Homes and workplaces can be adapted so that people with
disabilities can achieve the highest possible level of functioning and quality
of life.
At home
People with disabilities often make many different changes
to their homes to make them more accessible. The changes can include bathroom
bars and ramps, or even motorized doors and wheelchair lifts.
Some people with disabilities live in barrier-free apartment
buildings or housing cooperatives. This means the apartment is adapted so
that someone with a disability can be comfortable there. Some provide personal
care services for their tenants or offer a rent subsidy.
For more information on improving home accessibility, visit
the following web sites:
At work
Many qualified people with disabilities want to work, but
can't work because workplaces are not accessible. Employers can take many
different steps to make a workplace accessible, such as:
- using barrier-free and universal
designs
- providing adapted
equipment such as computer applications and computer work stations
- allowing flex-time, working at
home and other creative work scheduling
- teaching workers about disability
issues.
There are many other ways to accomodate workers with disabilities
and many of them aren't expensive. The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work’s web site
has lots of useful information on job accommodation.
Workplace safety is another key issue, especially since
people with disabilities are more vulnerable in hazardous work conditions.
To learn about workplace safety issues, visit these web sites:
For more information
Provincial/Territorial home accessibility programs and
resources:
Alberta
Alberta’s Residential
Access Modification Program (RAMP) provides financial assistance to help
make homes more accessible for people with a disabilities.
British Columbia
The B.C.
Ministry of Provincial Revenue provides grants to people with disabilities
to help cover the costs of increasing the accessibility of their homes.
Manitoba
The Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program provides funding to people with disabilities
and to landlords to increase the accessibility of residential homes.
New Brunswick
Funding
Sources for Barrier-Free Access is a list of funding sources for home modifications.
The Directory
of Financial Aid for Persons with Disabilities in N.B. provides a list of
the services and funding available to people with disabilities in New Brunswick
and information about home modification, long-term financial assistance and
funding for assistive devices.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Provincial
Home Repair Program provides people with disabilities with funding to make
their homes more accessible.
Northwest Territories
For information about services available to people with disabilities in the
Northwest Territories, contact the Department
of Health and Social Services.
Nova Scotia
The Disabled
Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program provides funding for home
modifications to people with disabilities.
Nunavut
For information about services available to people with disabilities in Nunavut,
contact the Government
of Nunavut.
Ontario
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation administers home-modification
funding for people with disabilities in Ontario through the Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons With Disabilities.
Prince Edward Island
The PEI
Disability Support Program provides income assistance and employment support
to people with disabilities.
Quebec
The Residential
Adaptation Program provides funding to help people with disabilities make
accessibility modifications to their homes.
Saskatchewan
The Home
Adaptations for Seniors Independence (HASI) provides financial assistance
to people with disabilities to help them make their homes more accessible.
The Residential
Rehabilitation Assistance Program provides funding to people with disabilities
and to landlords to increase the accessibility of residential homes.
Yukon
Adult
Community Services provides a comprehensive range of services for people
with disabilities.
The Yukon
Housing Corporation provides funding for people with disabilities to increase
the accessibility of their homes.
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