Transitioning to Adulthood with a Disability

Are you a youth with a disability or the parent/guardian of one who wants information about transitioning to programs and services for adults with disabilities? 

There are a number of government and community programs and services for people who live with disabilities. Some are for children and youth under 19, while others are for adults 19 and over. The Department of Social Development offers two main government programs to support people with disabilities: 

• The Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Program: Provides financial support to parents and guardians to help pay for the extraordinary costs of caring for a child with a disability. To qualify for the FSCD Program, a child/young person must be under 19, along with other criteria. Click here to learn more. 
• The Disability Support Program (DSP): The primary program for adults aged 19 to 64 with a disability. DSP provides personalized, flexible support for adults with disabilities to increase their independence and connection to the community. The program offers one-on-one guidance to develop a custom, personal disability support plan tailored to your needs. This may include personal support, community support, home support, respite support, personal living skills training, transportation, technical aids and devices, and options to support individuals who can no longer live independently.  Click here to learn more. 

In many cases, youth with a disability are clients of the FSCD Program, but not always. In some cases, a person with a disability did not qualify or was not part of the FSCD Program but will be eligible for DSP. 

Are you currently a client of the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Program? 

1. No. 

If you or your child is not part of the FSCD program, you can still apply for DSP at age 19. You may begin the process at age 18, as it can take some time to gather the necessary documents, including financial and medical assessments. To get more information on the program, who’s eligible, and how to begin the application process, click here to visit the DSP webpage. You can also call Social Development at 1-833-733-7835 to start the process (press 1 for English or 2 for French, then press 3 to talk to someone about disability services). Or use the link at the bottom of the DSP webpage page to apply online. 

2. Yes. 

When a young person with a disability turns 19, they no longer qualify for the FSCD Program and need to apply to DSP for supports. For many FSCD clients and their families/caregivers, the transition from FSCD to DSP can feel overwhelming. The application process asks for a lot of information, including medical and financial assessments. Your FSCD social worker will support you in this process. Do not hesitate to speak with them about this process. 

Other Supports 

Along with FSCD and DSP, there are a number of government and community programs and services to help people with disabilities. Becoming an adult is a major milestone in anyone’s life. For people who live with a disability, there are additional needs to consider. There are support programs to help you find an appropriate level of independence and community connection. 

Here are some key areas of life to think about as you or your child approaches adulthood.

Housing

There are options when it comes to housing for a young adult with a disability. 

• Remain in the family home: Social Development has a couple of programs for homeowners with low to moderate incomes to help pay for the cost of modifying  or repairing your home to make it healthier, safer or more accessible for a person with a disability: 

1. You may be eligible for a forgivable loan of up to $20,000 over seven years for all repairs, including emergencies. 
2. There is also a program for homeowners to create a secondary/garden suite for an adult with a disability. You may be eligible for a forgivable loan of up to $24,000.  

Click here to learn more about these programs. 

• Get your own home/apartment: Social Development has programs to help people with disabilities access appropriate rental housing and for landlords to improve the accessibility and safety of units for tenants with a disability. 

1. The Portable Rent Supplement Program provides a subsidy for people who live with a disability. This program gives you the freedom to find appropriate housing that meets your needs. Click here to learn more. 
2. For landlords: If you have a tenant with a disability, you may be eligible for a forgivable loan of up to $10,000 to improve accessibility and safety. Click here to learn more. 

• Live in a Residential Facility

There are different types of residential facilities that provide different levels of care and types of services.

1. Special Care Home: A Special Care Home has trained staff on site 24 hours a day. The staff can help with personal care such as getting dressed or bathroom activities like bathing and toileting. Meals, help with medication and housekeeping services are provided by the Special Care Home, as well as social and recreational programming. To learn more, click here.
2. Community Residence: This type of facility provides 24-hour care and supervision to individuals who require a great deal of assistance with daily living tasks and personal care. For more information, click here. 

• Live in an Alternative Family Living Arrangement: This is a private living arrangement in which the person with a disability finds someone to provide housing, care and supervision for them. Speak to your social worker for more information on this option. 

Recreation & Social Inclusion

There are a number of non-profit disability support organizations that offer programs to help people with disabilities stay active and connected to their communities. These include: 

Ability NB: The go-to source for support for people with a mobility disability in New Brunswick. Its services and programs range from peer support, rehabilitation counselling, an adaptive sport and recreation equipment loan service, funding for retrofits to vehicles to make them more accessible and more. Ability NB offers free, confidential and bilingual services to anyone with a mobility disability in New Brunswick. To access Ability NB’s supports or learn more, click here. 

New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL): Helps people with a disability and their families live full, meaningful lives and participate in society. NBACL is contracted by the Department of Social Development to offer two programs: Independent Facilitation and Social Inclusion. Social Development also works with NBACL to provide supports for children and youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities. To learn more about NBACL’s services, click here. 

Medical 

People with disabilities often have additional medical needs. Besides coverage under a private plan, there are some government programs to help cover the cost of prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies and more. 

Health Services: These programs are for clients of Social Development who need help paying for health services or medical supplies. If you meet the medical criteria, Health Services programs can loan or buy equipment for you or cover the cost of medical services and supplies to meet your basic health and safety needs. The programs cover specific benefits not covered by Medicare, private health insurance plans or other agencies.

Training & Employment:  

There are programs to help people with a disability pursue education, training and employment, including: 

• Employment and Support Services Program (ESSP): ESSP offers services to help people living with a disability find employment, develop skills and make connections in the community that best suit their needs, interests and talents. This program supports people living with a disability to identify and achieve their goals. Click here to learn more. 
• Career Development Opportunities:  This program is for Social Assistance clients. It connects you to programs and services to help you pursue your preferred future by providing financial and career development case management. There is a range of programs and services to give you the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours you need to succeed in your education, training and employment. Click here to learn more. 
• WorkingNB: Any New Brunswicker looking for career or training opportunities can connect with a WorkingNB employment counsellor who can help with career decision-making, skills development, and job searches. WorkingNB offers collaborative, customized, flexible, and strategic supports to help you define your goals and make a plan to achieve them based on your interests and skills today. For a list of WorkingNB offices, click here. To visit the WorkingNB website, click here. 

Financial 

There are provincial and federal income programs and benefits for people with disabilities. 

Social Assistance provides financial support to people who cannot afford basic living costs such as food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities. It can also help you access programs to transition to employment. You can apply for Social Assistance at age 18. For more information, click here. 

Federal Benefits: The Government of Canada offers a variety of benefits to help people with disabilities. In some cases, the financial benefits extend to family members. The programs include Child Disability Benefits, savings plan grants for people with a disability and their families, educational funding, and tax credits. To learn more, click here. 

Legal

Our laws assume every adult is mentally competent until a court decides otherwise. If someone is mentally competent, it means that they have the capacity to understand the nature and consequences of their actions and have the fundamental right to make decisions about themselves and their affairs. 

If you are the parent or guardian of a person with a disability who may not be mentally competent, you may have to take legal steps to become that person’s substitute decision-maker and/or handle their financial matters. The Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick (PLEIS-NB) has information on guardianship, decision-making powers, and what is called a committee of the person, which is who would be responsible for making personal decisions on behalf of a mentally incompetent person.​​ Click here to visit the PLEIS-NB website.