Visual aids

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must:

• be an Ontario resident
• have a valid Ontario health card
• have long-term low vision or blindness in at least one eye that can’t be corrected with surgery, regular glasses or contact lenses (e.g. corrected vision in the better eye in range of 20/70 or less)

Who does not qualify

You do not qualify if:

• you already qualify for or are receiving financial support from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for the same visual aid(s)
• you are a Group “A” veteran and already qualify for or are receiving financial support from Veterans Affairs Canada for the same visual aid(s)

Types of visual aids covered

Through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP), we help cover the cost of:

• specialized glasses, magnifiers and other optical aids
• audio players for reading books
• Perkins and other manual braillers for writing
• CCTV and computer-based reading and writing systems
• white canes for orientation and mobility

Replacements

You can apply to replace a visual aid if:

• your medical condition changes and the visual aid no longer meets your needs
• the visual aid is worn out, no longer covered by warranty and cannot be repaired at a reasonable cost

We do not cover costs to replace a lost visual aid, nor for repairs to aids damaged through misuse or neglect.

Amount covered

We pay 75% of the ADP price for visual aids. You must pay the remaining 25% of the cost.

For optical aids, we cover 75% of the cost up to a set amount. For example, a business may charge $250 for an illuminated magnifier but we will only pay $125, which is 75% of the ADP maximum $166.67.

When we set the ADP price for each visual aid, we take into account:

• manufacturer’s and/or distributor’s costs
• complexity of device

A vendor can’t charge more than the ADP price.

Getting up to 100% coverage

We cover up to 100% of the cost for visual aids, if you receive financial support from one of these programs:

• Ontario Works
• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities

Find a vendor and apply

Follow these five steps to apply to get help paying for a visual aid:

Step 1 – Get examined

Who you see for the examination depends on the type of visual aid you need.

Use the chart below:

The specialist or worker examining you must be registered with the ADP. Please email us for a list of registered specialists or workers near you.

During the examination, the specialist or worker will help you fill out the application form. They will also recommend the type of equipment that best suits your needs.

You can apply for up to:

• three optical aids
• one reading aid
• one writing aid
• one orientation and mobility aid

Step 2 – Find a business that sells visual aids

The business must also be registered with the ADP. These businesses sell either high-technology (including computerized) or low-technology visual aids.

You can buy a visual aid from a vendor who’s not registered with the ADP, but only in the following cases:

• you need a type of high-technology equipment and there is no registered vendor within 100 km of where you live
• you need a computer, monitor or printer

Follow these steps to apply for buying a visual aid from a non-registered vendor.

Step 3 – Mail the form

After you’ve completed the form, mail it to:

Assistive Devices Program
5700 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto, Ontario
M2M 4K5

What happens next

We aim to review your application within eight weeks of receiving it.

If you order or buy the visual aid(s) before hearing from us, and your application is denied, you are responsible for the full cost.

Once we have completed our review, if your application has been denied you will receive a letter from us indicating the reason for the denial.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, we will notify your vendor and authorizer by mail. They will contact you to let you know our decision and arrange a time to deliver the visual aid(s).When you get your visual aid(s), you must pay your share. We pay the vendor directly for our portion.

If your application has been denied, you will receive a letter explaining our reason and telling you how you can follow up, including appealing our decision.

Buying from a non-registered vendor

To buy from a non-registered vendor, you must follow these steps:

1. Pay the full cost of the device up front. It can’t cost more than the ADP price.
2. Submit the application form. You have to do this within a year from the date you were assessed. Applications received after one year will be automatically declined.

3. Mail the completed form to:

   Assistive Devices Program
   Yonge Street, 7^th floor
   Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

4. We aim to review your application within eight weeks. Within a week of completing our review you will receive a letter by mail with your application status and file number – which you need to include in your invoice for reimbursement.

5. You must buy the equipment within one year from the authorization date. Then print a copy of the approval letter, attach your receipt signed and marked paid in full to:

   Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
   Financial Management Branch
   Program Payments Unit
   P.O. Box 48 49 Place d’Armes, 2^nd Floor
   Kingston Ontario K7L 5J3

Getting reimbursed

We will reimburse you directly for the 75% of the device’s ADP price by cheque. We will mail it to you within four weeks of receipt of your invoice(s).