Vaccines and Ethical Frameworks  by Kylie Hamilton

ARCH Disability Law Office

The Community Advocacy and Legal Centre in Belleville Ontario has produced a table of benefits available from various levels of government during the COVID pandemic, including benefits regarding Medical Transporation, Mortgage Payment Deferral, E.E., Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefits, and the Doubling of Canadian Student Loans.

In response to COVID-19, Service Canada has launched a number of new virtual e-services to continue to provide support to individuals who need assistance to access benefits and services from their home.

The Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) is essential for accessing government services and benefits. Through the eSIN portal, individuals can submit a SIN application entirely online within a secure and protected environment.

Additionally, the eServiceCanada portal allows individuals requiring assistance from Service Canada to submit an online request and receive a callback from a Service Canada officer within two business days.

During the COVID pandemic many organizations have had to change how they provide services and support to the public. Thankfully many have found ways to continue to provide this virtually or in new ways. We found the following information very helpful for our members and we would like to share this with you.

A) March of Dimes Home & Vehicle Modification program  is still open for funding but has gone virtual - you can access their program by telephone or online so you don't have to miss it during the pandemic.

As CERB wraps up there are some new supports in place to assist people through these trying times. One of those benefits is the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB).

The new Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit is effective from September 27, 2020 for one year, and provides $500 per week ($450 after taxes withheld), for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible Canadians.

For more information click here.

On July 17, 2020, the Government of Canada announced a one-time $600 payment in recognition of the extraordinary expenses faced by persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligibility:

The payment will be automatically issued to persons with disabilities who:

1. Have a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate provided by the Canada Revenue Agency or are eligible for the DTC and apply for it by September 25, 2020.

2. Are beneficiaries, as at July 1, 2020, of Canada Pension Plan Disability or Quebec Pension Plan Disability.

3. Are beneficiaries, as at July 1, 2020, of disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada:

·        Disability Pension

·        Disability Award

·        Pain and Suffering Compensation

·        Critical Injury Benefit

·        Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program

·        Income Replacement Benefit

·        Canadian Forces Income Support.

Payment:

Persons eligible for the above programs do not have to apply to receive this payment. The payment consists of a one-time, non-taxable and non-reportable amount of $600.

The payment of up to $600 will be automatically issued in the form of a cheque or direct deposit. Payments are expected to be issued beginning this Fall.

The payment information will be provided on the One-time payment to persons with disabilities web page once available:

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/covid19-emergency-benefits/one-time-payment-persons-disabilities.html.

Recipients of the payment are encouraged to make sure their address and banking information is up to date in order to receive prompt payment.

New Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Applications:

Persons with disabilities, who meet the eligibility criteria for the DTC but have yet to apply to the Canada Revenue Agency, can apply until September 25, 2020.

The Ontario government is investing $2.2 million in eight new projects to help disadvantaged youth and job seekers from underrepresented groups in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The projects will focus on developing the skills and training they need to begin successful careers.

For more information please read the article below.

Ontario Ministry of Health's ADP is Accepting All Applications for Assistive Devices

Ontario Ministry of Health's ADP has advised that it has now re-opened and is making decisions about applications for assistive devices.The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) Office permanently re-opened for business on April 29, 2020.

Please see the following links for more information about how applications should be sent and how approvals will be made going forward.

https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/arch-bulletin-on-covid-19-assistive-devices-program-is-open

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/adp/

The Ministry of Community and Social Services has provided an ODSP – Covid Fact Sheet for its recipients.  Find out the latest information regarding benefits and how to apply for them here.

https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/EN/MCSS/PROGRAMS/SOCIAL/odsp/odsp-covid-fact-sheets.aspx

The Bright Futures Ability Network has put together an extremely helpful newsletter for any questions concerning ODSP supports and other financial matters during COVID-19

Click here to see the newsletter

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), has put together a new resource related to Employment and Work, answering questions like:

• Can my employer lay me off temporarily because of COVID-19?

• What happens if my workplace closes because of COVID-19?

• Can I get Employment Insurance (EI) if my employer reduces my hours of work?

• What is the COVID-19 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and how do I apply?

Click here to go to their website

Several programs that offer low-cost home internet to low-income Canadian families were shared in an open letter to families from the Minister of Education.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/letter-ontarios-parents-minister-education#section-0

• Telus "Internet for Good" offers $9.95/month internet to Canadians nationwide who receive child benefit and have incomes under $31,120 per year. Check link for more details or email InternetForGood@Telus.com with a photo of your 2018 Canada Child Benefit statement showing your income. https://www.telus.com/en/about/company-overview/community-investment/how-we-give/cause-campaigns/internet-for-good

• Rogers "Connected for Success"  plan partners with non-profit and low-income housing providers in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador to offer $9.99/month home internet to their tenants. https://about.rogers.com/giving-back/connected-for-success/

• Connecting Families  is a Federal program to connect families who receive the maximum Canada Child Benefit for under $10/month, but you need to have received a pre-qualification letter to participate. If you think you may be eligible but have not received a letter, try calling 800-328-6189 and asking about the Connecting Families initiative.

Now more than ever, we see the importance of ensuring that the well-being of our loved one with a disability –now and in the future – is happy, meaningful, and sustainable. That is why we are excited to introduce a brand-new series called the Fundamentals of Future Planning, a six-part enhanced webcast offering. Over the course of three months, guest speakers will share their expertise on a variety of topics and highlight the steps families can take to plan for a secure future with their loved one.

The Ontario government is investing $2.2 million in eight new projects to help disadvantaged youth and job seekers from underrepresented groups in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The projects will focus on developing the skills and training they need to begin successful careers.

For more information please read the article below.

ConnectABILITY a website and virtual community dedicated to lifelong learning and support for people who have an intellectual disability, their families and support networks

They have put together a number of resources concerning what to do while in isolation. Click here to view disability sector resources, physical distancing activities, and ways to stay connected.

As CERB wraps up there are some new supports in place to assist people through these trying times. One of those benefits is the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB).

The new Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit is effective from September 27, 2020 for one year, and provides $500 per week ($450 after taxes withheld), for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible Canadians.

For more information click here.

The following is a message from Communication Disabilities Access Canada:

Individuals who have disabilities that affect their communication, report that people who work in healthcare, legal, financial and community services, often underestimate their ability to make and/ or communicate choices and decisions that matter to them. They tell us that sometimes:

People who don’t know them think their inability to speak means that they cannot make decisions and control what happens in their lives;

Professionals often ask their family members or support staff to make decisions about them without consulting them;

They can experience serious consequences when professionals do not involve them in decisions that matter to them, or do not take their opinions seriously;

They are not given the supports they need to effectively communicate and make important decisions that affect them.

It’s time that professionals understand the human rights of people who have communication disabilities to control their lives and to get the supports they need to do this.

With contributions from people who have a diverse range of experiences and qualifications in communication disabilities, legislation and accessibility, the resource includes lots of information about:

Communication and Capacity: Context and Guiding Principles (Barbara Collier)

Communication Disabilities: Barriers and Impact on Choice and Control (Barbara Collier)

Legal Context for Exercising Capacity and Provision of Communication Supports (Lana Kerzner)

Communication Supports: Formal, Symbolic Communicators (Barbara Collier)

Communication Supports: Informal, Non-Symbolic Communicators (Jo Watson)

More information at https://www.cdacanada.com/resources/communication-supports-in-exercising-capacity-and-autonomy/about

Partners for Planning offers an extensive and wide variety of resources including Connecting with other families and Staying healthy during Covid.

The OCO (Ontario Caregiver Organization) is offering to support caregivers during the COVID-19 situation. Please visit the COVID-19 page of their website for up-to-date caregiver information and resources, and visit this page for Tips for Caregiver Mental Health during COVID-19.

CP-NET is excited to present “Growing up with CP: Mental Health & Well-being,” a webinar by Jan William Gorter initiated and led by young adults for young adults. Highlighting both lived experience and recent research from the CP-NET MyStory project, this webinar explores the intersection of mental health and CP, and discusses how we can better support young people in developing positive outcomes in mental health and well-being.

In addition to young people with CP, this webinar is informative for parents and health professionals.

ConnectABILITY a website and virtual community dedicated to lifelong learning and support for people who have an intellectual disability, their families and support networks

They have put together a number of resources concerning what to do while in isolation. Click here to view disability sector resources, physical distancing activities, and ways to stay connected.  

CLO Staying Connected page helps members navigate the overwhelming amount of news, resources and information that is out there during COVID.  Have a look at their quick links for pertinent information.

As Phase 2 of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination plan gets underway, the list of eligible populations has expanded. Each region has their own distribution plan which can cause some confusion when residents attempt to book appointments.

Here is a full list of who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, where they can get a vaccination based on where they live in the GTA and how you can book an appointment:

If we are to address disability inequality, says Professor Laverne Jacobs, we need to start by acknowledging the structural inequalities facing people with disabilities in daily life.

Unfortunately, it took a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic to force society to think about equality issues differently, she notes. “Nevertheless, this is the biggest catalyst that I have seen in our time.”

Jacobs, who founded and directs the Law, Disability & Social Change Project at Windsor University, is the recipient of this year’s Touchstone Award that recognizes efforts to further equality in the legal community.

https://www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articles/people/profiles/2021/thinking-about-the-obstacles-people-face

Things Will Get Better: Canadians with disabilities left with few alternatives amid COVID-19 shutdowns

The CBC has published a very interesting article about the challenges facing people with disabilities during COVID-19 shutdowns. Click here to read that story.