Is Direct Funding right for you?
“Direct Funding has changed my life.”
We hear this regularly from people who are on the program. Gone are the days of relying on an agency to send you a personal support worker you don’t know, to assist you on a schedule you didn’t choose.
That’s the beauty of Direct Funding. You hire your own staff, train them to meet your personal needs and create your own schedule. Under Direct Funding, individuals negotiate a budget with their local Independent Living Centre Link opens in new tab. Each budget, which is funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, is unique. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach.
The program was created by people with disabilities who believed they could manage their own attendant supports and take on the responsibilities of being an employer. In many ways, it’s like running a small business.
It may sound like a big challenge, but more than 1,300 people across Ontario have been a successful part of the program. Some were nervous about taking on new challenges, but they’ve found with some risk, comes great reward.
While many people have found Direct Funding to be beneficial to them, the program isn’t for everyone. If your needs are being met by an outreach attendant service provider or through supportive housing, there may well be no need for Direct Funding at this time.
Direct Funding is also suited to people who can “self-direct” and “self-manage” their attendants. In other words, you need a strong understanding of how your disability affects your day-to-day life and the kind of help you require.
You’ll also need to consider the additional responsibilities you’ll be taking on. You don’t have to do everything on your own, though. You will have the assistance of a bookkeeper to help with your payroll and staff at your local Independent Living Resource Centre are there to answer your questions and to guide you. You’ll also have the option to tap into a network of other program participants – many of them veterans –to find support and answers.
Many of our most successful participants started out with some doubt about whether Direct Funding was a good option for them. You can read their stories and testimonials Link opens in new tab to learn more, and your local Independent Living Resource Centre Link opens in new tab can put you in touch with other participants. Our Direct Funding Self-Assessment Link opens in new tab is also a useful tool to learn more about the benefits and responsibilities involved.
Choice. Control. Flexibility. Independence. That’s what Direct Funding has offered to people living with physical disabilities for more than 20 years. It’s a game changer – one that could change your life.
