Have you, or someone you know, been recently diagnosed with HD? Looking for help?
Wondering if you carry the HD gene? Trying to plan your future?
The Huntington Society of Canada's Individual and Family Services program is your first source for information, counseling, community referral, problem-solving, and where appropriate, may invite to a support group.
If you live in Toronto (not Etobicoke) or York Region: Rozi Andrejas, Phone 905-787-1645, email randrejas@huntingtonsociety.ca
(mailing address: 9665
Bayview Ave., PO Box 32539 Richmond Hill,
ON L4C 9V0)
If you live in Etobicoke or the western Greater Toronto
Area : Maike Zinabou Phone: 1-866-796-8016 or email mzinabou@huntingtonsociety.ca
(mailing address c/o 151
Frederick St. #400, Kitchener,
ON. N2H 2M2 fax:
519-749-8965) Maike also helps those in Niagara region and
communities to the west, northwest and southwest of Toronto.
If you live in East Central/Durham region, please contact Marilyn Mitchell, Director, East Central Ontario Resource Centre. Her phone number is 905-426-4333, or email at mmitchell@huntingsociety.ca. (mailing address: 71 Old Kingston Road, PO Box 103, Ajax, ON, LIT 3A6).
Support and education evenings in Toronto:
Wednesday May 29th from 7pm-9pm at Hillcrest Library, 5801 Leslie St., Toronto. With guest speaker Ivana Petricone. She is the executive director and staff lawyer of ARCH Disability Law Centre, and the topic of discussion will be the employment law when you have a disability. The evening will address such areas such as requirements around disclosure of your disability and the legal protections of obligations in employment for persons with a disability and their employer.
To attend, RSVP 1 week ahead with
Rozi at 905-787-1645 or email randrejas @huntingtonsociety.ca to get
on the list of invitees and suggest topics and/or guest speakers for an upcoming session.
Thanks for speaking at previous sessions:
Fiona Bellefeuille, Dietician, for presenting on high calorie foods and snacks, fun recipes to try, swallowing assessments and food suggestions.
Lisa Yassein of
Northern Lights Canada for explaining the RDSP (Registered Disability
Savings Plans).
Carol Harren of Ontario Shores for presenting on Mental Health issues in HD.
Larissa MacSween and Belinda Marchese for presenting on Hospice
Toronto and its new Young Carers Program.
Clare Gibbons, North York General Hospital Department of Genetics, for presenting on the "Genetics of HD."
Financial assistance with CPP Disability and ODSP
Some families touched by HD have benefitted from community supports including Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits and Ontario Disability Supports Program.
CPP Disability: You may be eligible for CPP Disability benefits if you have contributed to Canada Pension Plan (CPP). If you qualify, it is possible to collect before age 65, and if you have dependent children (under 18 years of age or 18-25 if attending school full-time), they may be eligible for a small pension.
A doctor must confirm you have HD before you leave your last job. A CPP Disability Application must be completed and returned; it takes several months to get processed and a decision made as to whether the application qualifies. The amount payable will be based on factors including age, the amount contributed to CPP and number of years of CPP contributions.
For further information, contact Government of Canada Income Security Programs at 1-800-277-9914.
Ontario Disability Supports Program (ODSP) Income Support is a program to help people with disabilities who are in financial need to pay for expenses such as food, housing, medication and assistive devices. Apply through Ontario Works for immediate financial need or through a local office listed here.