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The purpose of this discussion is to enhance the access to information and the ease of connection with other families related to Passport funding for ASD adults and teens in transition across the province. This is a place where families can connect with one another to pass on ideas and experiences and to facilitate families working together to respond to needs.
This forum is a key project component ConnectABILITY.ca is undertaking in partnership with Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Geneva Centre for Autism, Community Living Toronto and Autism Ontario. A number of professionals, parents, and individuals on the spectrum have been brought together to act as moderators for this forum. Welcome!
Part of this project involves speaking with caregivers and people on the spectrum from all over the province about their personal experiences applying to DSO for passport funding. So far we’ve had the opportunity to speak with over 20 families/individuals, and we’ve heard all kinds of accounts and out of the box solutions to some of the barriers people on the spectrum or their caregivers have faced when navigating the Passport process.
Some of these suggestions include:
– request that your accessor come to your home to do the assessment or at least part of it if your child will be unable to sit in an office for a minimum of 2 hours
– request an assessment in the evening or on a weekend if you are a single parent
– asking for help isn’t easy so begin by going through the questions available on the DSO website yourself first so you can come to a place where you are honest and accepting about where you are and what you need
– investigate, investigate and then investigate some more
– involve as many people as you can in the process and let them know what kind of supports you need from themKeeping some of your creative and adaptive solutions in mind, what suggestions or advice would you give to others just beginning the process of applying to DSO for passport funding?
I definitely agree that having the assessor come to your own home is advisable.
Our assessor came to our house on three separate occasions to complete the assessment in small manageable chucks in the most comfortable environment for our son. The process is long and tedious and there was no way our child could have managed a long appointment in an unfamiliar office. I think it’s equally as beneficial for the assessors to do their job in the most comfortable environment for the individual being assessed.@MichelleMG How did you get the assessor to come to your house on 3 separate occasions?
To be honest, she offered us that option when she called to book. Having heard about the experiences of some of my friends, the length of the process and the small office environment, I knew this would be the best option for us! If families aren’t given that option, I’d request it. Like I said I think it’s beneficial to the assessors as well.
I agree that it’s important to always ask for accommodations rather than waiting to have them offered to you. Even if you choose not to include your child in the SIS portion of the assessment (and I’m very glad that we did make that choice), if the travel to the local DSO office is a challenge you should definitely ask for a meeting at home.
Hi everyone,
Developmental Services Ontario provides some general information about Passport funding to access programs and services, but I’m wondering what other potential sources of information forum members have found helpful in guiding and navigating this process?
Hi katb
There are lots of ways to use passport funding other than programs. Have you had a Person Directed plan done to see what your child wants to do during the day. There are all kinds of volunteer opportunities out there, you can use your funding to hire a worker to help support your child to do these activities. Parks and Rec also has lots of various groups and programs where your child can learn new skills and meet new people who are part of their community. Again if he needs extra support you can use your passport funding for a support worker.
Check out opportunities in your neighbourhood you will be surprises at how many opportunities are out there.Further to Jennypink’s comments, I agree that it’s important to consider both what your adult child WANTS to do (in my case, what he wants to do is hang out at home, watch videos, and play videogames, with occasional breaks for fast food or the acquisition of pop) and what they NEED to do (keep physically active, learn new skills, be out in the community, help out at home, build independence, etc.). My husband and I brainstormed a list of such goals and then tried to think of things that could help our son achieve them, many of which did not involve a specific program or service so much as practical matters, like nightly walks, or planning and preparing one family meal a week, that we could support him doing within the family or with friends. That was useful when thinking about how external resources could be called upon and what role they would play in his life.
I would also say that to aid the transition into adulthood for someone who finds transitions supremely difficult, we worked hard to try to change only a few variables at a time. For example, we were sure to retain some programs and activities he started in his teen years as well as adding new ones, rather than starting with a blank slate. We also withdrew him from school a day a week for his last two years in school, something I realize not everyone can do, with the intention to somewhat disrupt the school routine before school came to an end for him. I credit that strategy a fair bit with the fact that his post-school transition went so well.
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