The Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) has started a petition to change the current Assistive Devices Program (ADP) that makes it extremely difficult for people with disabilities to access the devices they need.

The ADP is chronically underfunded and understaffed; requiring people to wait multiple months for their devices and pay for their own repair costs, which in many cases can reach thousands of dollars. Program users are also left without replacement devices while their original is being repaired.

The ADP only pays for 75% of the users assistive device costs, and suggests that users reach out to charitable organizations, social assistance, insurance companies, as well as relatives and friends to come up with the rest of the funding.

The Disability Justice Network of Ontario is calling for reforms, claiming that the current state of the ADP is putting lives at risk and preventing people from living their full and independent lives. The petition demands that the ADP licence vendors to repair devices, requires the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to fund assistive devises, ensure timely repairs, and provide loaner devices during repair and more.

For more information and to sign the petition visit the website here (link).