Barrier Free Architecturals
May 31, 2011

Tax Credits for Disabled Canadians

Dog with Happy Boy in Wheelchair. Image Source: Public Domain.

We’ve just wrapped up the 2011 tax season here in Canada.  Filing taxes can be confusing (and frustrating) at times!  A person’s income, marital status, employment and level of disability can change from year to year, making it difficult to determine which tax credits to apply for.

Here are some examples of the impairments that qualify for the disability tax credit (DTC) as per the Government of Canada’s official website.  To see the complete list of applicable DTCs, click here.

Walking

Canadians with “no apparent mobility impairment” who are “unable to walk a city block without stopping frequently to rest because of shortness of breath or pain” would be qualified for the DTC because of the “inordinate amount of time” it takes them to navigate a city by foot.  Canadians who demonstrate the ability to walk one or more city blocks without significant issues would not qualify for the DTC.

Dressing

Getting dressed and/or undressed can be a challenge for some Canadians.  People who are able to put on shoes without assistance or the use of a device would not qualify for the DTC.

Persons who must make several attempts to put on a pair of shoes, or experience significant discomfort in doing so, would qualify for the DTC.

Hearing

Canadians who experience difficulty in hearing due to short-term conditions (like wax blockage or infection) are not eligible for the DTC.  A person who experiences hearing impairment but is able to function without the assistance of a hearing device would also not be eligible for the DTC.

Canadians who are unable to hear even with the use of a device – or take longer than the average person to “understand spoken conversation” would qualify.

Feeding

A person who cannot successfully eat a bowl of soup in a “reasonable length of time even with the use of an aid” would be eligible for the DTC.

Speaking

Canadians who have received voice therapy but are deemed inappropriate for an aid maybe be eligible for the DTC if they are unable to speak and be understood and must rely on alternate methods of communication.

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May 26, 2011

Taking Another Look at Old Age Pensions in Canada

A recent report by CTV suggests that the retirement system in Canada may need a revamp as experts fear that the current system is not sustainable in its current state.

Citizens begin receiving social security pension at the age of 65 in Canada.  The report argues that Canadians largely “regard the commencement of social security pension … as a fundamental right while rejecting mandatory retirement at age 65 as discriminatory.”  This, according to the report, represents a contradiction that may eventually cripple the system.

Canadians are no longer required by law to retire at the age of 65.  Social security pension was established when the retirement age of 65 was mandatory, in order to  provide financial support to Canadians after they were no longer able to work, due to loss of mobility or other age-related disabilities.

The report argues that, somewhere along the line “the idea of pensions as a protection against the disability of old age morphed into pensions as an age-related entitlement, even when not accompanied by disability.”

Another issue with Canada’s retirement system is the fact that people are living longer, healthier lives.  Of course, this is an incredible testament to medical advancements in recent years, but it also signifies that it’s time for the country’s retirement system to evolve, as it was created in a different era, when Canadian males were only expected to live an estimated 14 years following a 40-year career.

Today, Canadian males are expected to live an average of 21 years post retirement.

Experts are hard at work revising the system.  A few ideas are currently being tossed around, such as creating incentives that would “encourage companies to hire workers in the transition phase, at least on a part-time basis”, while providing partial benefits at that time.

The government is also considering educating the private sector on initiating discussions about older employees about transferring into a part-time position after the age of 65, instead of retiring completely.

Filed under Mobility Issues and News
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May 18, 2011

Survey to Study Older Adults as They Age

National Institutes of Health Logo. Image Credit: National Institutes of Health.

An American-based National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) has announced that they will be reaching out to approximately 9,000 people aged 65 and up across the country and requesting that they participate in a long-term study that will analyze the impact that age-related disability can have on an individual.  The study is funded by the National Institute of Aging (NIA), a subsidiary of the National Institutes of Health.

The study is aiming to examine the ways that the lives of older adults change with age, an exercise that will help researchers better understand the consequences of age-related disabilities.  The study will be specifically looking at the social and economic consequences associated with mobility and cognitive impairment.  The study will look at the ways individuals can handle dressing, getting in and out of bed, bathing, preparing a meal, paying bills, and making telephone calls.  Participants will be monitored regularly and continually asked if they require assistance in any of these areas. 

 “Many factors affect an older person’s ability to function effectively and live independently,” said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. said in a press release published on Echo Press. “NHATS is designed to help us understand the contributions of these factors to trends in the prevalence, onset and recovery from functional limitations.”

NHATS is aiming to create a sampling of American citizens aged 65 and older who were selected at random from Medicare enrollees. Volunteers will participate in a face-to-face interview in 2011 to provide an initial sample and then once a year thereafter. Participants will also have to conduct short tests that monitor physical appearance.

The National Institutes of Health is the United States’ medical research agency includes 27 Institutes and Centers.  It is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which serves as the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting clinical and translational medical research.

Click here to read more about the NIH/NHATS study.

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May 4, 2011

Canadian Disability Tax Credit Impairments

Canada Revenue Agency Logo. Image Credit: Canada Revenue Agency.

We’ve just wrapped up the 2011 tax season here in Canada.  Filing taxes can be confusing (and frustrating) at times!  A person’s income, marital status, employment and level of disability can change from year to year, making it difficult to determine which tax credits to apply for.

Here are some examples of the impairments that qualify for the disability tax credit (DTC) as per the Government of Canada’s official website.  To see the complete list of applicable DTCs, click here.

Walking

Canadians with “no apparent mobility impairment” who are “unable to walk a city block without stopping frequently to rest because of shortness of breath or pain” would be qualified for the DTC because of the “inordinate amount of time” it takes them to navigate a city by foot.  Canadians who demonstrate the ability to walk one or more city blocks without significant issues would not qualify for the DTC.

Dressing

Getting dressed and/or undressed can be a challenge for some Canadians.  People who are able to put on shoes without assistance or the use of a device would not qualify for the DTC.

Persons who must make several attempts to put on a pair of shoes, or experience significant discomfort in doing so, would qualify for the DTC.

Hearing

Canadians who experience difficulty in hearing due to short-term conditions (like wax blockage or infection) are not eligible for the DTC.  A person who experiences hearing impairment but is able to function without the assistance of a hearing device would also not be eligible for the DTC.

Canadians who are unable to hear even with the use of a device – or take longer than the average person to “understand spoken conversation” would qualify.

Feeding

A person who cannot successfully eat a bowl of soup in a “reasonable length of time even with the use of an aid” would be eligible for the DTC.

Speaking

Canadians who have received voice therapy but are deemed inappropriate for an aid maybe be eligible for the DTC if they are unable to speak and be understood and must rely on alternate methods of communication.

Filed under Health and Mobility Tips
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Reach Canada conference celebrates 30 years Representing the Disabled

Reach Canada Logo. Image Credit: Reach Canada.

On June 16, Reach Canada will be celebrating 30 years as an advocacy group for disabled Canadians.  The organization, which was established to provide legal advice and counseling to people suffering from physical disabilities, mental health issues, learning disabilities, AIDS, chronic pain and developmental delays, amongst other things.

The non-profit organization was founded in 1981 with a mandate to educate and inform the public about the rights of disabled Canadians, and to ensure that they receive adequate legal representation and social advocacy.

According to the Right Honourable Ramon J. Hnatyshyn:

“Reach has successfully brought public and private sector forces together to address equality and justice issues that have been identified by community members who have a disability. Reach offers a process for change that builds partnerships, mobilizes community resources, and empowers individuals to work together in a spirit of inclusion.”

To celebrate this milestone year Reach Canada will be holding a conference called “The Evolution of Disability Rights: A Retrospective and Prospective for the Future” on June 16 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

Keynote speakers will include David Lepofsky, a lawyer and disability rights advocate.  He will address how changes to Canadian disability acts have shaped the Canadian social landscape and summarize how disability rights have evolved over the past three decades.

A panel discussion led by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart and former American ambassador to the UN, John W. McDonald is also set to take place which will discuss how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights plans to address the “gaps” in the human and justice rights issues in relation to disabled Canadians that are currently in the declaration.

Other notable speakers include: Margaret Trudeau, author and mental health advocate, David Lepofsky, Chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Alliance, Michael Gottheil, Executive Chair of the Social Justice Tribunals Cluster (Ontario) and Former Chairperson of the Human Rights Tribunal Accessible Communities.

Click here to learn more about Reach Canada’s 30th anniversary celebration.

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