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Edmonton & Alberta Disability Resources and Support
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items Disability and accessibility resources that can help people living with disabilities in Edmonton, Alberta and across Canada. These include disability income and health supports, tax programs, long-term savings, affordable housing, transportation, rec...
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Disability Support & Financial Programs
Savings, Caregiving & Independent Living
Transportation, Recreation & Community Access
Disability Support & Financial Programs
Programs that can help people with disabilities access essential equipment, income support, tax benefits and long-term financial assistance. These resources can help with both everyday disability-related needs and planning for greater financial secur...
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) is worth knowing about if a disability means you need equipment or other supports to make everyday activities easier.
We've personally used AADL to help my girlfriend get an accessible toilet seat. Depending on someone's needs and eligibility, the program can help with different types of medical equipment and daily-living supports.
The process can take some time because your needs have to be assessed, but it can make equipment that someone genuinely needs much easier to access.
We've personally used AADL to help my girlfriend get an accessible toilet seat. Depending on someone's needs and eligibility, the program can help with different types of medical equipment and daily-living supports.
The process can take some time because your needs have to be assessed, but it can make equipment that someone genuinely needs much easier to access.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)
Alberta's disability income programs are some of the most important resources we've dealt with.
AISH and ADAP provide financial, health and other supports depending on how a person's disability affects their ability to work and their individual circumstances.
For my girlfriend, disability income and health coverage have been extremely important. Her disability affects how much she can work, and these supports allow her to have her own income, afford medication and other necessities, and maintain more fina...
The programs have changed over time, so I recommend checking Alberta's current Disability Income Assistance information when applying rather than relying on older information about AISH.
AISH and ADAP provide financial, health and other supports depending on how a person's disability affects their ability to work and their individual circumstances.
For my girlfriend, disability income and health coverage have been extremely important. Her disability affects how much she can work, and these supports allow her to have her own income, afford medication and other necessities, and maintain more fina...
The programs have changed over time, so I recommend checking Alberta's current Disability Income Assistance information when applying rather than relying on older information about AISH.
AISH & ADAP Disability Income Assistance
The Canada Disability Benefit is a federal benefit that provides additional monthly financial support to eligible working-age Canadians with disabilities.
My girlfriend receives this benefit, and it's another source of income that can help with the everyday costs of living with a disability. The amount someone receives depends on their individual circumstances and income, so not everyone will receive t...
It's also important not to confuse this with the Disability Tax Credit. They're connected, but the Canada Disability Benefit is a monthly benefit, while the DTC is a tax credit.
My girlfriend receives this benefit, and it's another source of income that can help with the everyday costs of living with a disability. The amount someone receives depends on their individual circumstances and income, so not everyone will receive t...
It's also important not to confuse this with the Disability Tax Credit. They're connected, but the Canada Disability Benefit is a monthly benefit, while the DTC is a tax credit.
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is definitely worth looking into if you have a long-term disability and think you may qualify.
My girlfriend applied and was approved. In our experience, the process took some time and required information from a medical professional about how her disability affects her.
Once approved, it resulted in tax savings based on her circumstances. DTC approval can also open the door to other disability programs, including the Registered Disability Savings Plan and Canada Disability Benefit.
It's different from a monthly disability payment, so I recommend reading the CRA's eligibility and application information carefully.
My girlfriend applied and was approved. In our experience, the process took some time and required information from a medical professional about how her disability affects her.
Once approved, it resulted in tax savings based on her circumstances. DTC approval can also open the door to other disability programs, including the Registered Disability Savings Plan and Canada Disability Benefit.
It's different from a monthly disability payment, so I recommend reading the CRA's eligibility and application information carefully.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
Savings, Caregiving & Independent Living
Resources that can help make long-term planning and independent living more manageable, including disability savings, caregiver tax support and assistance with the cost of housing.
A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is one of the disability programs I'm especially glad we learned about.
My girlfriend has an RDSP that we're using to help build savings for her future. One of the biggest advantages is that eligible RDSPs can receive government grants and bonds, which can add to the money being saved over time.
We see it as a long-term tool rather than money for everyday spending. Disability and income supports can change as someone gets older, so having savings specifically intended for her future gives us another way to plan ahead.
If you're approved for the Disability Tax Credit, an RDSP is an important program to learn about and decide whether it makes sense for your circumstances.
My girlfriend has an RDSP that we're using to help build savings for her future. One of the biggest advantages is that eligible RDSPs can receive government grants and bonds, which can add to the money being saved over time.
We see it as a long-term tool rather than money for everyday spending. Disability and income supports can change as someone gets older, so having savings specifically intended for her future gives us another way to plan ahead.
If you're approved for the Disability Tax Credit, an RDSP is an important program to learn about and decide whether it makes sense for your circumstances.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
The Canada Caregiver Credit is a tax credit I'm currently learning about as someone who helps support a partner with a disability.
It may provide tax relief for people who support a spouse, common-law partner or certain other dependants who rely on them for support because of a physical or mental impairment.
I haven't personally claimed this credit yet, so this is one I'm researching for the future. I'm including it because it's something caregivers and partners supporting someone with a disability may want to know exists.
Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances, so I recommend checking the CRA requirements rather than assuming that providing care automatically qualifies you.
It may provide tax relief for people who support a spouse, common-law partner or certain other dependants who rely on them for support because of a physical or mental impairment.
I haven't personally claimed this credit yet, so this is one I'm researching for the future. I'm including it because it's something caregivers and partners supporting someone with a disability may want to know exists.
Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances, so I recommend checking the CRA requirements rather than assuming that providing care automatically qualifies you.
Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC)
Civida's Rent Assistance Benefit can be an extremely useful resource for someone trying to live independently on a limited income in Edmonton.
My girlfriend used the Rent Assistance Benefit when she lived on her own. At the time, her rent took up a very large portion of her disability income, leaving much less available for groceries, utilities and other everyday expenses.
The Rent Assistance Benefit helped make living independently much more financially manageable and allowed her to afford other necessities instead of having such a large portion of her income go toward rent.
Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on individual circumstances, so I recommend checking Civida's current Rent Assistance Benefit information when applying.
My girlfriend used the Rent Assistance Benefit when she lived on her own. At the time, her rent took up a very large portion of her disability income, leaving much less available for groceries, utilities and other everyday expenses.
The Rent Assistance Benefit helped make living independently much more financially manageable and allowed her to afford other necessities instead of having such a large portion of her income go toward rent.
Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on individual circumstances, so I recommend checking Civida's current Rent Assistance Benefit information when applying.
Rent Assistance Benefits in Edmonton
Transportation, Recreation & Community Access
Edmonton programs that can make getting around the city, exercising, visiting attractions and participating in the community more affordable for people living on a limited income.
The Edmonton Ride Transit Program is one of the programs my girlfriend uses the most because she relies on public transit to get around Edmonton.
She currently qualifies for the $36 monthly fare cap, which makes regular bus and LRT travel considerably more affordable.
For someone who can't drive or doesn't always have another person available to drive them, affordable public transportation can be a major part of maintaining independence. It makes it easier to get to work, appointments, shopping, recreation and oth...
You have to apply and meet the eligibility requirements, so check the City's current requirements when applying or renewing.
She currently qualifies for the $36 monthly fare cap, which makes regular bus and LRT travel considerably more affordable.
For someone who can't drive or doesn't always have another person available to drive them, affordable public transportation can be a major part of maintaining independence. It makes it easier to get to work, appointments, shopping, recreation and oth...
You have to apply and meet the eligibility requirements, so check the City's current requirements when applying or renewing.
Edmonton Ride Transit Program
The Edmonton Leisure Access Program is a great resource for making recreation and activities around Edmonton more affordable.
My girlfriend qualifies for the program, and it gives her access to participating recreation facilities and Edmonton attractions for free or at a reduced cost. We've used these benefits for recreation and attractions such as the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
For us, it's about more than just saving money. Affordable recreation gives her more opportunities to get out, have fun and participate in the community without those activities taking such a large amount out of a limited monthly budget.
It's also convenient that Edmonton assesses Leisure Access applicants for the Ride Transit Program through the same application process.
My girlfriend qualifies for the program, and it gives her access to participating recreation facilities and Edmonton attractions for free or at a reduced cost. We've used these benefits for recreation and attractions such as the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
For us, it's about more than just saving money. Affordable recreation gives her more opportunities to get out, have fun and participate in the community without those activities taking such a large amount out of a limited monthly budget.
It's also convenient that Edmonton assesses Leisure Access applicants for the Ride Transit Program through the same application process.
Edmonton Leisure Access Program
The YMCA of Northern Alberta offers financial assistance to make memberships and programs more affordable for people who can't pay the full cost.
My girlfriend receives AISH and was able to qualify for a reduced YMCA membership through this program. She regularly uses the YMCA for swimming and other exercise, so having a lower membership cost makes it much easier for her to keep recreation and...
AISH recipients are currently pre-approved for YMCA financial assistance, but the program isn't limited to people with disabilities. It's based on financial need and household income, and other income-support programs can also qualify.
My girlfriend receives AISH and was able to qualify for a reduced YMCA membership through this program. She regularly uses the YMCA for swimming and other exercise, so having a lower membership cost makes it much easier for her to keep recreation and...
AISH recipients are currently pre-approved for YMCA financial assistance, but the program isn't limited to people with disabilities. It's based on financial need and household income, and other income-support programs can also qualify.
YMCA of Northern Alberta
