Accessing income support
Transitional Support Program aims to help brain injured get onto ODSP payments
There’s a new program in Peterborough aimed at reducing the level of poverty among people living with a cognitive impairment.
The Transitional Support Program (TSP) launched at The Brain Injury Association of Peterborough Region (BIAPR) Tuesday.
It’s designed to help those with a cognitive impairment apply for the appropriate income support, such as Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Teryl Hoefel is the executive director for BIAPR.
She said applying for ODSP is often a long and complicated process, with many who apply unable to see it through.
“It’s really, really challenging for individuals to go through the ODSP process,” she said.
As a result, people are often left without any financial support or are on inappropriate support, such as Ontario Works (OW), a temporary support designed for work re-entry.
Meanwhile, ODSP is specifically designed for those living with disabilities and offers a greater amount of financial support than OW.
Through the TSP, locals with a cognitive impairment are connected with a transitional support co-ordinator.
They’ll help the applicant through the ODSP process from start to finish, breaking down the barriers they’ve faced in the past, such as gathering medical information, organizing appointments and getting necessary referrals.
Though BIAPR outreach support workers have helped with the application process in the past, it’s a lot to stay on top of, Hoefel said.
So when the executive director heard of the TSP’s success at The Brain Injury Association of Durham, she looked into bringing it to Peterborough.
“Having somebody who’s specialized in this, just made good sense,” she said.
Through a collaborative initiative between the local and Durham associations, the pilot program in Peterborough became a reality.
The program received a $75,000 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to get it off the ground.