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Learn about Budgeting

Ages 0-4

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 5-11

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 12-14

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 15-17

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 18-21

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 22-40

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Ages 41 and over

A budget is a plan for how you spend your money. Your budget can include all your money such as your funding, pay you get from working, or money you get from other places. You can make your budget for each week, each month, or for the year. You should review your budget often to make sure you are not spending more money than you have.

You might need help making your budget. Here are some people who could help:

Parent or other family member
Legal Guardian
A support worker
Your Public Guardian Trustee

Resources

Money Matters is a tool for learning how to budget your money and can be found on the ConnectAbility website. This website has resources, information for building life skills and connects you with your community.

MyDirectPlan is an online planning tool to manage your individualized funding.

Passport Funding

Region: Ontario
Age: over 18

Passport Funding is an Ontario Government program that provides funding to adults with a developmental disability. Passport provides funding for services and supports in your community. Contact your local DSO to apply.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Region: Ontario
Age: over 18

ODSP income support is an Ontario Government program that helps people with disabilities pay for things like food and housing, as well as provides drug coverage and vision care.

Plan for getting older

Ages 22-40

Start planning for how you can best use the adult health and social services available to you. It is important be prepared and plan ahead.

For parents and caregivers

As parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities age, your planning needs to change. Some issues that become more important as parents age include financial security and social supports for their loved one after parents/supporters pass away, as well as housing needs.

Suggested Resources

ConnectABILITY has a webpage with resources for transition planning into adult services. There is also a series of workshops to prepare for “life after school“.
The Partners for Planning website includes information on Person Directed Planning. Person Directed Planning is an inclusive process to help you in defining and creating a better future.
The Plan Institute has created a Future Planning Tool that focuses on planning for financial security, building a personal network, housing choices and supported decision-making.

For parents and caregivers

Partners for Planning includes a webpage that provides information on the Henson Trust.
Community Living Ontario and PooranLaw Professional Corporation have created an Estate Planning Guide that contains advice from legal, tax and accounting professionals who specialize in supporting people who have a disability and their loved ones.

Ages 41 and over

As you get older you may notice changes with your health and support needs. Make a plan ahead of time so that you can prepare for changes.
It is important to keep track of any changes in your health and support needs.
You can have someone help you keep track of your healthcare appointments and assessments.
One important thing that people with developmental disabilities should screen for is dementia.
You can have someone who cares for you start checking you when you turn 50 years old.
Depending on the developmental disability that you have you may need to start checking for signs of dementia when you turn 40 years old. One example is Down Syndrome.

For parents and caregivers

As parents and caregivers of people with developmental disabilities age, your planning needs to change. Some issues that become more important as parents age include financial security and social supports for their loved one after parents/supporters pass away, as well as housing needs.

Suggested Resources

ConnectABILITY has a guide with links that can help you plan for the next stages in your life.
The Partners for Planning website includes information on Person Directed Planning. Person Directed Planning is an inclusive process to help you in defining and creating a better future.
The Plan Institute has created a Future Planning Tool that focuses on planning for financial security, building a personal network, housing choices and supported decision-making.
The Early Detection Screening Tool for Dementia can be used if someone is showing early signs of dementia and to keep track of changes.

For parents and caregivers

Partners for Planning Network website has resources to help you navigate each step and life stage and also provides information on the Henson Trust.
Community Living Ontario & PooranLaw Professional Corporation have created an Estate Planning Guide that contains advice from legal, tax and accounting professionals who specialize in supporting people who have a disability and their loved ones.
The Ontario Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disabilities created a transition guide for caregivers to help plan for individuals with a developmental disability as they age.

Save for the Future

Ages 15-17

Consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). A RDSP can help you save money faster through government contributions.
To be eligible for a RDSP you need to be eligible for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.

Suggested Resources

Visit the Government of Canada website that includes information on the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit.
Partners for Planning has a section with easy to read information about the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Ages 18-21

Consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). A RDSP can help you save money faster through government contributions.
To be eligible for a RDSP you need to be eligible for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.

Suggested Resources

Visit the Government of Canada website that includes information on the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit.
Partners for Planning has a section with easy to read information about the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Ages 22-40

Consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
A RDSP can help you save money faster through government contributions.
To be eligible for a RDSP you need to be eligible for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.

Suggested Resources

Visit the Government of Canada website that includes information on the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit.
Partners for Planning has a section with easy to read information about the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Ages 41 and over

Consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
A RDSP can help you save money faster through government contributions.
To be eligible for a RDSP you need to be eligible for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.

Suggested Resources

Visit the Government of Canada website that includes information on the Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit.
Partners for Planning has a section with easy to read information about the Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Ages 0-4

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support, but many caregivers do not know they exist or may find them hard to use.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.

Ages 5-11

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.

Ages 12-14

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.

Ages 15-17

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.

Ages 18-21

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.
The Caregiver Exchange is another website that can connect you with information, supports and services.

Ages 22-40

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.
The Caregiver Exchange is another website that can connect you with information, supports and services.

Ages 41 and over

There are many resources in Ontario that help to connect caregivers with support. These supports may include respite, support groups and support in your home.

Suggested Resources

The Ontario Caregiver Organization has information on accessing and connecting to supports and services.
The Caregiver Exchange is another website that can connect you with information, supports and services.

March of Dimes Home and Vehicle Modification Program

Region: Ontario
Age: All Ages
Disability: Mobility

This program is for people and families who have significant mobility impairments that impact their functioning for longer than one year. This program is intended to provide funding for basic home and/or vehicle modifications to help with the mobility issues.

Ceridian Cares

Region: Canada
Age: All Ages

This program gives money to people in need (low income) to help pay for food, clothing, shoes and household items. You do not need to have a disability to get this money.

Ottawa Hand in Hand Funding

Region: Ottawa
Age: All Ages

This program, from the City of Ottawa, helps people to pay for programs in their community. You may be eligible to receive up to $175 per person every year.

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy – Activity Funding Program

Region: Ontario
Age: All Ages
Disability: Cerebral Palsy

This money is used to help people with Cerebral Palsy to do things in their community. To get this benefit you must be a member of the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy.

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