Resources

Access 2 Card Easter Seals: Offers free admission for an attendant accompanying a person with a disability to movie theatres and attractions across Canada.

Family Support Services:

Family Support Network: Family Support Network (Newmarket/Aurora & York Region) is a family support group that provides mentorship and information to families of children and adults with developmental differences.

Ontario Caregiver Organization: If you support someone in need and feel anxious and overwhelmed with your caregiving responsibilities, (OCO) exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers; ordinary people who provide physical and emotional support to a family member, partner, friend or neighbour. We support caregivers by being their one point of access to information, so they have what they need to be successful in their role.

York ASD Partnership: Provides information on services supporting individuals of all ages with ASD

Partners For Planning Resource Network: A future planning resource for people with a disability, their families and caregivers. Learning modules include: relationships and networks, community and contribution, options for home, wills, estate and financial planning.

Spirit of Life Heep Chi Association 協智: Heep Chi Association follows the principle of Person Directed Planning and observes the needs of families in the context of their cultural background, with a focus on the needs of Chinese speaking families (Cantonese and Mandarin speaking).

York Region Lifetime Independent Facilitation (YRLIF): A person-focused service to connect families with individuals or groups to assist with transition planning and building networks of support to achieve individualized goals.

Transportation:

York Region Transit (YRT) Conventional public transit includes accessible low-floor or kneeling buses which travel on fixed-route public transit routes. The family of services include Viva bus rapid transit, local YRT routes, Community Bus routes, Dial-a-Ride and Travel Training.

• Support Person Assistance Card: Identifies the cardholder as a person who, because of their disability, needs to be accompanied by a support person. The Support Person Assistance Card permits a support person to travel on YRT/Viva with the eligible fare-paying customer (cardholder) for free.
• Mobility On-Request Paratransit: Provides door-to-door, shared ride, accessible public transit service for individuals with disabilities. This service is available to registered users who are unable to use regular public transit due to a physical or functional disability.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Support Person Assistance Card: Identifies the cardholder as a person who, because of their disability, needs to be accompanied by a support person. The Support Person Assistance Card permits a support person to travel on TTC with the eligible fare-paying customer (cardholder) for free.

The Disability Travel Card: Offers its holder discounts to the attendant accompanying a person with disability when traveling on Via Rail and Coach Canada. Easter Seals Canada

Air Travel:  Discounted rates or free travel is available for attendants accompanying individuals identified with a disability that prevents them from travelling alone safely. Contact the medical assistance department of air flight carriers of your choice for further details.

• Air Canada & Air Canada Jazz 1-800-667-4732
• West Jet 1-877-737-7001
• Air Transat 1-877-872-6728 press #1

Dignity Transportation Inc: Provides accessible transportation for wheelchairs, scooters, individuals with mobility impairments, cognitive disabilities and children with special needs. Servicing the greater Toronto area as well as York, Peel and Durham Regions. Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and will provide hand to hand service when requested.

iRide Plus: Offers affordable, door-to-door, non-emergency community transportation that enables adults with disabilities to access health care programs and services.

The BTS Network: Specializing in dedicated taxi sedan, minivan, shuttle van, and wheelchair accessible transportation.

Routes Connecting Communities: Non-profit organization facilitates transportation for those living within York Region who cannot, because of their financial, physical or mental challenges, travel by conventional transit or taxi.   (905) 722-4616

Safety Supports:

Vulnerable Persons Registry: In the event a vulnerable person requires police assistance, valuable caregiver contact and vulnerable person descriptive information can be accessed by police.  Online registration is preferred. York Regional Police Community Services 1-866-876-5423 Ext. 6877

Ontario Photo Card: On-line applications accepted. Provides government-issued identification to Ontarians who do not have a driver’s license to open a bank account and perform any other activities that require official identification.

Online Community Databases:

211 Ontario: A helpline and online database of Ontario's community and social services

MyCommunityHub: A registration service created to help people with developmental disabilities or Autism, their families and caregivers, discover and register for programs and services in their community. 

Centralhealthline.ca: Find information about health services in your community