AccessAbility Supports

The Disability Support Program has expanded and is now called AccessAbility Supports. New supports offer more and better assistance to Islanders living with disabilities.

Disabilities may include physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory and mental disabilities.

New or Enhanced Supports

Our government wants to ensure Islanders living with disabilities can access the tools they need to reach their full potential and contribute to society as fully as possible.  These improvements mean supports will be more personalized and focus on empowering individuals and their families.

Some of the new or enhanced supports include:   

• support for all disabilities including physical, intellectual, neurological, sensory and mental, based on an assessment;
• a new assessment tool to help better understand how the disability affects activities of daily living to ensure appropriate support is provided;
• a supports coordinator to navigate all available support services and develop a personalized plan to meet individual needs;
• increased supports for finding or keeping a job including coaching and skills training;
• increased financial help for home and vehicle modifications required because of a disability -$10,000 every 10 years for home (was $2,000 in a lifetime) and $6,000 every 8 years for a vehicle  (was $2,000 in a lifetime); and
• a single point of contact by calling a toll-free number for easier access to support.

How can I get support?

You will meet with a staff person who will conduct an assessment to determine how disability affects your daily life and how AccessAbility Supports can help meet your needs.

If you are a current disability support client, you will be automatically enrolled in AccessAbility Supports.

What type of support is available?

Help is available under five areas of support, as follows:

Personal Supports

Personal Supports help with personal daily living assistance such as:

• life skills training in areas like meal preparation, budgeting, grocery shopping, recreational activities;
• technical aids and assistive devices such as a wheel chair; and
• supports that enable an individual to be self-sufficient and live independently such as in-home supports or personal care workers.

Housing Supports

Housing Supports help with independent living and may include assistance such as: 

• financial assistance for a caregiver to provide daily supervision and guidance in a community-based residential setting; and
• financial help for required home and vehicle modifications - $10,000 every 10 years for home modifications and $6,000 every eight years for a vehicle.

Community Supports

Community Supports help increase active participation in the community and may include:

• assistance with finding or keeping a job including coaching, skills training, and supports for youth  transitioning from the education system to the workforce; and
• supports to enable active participate in the community such as day programming, personal aid or specialized transportation. 

Caregiver Supports

Caregiver Supports help family members or caregivers and may include:

• respite for caregivers to allow for time for breaks to recharge; and
• support to provide supervision for adults who are unable to stay home alone safely so that caregivers can go to work or school.

Financial Supports

Financial Supports help with basic living expenses, if needed, and may include:

• assistance for basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, household and personal supplies through what is called Assured Income.

Questions?

Call toll-free in Prince Edward Island: 

1-877-569-0546