Hi! I have 8 year old twin boys with severe ADHD and ODD. My husband is currenlty at RCMP Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan.
When you join the RCMP, they let you pick three provinces you may want to live in and then they pick one for you.
Next they tell you to pick three cities and then they tell you where you will be living. We are currently residing in Alberta but are not supposed to be able to return to Alberta.
We currently have funding for respite care, community access care and extra ordinary childcare. In addition to our funding, our sons are also in a very unique behavioural class.
I am gravely concerned about what funding and programs the other provinces may have to offer.
We previously lived in Ontario, where we were refused any assistance with our sons. When I requested respite care, I was told I could put my children into foster care if I needed a break. I am desperately trying to find out what programs and funding each province may have available.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and used to help us narrow down our choices. We can pick from the following provinces: Newfoundland, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., Yukon, the N.W.T. and Nunavet.
I thank all of you greatly for your time and eagerly await your responses.
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Editor's Note: Thanks Erica for raising this question. I've started off a page on the site to accumulate funding information across Canada. It will help everyone find answers if any available information is added here: Financial Assistance for Disabilities
You'll also find the beginning of a collection of ideas - lots more to come...
Manitoba Funding options and support services for special needs families by: Brian Poncelet, CFP
Hello Erica,
Sorry about your experience in Ontario. Since I live in Ontario I am curious who you contacted. I have two boys (twins) with similar problems and had a lot of support.
If I were to guess what province to check out I'd think Manitoba http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/expenses/progress_rep/report_2009.html
From their web site: Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs
The Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program provides early and intensive behavioural intervention for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The number of children with ASD receiving services, including ABA, has increased by 160 per cent, from 350 children in 2001 to 911 children in 2007.
Hopefully someone from Manitoba or another province can help with some experiences.
On a side note do you have the disability tax credit for your twins? The other big deal (this is not a sales pitch) is do you or husband have permanent life insurance?
Cash flow problems are big deal for parents of special needs children, lets share some ideas here.
Brian
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Editor's Note: Thanks Brian for that great information. To make the information from Manitoba easier to read, I'm adding a link to download the entire report in PDF format here: Manitoba Family Services and Housing, 2009 Progress Report
Hope everyone finds that helpful....
Thanks again for sharing!
Manitobas great for special needs children by: Anonymous
Good day Erica:
My son has c.p is deaf,adhd,microcephalic and hydrocephalus. After a month in northern alberta we moved back to manitoba. The support in manitoba is good. The province is family friendly and there are plenty of public schools with great skills for life programs.
If your husnand is still making a choice on which province, I would suggest manitoba. Winnipeg is full of great support. Good luck to you and keep on smiling :)
