Unavailability of information about financial support programs for adults with disabilities across Canada
A Policy Brief by Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility
Executive summary
While the new Canada Disability Benefit, set to begin in July 2025, may provide additional financial support, longstanding and unresolved barriers remain. Many Canadians with disabilities continue to struggle to access clear and reliable information about available financial support programs.
Availability of information has been a longstanding barrier experienced by adults with disabilities across Canada. Adults with disabilities encounter various challenges when accessing online information about financial support programs, despite their critical importance:
- Lack of availability of information presents a barrier to accessing these programs.
- Barriers to accessing information have many negative impacts, such as lack of social and economic integration, lack of independence and preventing persons with disabilities from meeting their basic needs.
- Lack of norms and access to information prevent adults with disabilities from fully understanding and accessing financial support programs across Canada.
- Lack of clarity leads to confusion and distrust, as individuals fear making mistakes that could affect their benefits.
A simulation exercise was conducted to demonstrate the lived experience of Canadians accessing information about financial support programs in all provinces and territories, as well as at the federal level. The research analyzes how easy it is to access information about financial support programs, including the eligibility criteria and payment rules.
Rationale
People with disabilities face barriers that affect their well-being and ability to fully participate in society.
These barriers, including discrimination and lack of services, make them more likely to live in poverty. In 2022, 12.3% of Canadians with disabilities lived in poverty, compared to 7.4% of those without disabilities. Poverty can lead to poor health, stress, and a lower quality of life. Access to financial support programs is crucial to ensure financial security and well-being of people with disabilities.
However, finding information about these programs is often difficult. Websites can be hard to navigate, and program details are unclear or spread across different pages. Financial support programs offering direct payments to adults with disabilities help cover essential costs to fulfill their basic needs. But without clear and accessible information, people with disabilities may not get the support they require. Making this information easier to find would improve financial security, inclusion and equity.
Why does it matter for adults with cognitive disabilities?
Financial situation of adults with cognitive disabilities.
Individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities often face extra costs, related to additional support they need. These expenses include transportation, medical care, and other necessary services. Most adults in this group are also unemployed, which further limits their income. As a result, their financial situation becomes more challenging.
Barriers to accessing information online about financial support programs.
People with cognitive disabilities often feel worried about getting lost online or not knowing how to return to the main page, which creates emotional barriers and lowers their confidence. When information is disorganized and difficult to navigate, accessing important support, like financial assistance programs, is more challenging. This confusion increases stress and frustration. Individuals with cognitive disabilities confirm that searching for disability-related information feels like “a hunt to find anything.” This lack of organization leaves individuals and their families feeling exhausted, discouraged, and at a disadvantage when trying to meet their basic needs. These barriers, combined with systemic inequities, make accessing essential programs overly complicated.
Barriers caused by difficulty accessing information.
Out of 19 financial support programs offering direct payments to adults with disabilities in Canada (as per a scan completed May 1st to June 30th, 2024. Full list available upon request), only two provide a single, centralized webpage. This webpage includes all key details, such as the amount of support, eligibility, and payment rules. Most programs require navigating multiple webpages, and seven require extensive effort, reviewing four or more pages, making phone calls, and sending emails to gather essential information. In 1 instance, and despite repeated attempts, key details about the program remained inaccessible. These findings highlight the urgent need for a more user-friendly and accessible way to obtain financial support information.
Barriers caused by complicated application processes to financial support programs.
The Government of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy to enhance the inclusion and accessibility of individuals with disabilities, highlights the confusion caused by unclear application processes. The lack of clear information and guidance on required documents can delay access to crucial supports. In addition, payment rules vary widely due to the absence of consistent standards between programs. This lack of clarity creates confusion and distrust, as individuals fear making mistakes that could affect their benefits.
Complicated application processes directly impact individuals with cognitive disabilities.
Eligibility requirements often require individuals to prove their disability through an assessment process, which varies significantly by province and program. These differing processes create confusion and require individuals to repeatedly validate their disabilities to access different financial support. The lack of accessible information makes it even harder for many adults with cognitive disabilities to meet their basic needs, further reinforcing the social and economic disadvantages they already face. This ongoing struggle adds to the barriers they experience in accessing essential services and support.
Implications
It is crucial to make information about financial support programs easily accessible to those who need it most.
Many individuals, especially adults with disabilities, face significant barriers in finding and understanding the resources available to them. By ensuring easy access to information about financial support programs, it reduces financial exclusion and promote access to adequate support. This is an urgent call for action to ensure that no one is left behind due to a lack of accessible information.
Active participation from adults with lived experience in testing and providing feedback on website navigation, information accessibility, and application processes is crucial for creating an inclusive and user-friendly platform. Their insights help identify barriers that may not be apparent to developers or service providers, ensuring that the website is easy to navigate for diverse users. Feedback on information accessibility can lead to centralized information and improved readability.
Creating a single, centralized webpage for financial support programs is crucial to greatly benefit users, especially adults with disabilities. It would provide easy access to essential details like amounts, eligibility criteria, and payment rules, reducing confusion and saving time. A well-organized webpage can ensure that individuals receive accurate, up-to-date information, without having to search multiple sources. It promotes equity and access to critical support for adults with disabilities.
Implications for policy
Standardizing eligibility and payment rules should be put in place across the province. These rules would make it easier for individuals with disabilities to access financial support. Instead of repeatedly proving their disability for different programs, they could qualify once and receive the help they need without extra barriers. This would reduce stress, save time, and prevent delays, ensuring that support reaches people more efficiently. A clear, unified system would also promote fairness and consistency, making financial support programs more accessible.
Following the Canada Disability Inclusion Action Plan is a vital policy step. It is essential for ensuring financial security and fostering an inclusive community. Many adults with disabilities in Canada face financial exclusion, and improving access to clear, accessible information is key to addressing this issue. By removing barriers to communication, community participation and essential services, such as financial support programs, this plan promotes equity and independence. Implementing policies in line with this action plan would help build a more inclusive and supportive society, ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the resources they need to thrive.
References
Engel, L., Rampling, T., Brautigan, E. J., Bazin, T., Dilts, K., Williams, T., & Colquhoun, H. (2023). Review and Consultations of Canadian Financial Education Programs for Individuals with Disabilities. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 90(3), 257- 268.
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Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada. (2022). Disability Inclusion Action Plan.
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Salvino, C., Spencer, C., Filipe, A. M., et Lach, L. M. (2022). Mapping of financial support programs for children with neurodisabilities across Canada: Barriers and discrepancies within a patchwork system. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 33(3), 168-177.
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Authors
Dr. Virginie Cobigo
Virginie is the founder and Executive Director of Open. She is committed to promoting the social inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities and enhancing the cognitive accessibility of our environment. As a professor at the University of Ottawa, she leads research that supports evidence-based practice in sectors that support people with cognitive disabilities.
Dr. Munazza Tahir
The Associate Director of Inclusive Research and Evaluation at Open, Munazza ensures that people with cognitive disabilities are meaningfully included in research and development projects across various sectors. She works with academics, companies, and organizations to support the recognition of Advisors with lived experience with cognitive disabilities as partners and collaborators in projects. Munazza recently completed a PhD in Community Psychology at the University of Ottawa with a research focus on the experiences of parents with intellectual disabilities in the child protection system. She has a background in Applied Disability Studies and has been working with people with disabilities for more than 15 years.
Emily Cliche
Emily is a Research Assistant at the University of Ottawa, where she contributes to a variety of research projects focused on accessibility and the lived experiences of people with disabilities. Her role is dynamic and multifaceted, involving tasks such as conducting academic research, engaging in community outreach, and leading research interviews with community members to meaningfully reflect their experiences and perspectives within the research. She works under Virginie Cobigo’s supervision.