed.
How does it work?
Albertans pay 25% of the benefit cost to a maximum of $500 per individual family per year.
Low-income Albertans and those receiving income assistance are exempt from paying the cost-sharing option.
ACETS (Augmentative Communication and Educations Technology Services)
Who is providing this?
Alberta Health Services through Alberta Children’s Hospital
What’s it for?
Children who need assistive technologies to communicate.
Who is eligible?
A referral from clinician to clinician is required.
How does it work?
Works with the community care team to try to improve a child’s ability to communicate.
Some technologies needed may be eligible for AADL such as Speech Generating Communication Devices (SGCDs)
AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped)
Who is providing this?
Government of Alberta
What’s it for?
Income support for people with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a daily living
Who is eligible?
Must be at least 18 years of age and not receiving an Old Age Security pension.
Depends on income and assets that the person or their spouse / partner have
How does it work?
An eligible person or someone who can help them will need to fill out some forms but will need a medical professional to complete a portion of the form
DTC (Disability Tax Credit) – 10 years retroactively
Who is providing this?
Government of Canada
What’s it for?
This is a tax credit or deduction provided to people with a disability or to caregivers who are looking after persons with disabilities
Who is eligible?
Someone who pays taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – a person with a disability or to caregivers who are looking after persons with disabilities
How does it work?
For example, a Disability Child Benefit may provide a monthly benefit when the annual family income is below a certain level
FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities)
Who is providing this?
Government of Alberta
What’s it for?
Providing supports and services for families to help raise their children at home
Who is eligible?
Child must be under 18 years of age
Home Care
Who is providing this?
Alberta Health Services
What’s it for?
Helping people live independently
Who is eligible?
People of all ages
How does it work?
Helps with needs to help with independence such as housekeeping. Some fees may apply
RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan)
Who is providing this?
Government of Canada
What’s it for?
This is an investment so that if a person with a disability invests money into a savings plan, the government adds additional money to use in the future
Who is eligible?
Personal or family income must be within certain ranges. Check website for details
How does it work?
For every $1 put into an RDSP account, the federal government of Canada will match up to $3 if the family income is below a certain level. This amount of money added is called the Canada Disability Savings Bond – depending on the province, this can be exempt from the income calculation for other services
PDD (Persons with Developmental Disabilities)
Who is providing this?
Government of Alberta
What’s it for?
Helping people live as independently as possible
Provides 4 basic types of support:
- Community Living Supports (such as meal planning or housekeeping)
- Employment Supports (training, education)
- Community Access Supports (helping attend sports activities or volunteering)
- Specialized Community Supports (short term funds to provide help)
Life Activities:
Access 2 Card
Who is providing this?
Easter Seals
What’s it for?
Helping people (all ages) to attend participating entertainment, cultural and recreational events throughout Canada
Who is eligible?
Any child or adult but a support person is required
How does it work?
Apply through the website
Tetra Society
Who is providing this?
Tetra
What’s it for?
Help people overcome environmental barriers to enjoying life.
Recruit volunteers to build custom devices for individuals.
Travelling:
Air Canada Attendant Program
Who is providing this?
Air Canada
What’s it for?
If you need to travel in Canada with Air Canada, you can apply to have a personal attendant with you
Who is eligible?
Check website
How does it work?
Apply through website. Some fees may apply
WestJet Attendant Program
Who is providing this?
WestJet
What’s it for?
If you need to travel in Canada with Westjet, you can apply to have a personal attendant with you
Who is eligible?
Check website
How does it work?
Apply through website. Some fees may apply
Disclaimer
The information provided is a resource collected from publicly available sources current at the time to help people start looking for opportunities for support and provides no assurance that those agencies will provide those services or that the information is accurate. Please verify with each agency what the current level of support is and that the information is correct.