What is ADP?

The letters A.D.P. stand for the Assistive Devices Program. It is a funding program offered through the Ontario Ministry of Health to assist residents of Ontario who have specified disabilities to purchase equipment for personal use.

For an overview of the Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program, visit:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/adp/overview.html

The following web page gives more details and contains links to specific information on the twelve categories of disabilities covered by ADP:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/adp/about.html

Or, you can telephone them at: (800) 268-6021

I was told that ADP pays 75% (or 100%) but the vendor is charging more than 25%. What’s going on?

ADP has an approved list of products for which they will provide funding. This list also contains pre-set “specified maximums”. If the price for the product that the client wants exceeds this maximum, the client is responsible for the balance. Unfortunately, there are also some items on the ADP list where the specified maximum is significantly lower than the purchase price.

As well, ADP does not pay any of the Provincial Sales Tax.

I was told that ADP will pay $2,250 towards my computer and I only want a package worth $2,000. I shouldn’t have to pay anything then, right?

When a client is assessed at the 75% funding level, ADP pays up to 75% of the purchase price, or 75% of the ADP specified maximum, whichever is less. In other words, the client is expected to contribute a minimum of 25% of the purchase price. In addition, the client is responsible for all of the Provincial Sales Tax.

Last year I was authorized for and purchased a computer and scanner. Now I’m told I can’t get a CCTV. Why not? (This question also applies to other product combinations.)

ADP puts products into categories according to their usage and, in any given five year period, a client can only normally be authorized for one product per category. A simple example is that, though there are different features on different models, all braille embossers are in the same category. A more complex example is that a CCTV is in the same category as a scanner so clients are not generally eligible for funding for both. Another example is that a notetaker is in the same category as a computer.

There are, however, a few instances where a product is eligible for funding under more than one category so that this rule would not apply. In these cases, the amount funded may vary between categories. There are also rare instances where the authorizer may be able to circumvent the one product per category rule.

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