Direct Funding can help you lead a more independent life. But being independent doesn’t mean doing everything on your own! Taking advice, assistance and support where you can is just good sense.
That’s where your local Independent Living Centre Link opens in new tab comes in. Independent Living Centres are run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities, with a mind to helping them thrive by taking control of their own lives. They’re a great place to start if you’re thinking about Direct Funding.
Your local centre can help you with most steps of the Direct Funding application process. If you’re unsure if you would be eligible for Direct Funding, they can help you make certain. They can explain the program and they can link you with a peer who’s already on the program, if that’s of interest to you. They can help you prepare for the interview, and even give you mock interview questions to answer, to make sure you’re ready. And if you meet the program eligibility criteria, they can help you get started on the program and direct you to the available resources for employers in Ontario.
In other words, Independent Living Centres want you to live as comfortably and independently as you can. They can help you determine if Direct Funding is right for you, and whether it is or isn’t, they can help you with the next steps; and, since they want all program participants to be successful, they will lend a hand to make sure you start off on the right foot and stay on an even keel.
You can get in touch with your local Independent Living Centre here Link opens in new tab. They’re not just for Direct Funding assistance, either. Most Independent Living Centres offer a range of services including information and referral, independent living skills, peer support, printing and copying services, proposal and grant writing, accessibility auditing and training, advertising, web design, braille services, and beyond. Not every centre will offer all of these services, but all are community-based organizations dedicated to helping you achieve self-governance, self-help, and self-determination. If they can’t help you, they will try to help you find someone who can.
Direct Funding is inspired by the Independent Living movement Link opens in new tab , as is your local Independent Living Centre. If you’ve read this far, you could benefit from getting in touch and getting to know the community.
