As a leading service provider, resource and advocate for people with disabilities across the province, March of Dimes Canada shared input for the 2022 Ontario Budget, calling for increased supports for people with disabilities to stay safe and independent at home and in the community.
Our submission focuses on three key priorities:
-
Increased investment in the Home and Vehicle Modification Program (HVMP). For the past two decades, this provincially-funded program has enabled Ontarians with disabilities to reach their goals of avoiding hospital or long-term care, improving access to their homes, enabling essential activities of daily living and enhancing independence in their communities. Now, we are proposing that we want to enhance and expand the HVMP so that every eligible Ontarian can benefit, and to better meet the needs of people with disabilities today.
-
Services to support survivors of stroke and their families to navigate life after a stroke – one of the leading causes of adult disability in Canada. March of Dimes Canada is beginning to explore opportunities for Ontario Health Team partnerships to make our After Stroke program a sustainable and long-term support for the growing population of stroke survivors in Ontario.
-
Investment in the home and community support sector, which remains underfunded despite the sector’s potential to protect and optimize hospital and long-term care capacity. We are asking for increased investment to address system underutilization, strain and staffing shortages, so that Ontarians with disabilities can access care in their own homes and communities.
March of Dimes Canada looks forward to continuing to partner with the provincial government to enhance supports for people with disabilities, toward an inclusive and barrier-free society.
