Ontario Funding for Residents with Long-term Physical Disabilities

Assistive Devices Program

The objective of the Assistive Devices Program (ADP) is to provide consumer centered support and funding to Ontario residents who have long-term physical disabilities and to provide access to personalized assistive devices appropriate for the individual’s basic needs.

Devices covered by the program are intended to enable people with physical disabilities to increase their independence through access to assistive devices responsive to their individual needs.

Equipment Funded by the Program

ADP covers over 8,000 separate pieces of equipment or supplies in the following categories : prostheses; wheelchairs/mobility aids and specialized seating systems; enteral feeding supplies; monitors and test strips for insulin-dependent diabetics (through an agreement with the Canadian Diabetes Association); hearing aids; insulin pumps and supplies for children; respiratory equipment; orthoses (braces, garments and pumps); visual and communication aids; oxygen and oxygen delivery equipment, such as concentrators, cylinders, liquid systems and related supplies, such as masks and tubing.

Grants are provided for ostomy supplies, breast prostheses and for needles and syringes for insulin-dependent seniors

See a detailed list of equipment at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility

Eligibility includes any Ontario resident who has a valid Ontario Health card issued in their name and has a physical disability of six months or longer. Equipment cannot be required exclusively for sports, work or school. ADP does not pay for equipment available under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or to Group “A” veterans for their pensioned benefits..

There are specific eligibility criteria which apply to each device category.

An individual who has a chronic illness or dysfunction that requires long-term oxygen therapy may be eligible for home oxygen funding.

Accessing ADP

Initial access is often through a medical specialist or general practitioner who provides a diagnosis. In most device categories, an authorizer assesses the specific needs of the person and prescribes appropriate equipment or supplies. Finally, a vendor sells the equipment or supplies to the client.

In some device categories, such as adult hearing aids or prosthetic devices, the assessor is also the vendor.

Authorizer

Most devices must be authorized by a qualified health care professional registered with the program. Registered authorizers work in hospitals, home care agencies or private practice.

Vendor

The program will only help pay for equipment that is purchased from vendors registered with the Assistive Devices Program.

Financial Assistance

ADP pays up to 75 per cent of the cost of equipment, such as artificial limbs, orthopaedic braces, wheelchairs and breathing aids. For others, such as hearing aids, the ADP contributes a fixed amount. With regard to ostomy supplies, breast prostheses and needles and syringes for seniors, the ADP pays a grant directly to the person. The Home Oxygen Program under ADP, pays 100 per cent of the ADP price for oxygen and related equipment for seniors 65 years of age or older and for individuals 64 years of age or younger who are on social assistance, residing in a long-term care facility or who are receiving professional services through a Community Care and Access Centre, and 75 per cent of the ADP price for all others.

In most cases, the client pays a share of the cost at time of purchase and the vendor bills ADP the balance.
For ADP supply categories where grants are paid, the client pays 100 per cent of the cost to the vendor.

There are many sources of funding for the client’s share of the cost including :
• Clients
• voluntary/charitable organizations e.g. March of Dimes, The Easter Seals Society, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs
• social assistance, DVA
• insurance companies
• relatives/friends.

Types of Assistive Devices funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Communication Devices

• Electrolarynges
• communication boards
• mounting systems for communication aids
• teletypewriters
• voice amplifiers
• voice output communication aids
• voice prostheses
• writing aids

Diabetic Supplies

• glucose monitoring equipment and related supplies for insulin users who do not have private coverage
• needles and syringes for persons 65 or over who require insulin
• insulin pumps and supplies

Enteral Feeding Equipment/Supplies

• feeding bags/containers/tubes
• pumps

Hearing Devices

• bone anchored hearing aid replacement sound processors
• cochlear implant replacement speech processor
• hearing aids
• personal FM systems
• teletypewriters

Orthotic Devices

• custom standers/standing frames
• custom made arm, leg and spinal braces
• paediatric parapodiums
• reciprocating gait orthoses

Ostomy Supplies

• permanent colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy supplies

Pressure Modification Devices

• compression garments and sleeves for primary and secondary lymphedema
• pressure garments and orthoses for hypertrophic scar management (i.e., burns)
• sequential extremity pumps for primary lymphedema only

Prosthetic Devices

• conventional body-powered leg and arm prostheses
• electric and myoelectric arm prostheses
• external silicone breast prostheses
• maxillofacial intraoral prostheses (palatal lifts, obturators, mandibular extensions)
• maxillofacial extraoral prostheses (artificial noses, ears, orbits)
• ocular prostheses (artificial eyes)

Respiratory Supplies / Equipment

• apnea/heart rate monitors (rented only)
• compressors
• drainage boards
• drainage boards
• positive airway pressure systems (CPAP, APAP, BiLevel) (ADP-Registered Sleep Labs only)
• percussors
• resuscitators
• specified disposable supplies
• suction machines
• tracheostomy tubes
• ventilatory equipment
• cough assist machines
• oxygen saturation monitors (osm) for children and youth age 18 and under

Visual Aids

• audio book playback machines
• braillers
• computer hardware and specialized software
• enlarging optical systems, (CCTVs)
• magnifiers, telescopes, binoculars
• optical character recognition (OCR)
• specialized glasses, specialized lenses/contact lenses
• specialized peripherals, (e.g. braille embossers, refreshable braille displays)
• spectacle-mounted low vision and field enhancement aids
• standard orientation and mobility canes

Wheelchairs, Positioning and Ambulation Aids

• manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and electric scooters
• power add-on devices for manual wheelchairs
• positioning devices (cushions, back and head supports, etc.)
• dynamic positioning devices (power tilt and recline)
• forearm crutches
• wheeled walkers
• specialized pediatric walkers, strollers, standers

For More Information

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Assistive Devices Program
7th Floor, 5700 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M2M 4K5
Toronto 416-327-8804
Toll-free 1-800-268-6021
TDD/TTY 416-327-4282
TDD/TTY 1-800-387-5559
Fax 416-327-8192
e-mail: adp@ontario.ca

Source: http://health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/adp/default.aspx