Direct Funding is an innovative program that lets adults with physical disabilities become employers of their own attendants.
Instead of receiving your attendant services through an agency that employs and schedules attendants, Direct Funding lets you become the employer. You are given monthly funds for your attendant services, and you take full responsibility for recruiting, hiring, scheduling, paying, and, if necessary, firing your attendants.
It’s additional responsibility — but it lets you take charge of how and when your services are provided. After all, Direct Funding is intended for people with physical disabilities who are willing and able to take on the extra management (and possible risks) of the program, who would benefit from the additional control and oversight.
You’ll receive funds instead of delivered services, and, with the help of a bookkeeper, manage a payroll of employees. You’ll have to double check the bookkeeper’s work, though – you’re ultimately responsible for any errors. You can hire as many staff as you need (usually between one and four workers), and you’ll have to ensure that, as their employer, you comply with employment and health & safety regulations.
There are rewards and challenges with the process, you’ll get to hire the people you choose and set your own schedule, but you’ll also be responsible for paperwork, recruiting, training, managing, and scheduling your attendants yourself. Direct Funding gives you the funds you need for the services you need – the rest is entirely up to you. You can arrange for services whenever you want, wherever you want – at home, in the community, or anywhere else within Ontario.
Everyone’s needs are different, and Direct Funding isn’t intended for everyone – but it is intended as a life-long program, for as long as you can meet eligibility requirements. It’s best to learn all you can about the program first. You can find general information Link opens in new tab, FAQs Link opens in new tab, testimonials Link opens in new tab and more at www.dfontario.ca Link opens in new tab. If you’re still not sure if it’s right for you or not, or if you’re concerned about the responsibilities it brings, your local Direct Funding Resource person Link opens in new tab can help.
