News and updates

DF Appeals Complaints Policy 2023

Protocol For Decisions, Disputes and Complaints About Self-Managed Attendant Services - Direct Funding Program

http://www.dfontario.ca/df_public/DF_Appeals_Complaints_Policy_2023.pdf

Posted by DFadmin on Wednesday, February 15th, 2023

Invitation to webinars about Covid-19 Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccines and People with Disabilities in Ontario webinar

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is providing a webinar on Covid-19 vaccines to empower people with disabilities with information and self-advocacy skills. The webinar will explain the different COVID-19 vaccines, their effectiveness & safety in Canada, addressing vaccine hesitancy, the meaning of herd immunity, the various stages of vaccine rollout and how to self-advocate for receiving the vaccine in Ontario. Registration details are included in the attached memo.

Zoom Invitation COVID 19 Vaccines and People with Disabilities in Ontario Wed April 7 2021 1 to 3pm.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, March 26th, 2021

REMINDER: March 22nd webinar about infection prevention and control

COVID & infection prevention and control (IPAC) for consumers - March 22, 2021

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is providing the last of two sessions on IPAC education to empower people with disabilities to make informed choices about COVID-19, use of personal protective equipment, and infection control measures. This will help people with disabilities to reduce their transmission risk so they can live more independently during the second wave of this pandemic. Please register for the webinar on Monday March 22, 2021 as soon as possible. Registration details are included in the attached memo.

Zoom Invitation - The Second Wave Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Mar 22 2021 1 to 3pm.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, March 19th, 2021

Invitation to webinars about infection prevention and control

COVID & infection prevention and control (IPAC) for consumers - 2 upcoming webinars

The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is providing two sessions of the same workshop on IPAC education to empower people with disabilities to make informed choices about COVID-19, use of personal protective equipment, and infection control measures. This will help people with disabilities to reduce their transmission risk so they can live more independently during the second wave of this pandemic. Both sessions cover the same content, so please register for one date only: Friday, February 26, 2021, or Monday March 22, 2021. Registration details are included in the attached memo.

Zoom Invitation - The Second Wave Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Feb 26 or Mar 22 2021 1 to 3pm final rev 3.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, February 12th, 2021

Register for important webinars about infection prevention and control

COVID & infection prevention and control (IPAC) for consumers - 2 upcoming webinars

REGISTER SOON! The Centre for Independent Living in Toronto is providing two sessions of the same workshop on IPAC education to empower people with disabilities to make informed choices about COVID-19, use of personal protective equipment, and infection control measures. This will help people with disabilities to reduce their transmission risk so they can live more independently during the second wave of this pandemic. Both sessions cover the same content, so please register for one date only: Monday, November 23 or Friday, November 27. Registration details are included in the attached memo.

Zoom Invitation The Second Wave Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Nov 23 or 27.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Thursday, November 19th, 2020

CILT COVID-19 Update - October 1, 2020

COVID-19 Activities Update from the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT)

Update on the activities undertaken by the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) over the past several months.

https://www.cilt.ca/cilt-covid-19-updates/

Posted by DFadmin on Friday, October 2nd, 2020

Information about Federal Government payment to persons with disabilities

Information about tax-free $600 payments for extra expenses during the pandemic

The federal government will provide automatic $600 tax-free payments to eligible individuals who are holders of a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and currently receive Canada Pension Plan disability benefits or disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada. This is a federal government program and not related to the Direct Funding program.

COVID-19 Measures for Persons with Disabilities.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, August 21st, 2020

Notice: Job Opportunities with Direct Funding at CILT

Notice re: job opportunities in Direct Funding - Revised: August 5, 2020

This Notice is about two full-time job opportunities available with the Direct Funding Program at CILT.

NOTICE - Job Opportunities in Direct Funding at CILT.pdf

DF Agreement and Resource Facilitator EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY July 2020.pdf

Direct Funding Community Facilitator EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY July 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Wednesday, August 5th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - July 9, 2020

COVID-19 Update - July 9, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - July 9 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Thursday, July 9th, 2020

ODSP & COVID-19 Webinar by CILT on June 25, 2020 from 1:00 - 2:30pm

CILT Invites you to ...

Join John Mossa, CILT Independent Living Skills Coordinator, Catherine Manson, Don Valley Community Legal Services, and Andrea Hatala, ODSP Action Coalition over Zoom to connect and share information on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and COVID-19. Topics covered include: (1) ODSP and Emergency Benefits; (2) ODSP and Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB); (3) ODSP and Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB); (4) What to do if you qualify for and are not receiving these benefits; (5) Community Advocacy Campaigns and ODSP Resources

Please note, you will not be able to join the session without registering first.
Register in advance for this webinar by using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mccz9OvJQk6xvKS4L-b9bA

Alternative methods of registering are listed in the webinar agenda below:

ODSP and COVID 19 Presentation Thurs June 25 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Monday, June 22nd, 2020

COVID-19 Update - June 5, 2020

COVID-19 Update - June 5, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - June 5 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, June 5th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 22, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 22, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - May 22 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, May 22nd, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 15, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 15, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - May 15 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, May 15th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 11, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 11, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - May 11 2020 update.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Monday, May 11th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 8, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 8, 2020

Advocacy Toolkit - Advocating for Your Support Person, Attendant or Communication Assistant to be with You in Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic - resource produced by ARCH Disability Law Centre

https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/advocacy-toolkit-advocating-for-your-support-person-attendant-or-communication-assistant-to-be-with-you-in-hospital-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, May 8th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 7, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 7, 2020


COVID-19 Guidance for Home and Community Care Providers - Updated by Ministry of Health May 4, 2020 (posted May 7, 2020) Includes:
  • Revised screening procedures;

  • Revised masking recommendations for care providers / attendants.
Guidance-Home and Community Care May4.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Thursday, May 7th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 5, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 5, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - May 5 2020 update.docx

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 1, 2020

COVID-19 Update - May 1, 2020

Notice regarding "Pandemic Pay" for frontline workers:

NOTICE re Pandmic Pay May 1 2020.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Friday, May 1st, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 29, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 29, 2020


Universal Mask Use in Health Care - resource issued by Public Health Ontario; includes:

Step-by-step instructions for donning and removing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Droplet and Contact Precautions - resource issued by Region of Peel (adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)

Posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 23, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 23, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Options across the province - April 23 2020 update.pdf

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Thursday, April 23rd, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 20, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 20, 2020

Links for sources of personal protective equipment across Ontario:

PPE Options across the province.pdf

Instructional video from Public Health Ontario on putting on personal protective equipment (PPE):

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-fullppe-on
Instructional video from Public Health Ontario on removing personal protective equipment (PPE):

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/videos/ipac-fullppe-off

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Monday, April 20th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 9, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 9, 2020


COVID-19 support for current Ontario Works and ODSP recipients

Ontario Works and ODSP recipients are eligible for emergency benefits for COVID-19 related expenses. This funding, available upon request, can be used to meet a broad range of needs, including cleaning supplies, transportation, food or clothing that individuals and families may require due to COVID-19. Recipients can access emergency benefits by calling their caseworker. Emergency benefits for COVID-19 related expenses are the same for both programs: up to $100 for single individuals and up to $200 for families.

Posted by Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT) on Thursday, April 9th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - March 27, 2020

COVID-19 Update - March 27, 2020


News & updates on COVID-19

CILT and Direct-Funding support the autonomy, dignity and empowerment of consumers. This is a trying time, with the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic making it harder for consumers to access needed community supports. We will continue to strive to support self-managers with up-to-date resources related to navigating the COVID pandemic, noted below. Please check back for updates.

Health-Related Resources

Government of Ontario - COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool

Government of Ontario - COVID-19 information

Ministry of Health COVID-19 Guidance: Home and Community Care Providers (pdf document)


Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Home and Community Care Providers

This section includes a sample screening protocol and tips on occupational health and safety, infection prevention and control, plus advice for home and community care settings;

2019 Home Community Care Guidance

COVID-19 Screener March 11 2020

Enhanced Public Health Measures for COVID-19 March 12 from MOH


Resources for Employers Including Self-Managers

Government of Ontario - list of essential workplaces
The Centre for Independent Living Toronto, which administers the Direct Funding Program, is covered under #59

COVID-19 - federal government benefits & services (including updated information about Employment Insurance benefits)

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Support for Canadians and Businesses

OHRC policy statement on the COVID-19 pandemic

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-policy-statement-covid-19-pandemic


Helpful Posters

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - What you need to know to help you and your family stay healthy - (pdf document)

Attention visitors - visitors poster (English) - (pdf document)

Avis aux visiteurs - visiteurs poster (French) - (pdf document)


COVID-19 Resource Lists from Ontario ILRCs

Centre for Independent Living Toronto - Information and Resources List related to COVID-19

Breaking Down Barriers Collingwood ILRC

Independent Living Centre Waterloo Region

Posted on Friday, March 27th, 2020

COVID-19 Update - March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Update - March 18, 2020


Notice 2

To:             Website Visitors

From:         Direct Funding Program

Date:         March 18, 2020

Re:             More information about COVID-19



Further to the March 13, 2020 update, attached are more links and resources.

As this ever-evolving situation changes, we will endeavor to provide more updates from the various sources on information you should know to protect yourself and your workers.



"I used to view my disability as being in bed chained down at my shoulders and my hips, waiting for someone to free me. Well, I can honestly say that Direct Funding has come along and done that!"
- 25-year-old man living with parents

Program puts more people with disabilities in control

The Direct Funding Program is being expanded to allow more Ontarians with disabilities to live independently in their homes.

You can read more about this in our News Release.