Easter Seals Ontario Recreation Program

Recreational Choices

2010 RECREATIONAL CHOICES FUNDING PROGRAM

A running jump into the lake

APPLICATIONS GUIDELINES

A. INDIVIDUAL RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE

This option is available for children/youth registered with Easter Seals Ontario who are between 5-18 years old as of July 1, 2010 and are not attending an Easter Seals camp or are a Crown Ward.

Please note:

Up to $500.00 (Canadian) is available per child for a recreational experience within Ontario (i.e. day camp, recreational camp, swimming lessons, etc).
Parents/guardians must apply for separate funding for each child who has a physical disability and wishes to access a recreational summer program.
Funding must be used within the summer recreation season from July 1 to September 6, 2010

Individual Recreational Choices Funding Program does NOT cover:

Transportation costs to and from the recreational program
Babysitting services or 1:1 workers (i.e. Reach for the Rainbow, babysitter, caregiver, therapist, activity clothing/equipment, meals, etc)

B. FAMILY VACATION EXPERIENCE

This option is available for children/youth registered with Easter Seals Ontario, who are between 5-18 years old as of July 1, 2010 are medically fragile or have a severe disability and are not attending an Easter Seals camp or are a Crown Ward. Please attach a letter to your application form outlining why your child cannot attend a recreational program. Easter Seals’ medical review committee will review your request. To be considered for funding for a family vacation you must have already searched for a recreational program for your child and been unable to find a program that can accommodate your child due to the severity of her/his disability.

Please note:

Funding covers up to $500.00 (Canadian) per child for a family vacation within Ontario
Funding must be used within the recreation season from July 1 to September 6, 2010
The child who has a physical disability must attend the family vacation
Funding contributes to the cost of an approved or recognized provincial campsite, cottage or lodge/motel accommodation

Family Vacation Funding does NOT cover:

Gas/mileage, car rentals or flights to and from the vacation site
Food
Rental of recreational or medical equipment for the family or child/youth
Cost of a 1:1 worker (this includes babysitter, caregiver, therapist, etc.)
Rental of friends’ or relatives’ cottages or homes
Admission fees for attractions (i.e. ROM, Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto Zoo, etc.)

An afternoon swim

APPLICATION PROCESS

Requests for financial assistance are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Limited funding is available, so please complete your request form and return it to the Easter Seals Ontario Provincial Office as soon as possible.
Parents/guardians are responsible for the registration of their child(ren) in the chosen recreational program.
Request for Recreational Choices Funding must be submitted before the program has been attended. You can apply for funding even if you do not know what specific program your child will be attending, but we ask you to provide a description of what program you are considering. Funds will only be released once official receipts have been received by Easter Seals Ontario.
The application process can take up 4 weeks to process.
Easter Seals Ontario reserves the right to deny any application that does not meet the eligibility criteria or if receipts do not match what funding was approved for.

Please choose one of the following application options and follow the steps outlined below:

OPTION #1: PARENT/GUARDIAN PAY THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY

STEP 1: Please complete the Request for Financial Assistance form and send it to the Easter Seals Ontario Provincial Office along with detailed documentation about your chosen recreational program/vacation. The application must be received in the Provincial Office no later than July 1, 2010. As funds are limited, applications received prior to this deadline are not guaranteed funding, therefore, please apply early!

STEP 2: You will be notified in writing if your request for funding has been approved.

STEP 3: Parents/guardians send all official receipts to Easter Seals Ontario for reimbursement. Receipts must be received in the Provincial Office no later than September 10, 2010 for families to receive funding. No funds will be released without proper documentation.

OPTION #2: EASTER SEALS ONTARIO PAYS THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY

STEP 1: Please complete the Request For Financial Assistance form and send it to the Easter Seals Ontario Provincial Office along with detailed documentation about your chosen recreational program/vacation. The application must be received in the Provincial Office no later than July 1, 2010. As funds are limited, applications received prior to this deadline are not guaranteed funding, therefore please apply early!

STEP 2: You will be notified in writing if your request for funding has been approved. You will then be required to send copies of the completed recreational program/vacation registration forms AND confirmation of enrolment forms to the Easter Seals Ontario Provincial office. These documents must be received in the Provincial Office no later than August 23, 2010 for the funds to be released.

STEP 3: Easter Seals Ontario will send a cheque (up to $500) to the recreational program/vacation experience of your choice. You will be notified in writing when the cheque has been sent.

Please visit our downloads section for the Recreational Choices Funding Program Application form.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does my child need to be registered with Easter Seals to apply for this funding?
Yes. Please note that registration with the Incontinence Grant Program does not qualify as registration with Easter Seals Ontario. To be registered with Easter Seals Ontario the child must have a long term physical disability that restricts independent mobility and have an impact on performing daily living activities. Eligibility does not extend to children with a primary diagnosis of developmental disabilities such as Autism.

What age of child is eligible?
Between the ages of 5 and 18 years (as of July 1, 2010).

Will submitting an application prior to the deadline guarantee funding?
No. Funding for this program is limited and will be granted on a first come basis. Once all the funds have been committed, no more funds will be released.

What is the maximum amount of funding available per child?
The maximum amount a child may receive is $500. This can cover the cost of one program or a number of programs.

If I have more than one child registered with Easter Seals, can I apply for funding for each child?
Yes. A separate application must be completed for each child.

When can the funding be used?
All approved programs must take place in the summer, between June 26 and September 6, 2010.

What are examples of programs that qualify for summer recreational funding?
Day camp, swimming lessons, art camp, residential camp, baseball and other community summer recreational programs.

What are examples of programs that do not qualify for summer recreational funding?
Programs outside of Ontario, transportation costs, child care/babysitting services/costs, food/lunches, admission fees for attractions, therapy programs, parking, or programs that take place outside of the summer months.

Can the funding be used towards a one-to-one worker?
No. The Recreational Choices Funding Program is intended to cover only community recreational program fees.

Can I apply for this funding, and send my child to an Easter Seals camp?
Yes, but you will be required to pay the full fee for the Easter Seals Ontario residential camp program.

Am I required to pay for my child’s program up front?
No. You may select Payment Option #2: Parent/guardian send a copy of the recreation registration and confirmation of enrolment with fees owing (invoice) and Easter Seals Ontario will send a cheque (up to $500) to the community recreational program.

What if I do not know which program my child will attend in summer 2010?
You do not need to know what specific program your child will be attending to apply for funds, but we ask that you let us know what program(s) you are considering. You may apply for recreational funding prior to program registration. Funding will only be released once receipts or invoices have been received by Easter Seals Ontario.

No community recreational program meets the needs of my child. Are there other options?
Yes. If you have searched for a recreational program with no success, you may apply for funding for a Family Vacation. A letter must be attached to the application outlining why the child cannot attend a recreational program. This request will be reviewed. A request for Family Vacation funding will not be considered without a letter. You must explain that you have already searched for a recreational program and that no program is able to accommodate your child due to the severity of his/her disability.

If I apply for funding towards a Family Vacation, what are examples of options that qualify for funding?
Provincial campsites, cottage rental or hotel/motel accommodation. All vacations must take place in Ontario between June 26 and September 6, 2010.

What are examples of items the Family Vacation funding does not cover?
Gas/mileage or flights to and from the vacation site, rental vehicles, food, equipment rental or costs, child care/1:1 workers, parking, additional hotel costs (i.e. movie and game rentals), friends’/relatives’ cottages or homes, admission fees.

If my child is approved for individual recreation funding can I change it to a Family Vacation?
No, family vacations are for children who cannot attend a recreation program due to the severity of their disability.

I have been approved for funding, what is the deadline to submit receipts/invoices?
September 10, 2010.

Can I fax my application?
Yes. Please fax to 416-696-1035, Attention: Easter Seals Ontario, Recreation Department. Please ensure that you have read and signed the application.