Navigating the Moving Process With a Disability

Moving houses comes with the exciting prospect of starting a new life chapter. It is rarely a simple process, and people with disabilities deal with entirely different challenges while moving.

While a new home can offer the potential relief of greater accessibility, there is more planning involved for persons with disabilities while organising the packing and transportation tasks. If you or a loved one has a disability, the moving process can feel overwhelming.

In order to ease some of the overwhelm, there are clear steps you can take and resources to tap into while planning and executing your move. Accessibility, local resources and services, housing rights, rental assistance, and professional moving support for people with disabilities are all factors to take into consideration.

Accessibility Features To Look For When Choosing a New Home

A new home should improve your quality of day-to-day living. Whether you live alone or with family or a partner, choosing the right home involves taking into account the level of accessibility.

Condos, apartments, shared homes and entire houses can have the right features to create more ease for those living with a disability, and it's important to know what to look for when choosing your new home.

Accessibility needs in a home design include:

• A single-floor, ground level home layout

• Ramps leading to every outside door

• Wide doorways and hallways

• Accessible bathrooms that include a wide, no-step shower door, wall handles near the toilet and in the shower, and hanging handles if needed

• Low kitchen counters

• Cabinets and shelves that are easy to reach from a lower height

If some small renovations are within your budget, this can increase your choices for a new home. Some contractors specialize in modifying homes to suit your individual accessibility needs.

Finding Medical and Disability Support in Your New Neighbourhood

It’s important to create a network of support in your new neighbourhood. Find out if there are community medical centres, independent living centres, or non-profit organisations that serve people with disabilities in your area.

Most Canadian cities have disability advocacy groups, and the best way to connect with these groups is finding their websites and emailing them directly. Online social media and networking platforms are a great place to start searching.

Local community centres often provide social events, recreational activities and skill-building workshops that are tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.

• Make a list of the services offered in your area, to determine if they are adequate for your individual needs.

• Research transportation options to ensure you can travel to and from different support locations.

House Hunting Resources in Canada

If finding a suitable home feels overwhelming, don’t worry–there are resources out there to help you with this part of the moving process and other factors.

Accessible Housing Network

The Accessible Housing Network is made up of a group of 73 non-profit organizations in Canada that work together to make sure that everyone, regardless of age or ability, can live in fully accessible housing. Their mission is to make universal accessibility design mandatory in all new multi-unit residential buildings across Canada.

March of Dimes Canada

March of Dimes Canada is a national charity that supports over eight million Canadians living with disabilities. The organisation develops and promotes affordable supportive housing and also offers programs and services to help people with physical disabilities participate in their community.

Canadian Disability Resources Society

The Canadian Disability Resources Society (CDRS ) is a non-profit organization that supports Canadians with disabilities, their caregivers, and professionals. Through its online Disability Resource Hub, CDRS offers a directory of accessible service providers and businesses. The organization also connects individuals to resources via a free matching service and its Medical Equipment Exchange, which provides accessible products and services.

Understanding Your Housing Rights in Canada

Canada has laws that protect the housing rights of persons with disabilities. Every province has a Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in housing. Landlords cannot refuse rent to someone or treat them differently due to their disability.

Here’s a look at how some provinces approach accessibility and housing for people with disabilities:

• The AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) influences housing in Ontario by requiring new multi-unit buildings to meet accessibility standards, such as having accessible entrances, elevators, and washrooms.
• The BC Building Code and the BC Accessibility 2024 Plan work towards improving the accessibility of new public and residential buildings.
• Accessibility for Manitobans Act focuses on removing barriers in areas like transportation, infrastructure and building. It includes goals for accessible housing, particularly in new buildings.
• The Quebec Construction Code regulations the accessibility of new buildings, including housing.
• Nova Scotia has an Accessibility Act aimed at addressing barriers in infrastructure and buildings, including housing.
• The New Brunswick Accessibility Act has set goals to make housing more accessible, especially for people with mobility challenges.
• Saskatchewan Accessibility Legislation includes goals for making buildings, including housing, more accessible.

Most older buildings in Canada aren’t mandated to be retrofitted for accessibility. This remains an issue, however it is possible to make changes on a case-by-case basis through advocacy.

Some provinces such as Ontario have stronger regulations and initiatives promoting housing accessibility. Usually, there are more efforts towards accessibility in larger cities that have a higher population of people with disabilities. It's hit or miss in rural areas, where accessibility varies significantly.

Rental Assistance for People With Disabilities in Canada

There are programs in place to assist people with disabilities to cover their rental costs.

• The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides financial assistance to people with disabilities who are in need of income and housing support. It doesn’t cover the whole cost of rent, but it’s enough to take the pressure off on rent day.

• BC Housing provides affordable housing options for low-income individuals. This housing includes specific units for people with disabilities.

• Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped provides financial support which includes rent money, to individuals with disabilities who are unable to work.

• The Society D’habitation du Québec (SHQ) has rental assistance programs so that people with disabilities can afford accessible housing.

Québec’s Residential Adaptation Assistance Program (RAAP) provides financial assistance to homeowners, tenants, or landlords to modify their home to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

• In Manitoba there are housing subsidies for people with disabilities.

How to Apply for Disability Rental Assistance

To apply for provincial rental assistance or housing programs, you’ll need proof of disability (like a doctor’s letter and an income statement. Applications are available through local housing authorities, government websites, or social services offices.