Navigating Disability with Me

Meghan & Pam
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A conversational podcast that empowers Canadians with disabilities (and those supporting them) by cutting through the complexity of the system. Featuring authentic lived experiences and insights, it brings together essential resources and real voices to guide, inform, and inspire

Episodes

  1. 6D AGO

    Episode 11: Provincial Financial Support Programs

    Provincial Financial Support Programs (PWD) A brief review of the provincial/territorial financial assistance programs, focussing on British Columbia. Please note that we found more information about the Person with Disabilities Medical Services Only program after we recorded. See link #10 below. Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: BC Person with Disabilities (PWD government site): https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/services-for-people-with-disabilities/disability-assistance How to contact the BC Ministry re PWD: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/income-assistance/access-services Disability Alliance of BC (DABC): http://www.disabilityalliancebc.org DABC PWD help/worksheets: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/publications/publications-bc-disability-benefits-help-sheets/ Ask an Advocate: https://askanadvocate.ca/assistance-programs/disability-assistance/person-with-disabilities-pwd/ Sleepytime podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wegpF4BHu5dQG7sTg1Cz9?si=2ET6PUfbSAeIc42RGq14jw Exemptions from B.C.'s PWD asset calculation: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/eligibility/assets-and-exemptions SPARC (Disabled parking pass): https://www.sparc.bc.ca/ BC Ferries Accessibility Discount: https://www.bcferries.com/accessibility Medical Services Only - This is information found AFTER we recorded. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/health-supplements-and-programs/medical-services-only Tips: All provinces and territories have provincially based financial assistance programs for disabled people. In B.C. it's called Person with Disabilities (PWD). Reach out to an advocate for help with applying - DABC etc. Reach out to a financial planner. Look for someone with knowledge of PWD/CPPD/RDSP etc. The benefit varies greatly across provinces and territories. There are different benefits and coverages too - housing supplements, nutritional supplements etc. There are caps on income if you're receiving this benefit. How much you're allowed to earn varies across Canada. BC PWD specific tips Long term disability may be your biggest contributor to your income as compared to PWD. PWD is not strictly additive to CPPD - there may be a cap to your total income. You CAN collect both but it's likely that some or all money from one of the programs could be clawed back, PWD comes with additional benefits such as extended medical benefits, transit pass/transportation supplement, nutritional supplement, guide dog supplement etc. Disability Alliance of BC has lots of info sheets and work sheets about PWD (see links above). Financial qualification, generally for PWD: asset total allowance $100 000 for a single person. Primary residence, one car, basic household items value exempt, some trusts exempt, RDSP exempt. For a couple (with BOTH people on PWD) it's $200 000. With children, or other circumstances, rules vary. BC says if you're around (slightly above) these marks to apply anyway as you may soon drop below the threshold. Per Gov.bc.ca the RESP is exempt from the asset calculation (looked up post recording). Health and disability qualifications: 1) Have a physical or mental disability that significantly restricts your ability to perform daily living activities. And 2) Must need the help of a person, device or animal for the activities of daily living. The form: Section for you to fill in, then a Doctor/Nurse Practitioner section, then an "Assessor" - a medical professional of some sort (there's a list). If your application is accepted, there may be a review every couple of years. If you're already on CPPD there is an accelerated form for PWD.  PWD may open doors to applying for other programs such as SPARC (disabled parking pass), ICBC, BC Ferries etc. CPPD also is usually accepted as proof of disability wherever PWD is accepted. Some private companies like Telus accept PWD to get their disabled discounts. CPPD is also usually accepted. Medical Services Only: VERY UNCLEAR TO US! No financial benefit as other income too high but gets PWD designation and the additional benefits such as medical benefits, housing supplements, guide dog supplement, transportation supplement etc. Note that we found more information on this AFTER we recorded (see link #10 above). You must apply for Income Assistance then mark Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry should then contact you, assess you and then send you an application. Usually takes 2-6 months to get accepted. You can appeal if you're rejected (do so quickly).  Keep a copy of your PWD acceptance letter as you'll need it to apply for many other programs and discounts.

    37 min

  2. FEB 1

    Episode 10: CPP-D Part 3 - The Appeals Process

    The Appeals - CPP D part 3  Lots of banter at the start! Episode (on topic information) starts at 7:40 mark.  Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: CPP Benefits - Request a reconsideration: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/request-reconsideration.html Social Security Tribunal CPP-D Appeals Process at a Glance (this has the algorithm we keep talking about): https://www.sst-tss.gc.ca/en/your-appeal/canada-pension-plan-disability-appeals-process-glance Disability Alliance of BC: www.disabilityalliancebc.org North Shore Disability Resource Centre: www.nsdrc.org My Service Canada sign in: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account.html Tips: Expect to be rejected on your first application as only 40-45% of people are approved for CPP-D on their first try. Don't let this stop you! With every step of the appeals process a significant percentage of people get approved. Top reasons for rejection: Disability is not deemed "severe or prolonged", Insufficient medical evidence, Failure to meet CPP contribution requirements, Late application, Incomplete application. Social Security Tribunal CPP-D Appeals Process at a Glance (link above) walks you through the entire appeals process, with timelines. First appeal (step 1) is within Service Canada/CPPD itself. 40% of people who are rejected pursue this step. 35% of those who appeal to Service Canada are then approved. Second appeal must be done within 90 days of Service Canada refusing your first appeal. This is the Appeal to the General Division of the Social Security Tribunal. 45% of people who fail their first appeal will move to this step. This step (step 2) can take over a year. 65% of those who go to the Social Security Tribunal were approved for CPPD. Another 45% are successful after appealing the rejection of the Social Security Tribunal (step 3). If you're refused CPPD after working through all the steps at the Social Security Tribunal the last step is to take it to court. Reach out to disability advocates such as The Disability Alliance of BC or The North Shore Resources Centre (or whatever is local to you). Many have mentors who can help walk you through applications and appeals. My Service Canada (sign in to your account) has a calculator for how much you're likely to be paid on CPPD. Your CPPD is likely to be clawed back by any long term disability benefit you're receiving. Remember that the protection of your pension, the endorsement by the federal government of canada as a disabled person, and many other benefits still make this worthwhile to pursue. CPPD is taxable. Ask them to take taxes off (in My Service Canada), or save the money to pay back at tax time. There are small increases in CPPD annually for inflation (like 2%). You are expected to stay on CPPD unless a very significant change/improvement happens to your health. For 2025 you could earn $7600 in extra income (not including LTD). You must tell the government about any work/schooling/volunteering that goes on for more than 15 hours/week for more than 4 months.  You must inform the government of changes in personal life such as changes with children, as you are likely getting a CPPD benefit for each child. When you turn 65 CPPD turns automatically into a regular CPP pension. The amount you receive will change.

    31 min

  3. JAN 17

    Episode 9: CPP-D Part 2 - Fun with Forms (The Application)

    Fun with Forms: The Application Form CPP-D part 2 where we go page by page through the Canadian Pension Plan Disability application form! Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Canada.ca - this is where you apply online but it's tricky to find the forms. Go to Pensions/CPP link, not Disability Benefit (that takes you to the Canadian Disability Benefit, the $200/month benefit for very low income Canadians, not to CPP-D).  Scroll down to Disability section Here you'll end up going in a bit of a loop because if you hit "Apply" it'll loop you back to the main page. So hit "SIgn in to MSCA" button in upper right Sign into (or register) your My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Need SIN/ability to sign in with bank etc. In BC and AB you can sign in with the provincial "card" (BC Services Card) Or can do the paper application. Either:  ISP 1151 if disabled https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit/apply.html or  ISP 2530A if terminally ill https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2530A.pdf  Doctor/PCP completes separate medical form ISP 2519 if disabled https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2519.pdf ISP 2530B if terminally ill https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2530B.pdf  Even if doing an online application you must do a paper consent form, link is on the first page of the application website. https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2502.pdf  Tips: 3 conditions must be met to qualify for CPP-D: Must be under the age of 65 Must have made the minimum contributions to CPP Must have a mental or physical health condition/s that prevents you from regularly working any job. Must be severe and prolonged. Separate forms for terminal illness (see above in Links sections). Patient section (what we're talking about today) and Medical Form (to be filled in by doctor/primary care provider). Service Canada will pay $85 to medical professional filling the medical form in, you're responsible for the balance to the doctor of whatever they charge for the form. Don't wait for the doctor to have completed their form to send in yours. Quebec Pension Plan - separate but similar. Link on application page. This could impact you even if you no longer live there. Save your work as you go! It may disappear on you if you don't save frequently. There are regional offices for sending your paper form/consent form to. Addresses listed in the application form. Even if doing the online application you must do a paper consent form, link is on the first page of application website. https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/apps/EForms/pdf/en/ISP-2502.pdf  Pace yourself, this took Meghan 5 weeks with breaks. Paper application is 28 pages. Can add extra pages. Fill in SIN at the top of every page. There's a checklist at the end of the application. Consider following it as you go through. Consider having a friend read through your finished application to make sure it's complete, clear and accurate. Send copies of any documentation you're sending in. Keep copies or screenshots of your completed application for your own records. Consider sending paper application in by registered mail for security and reassurance of receival. Questionaire: Basic personal info, time to call Contributions to CPP Marital status questions  Foreign work questions Children - very important as they seem to prioritize those with kids. Emphasize that you have kids every time you talk to Service Canada. Primary Care giver questions, family allowance questions etc as mentioned in Ep 8 Asks about medical and physical status, specific tests, dates, locations, doctors. GP/PCP may be able to help with these details in your chart. Asks about specific meds, doses, treatments, outcomes etc. Asks about disability benefits you're already receiving. You must allow your LTD company (or whoever else is paying you) to communicate with Service Canada or that may impact your application. Allow for authorization for your LTD company to communicate with and send your medical info fto Service Canada. Reimbursement of benefits to insurance company - very important to allow this or you could be left with a big tax bill if Service Canada gives you a big back payment. This money would then include a backpayment to your insurance company. If it doesn't go straight to the insurance company then you will have to pay tax on the giant lump sum! A 4 page quiz (Functional Assessment) about tasks and how well you can do them. Important point - answer these as though it's your worst day. Rated on a scale. Use the essay sections! Look at the examples. Doctor/PCP questions - dates, reasons, other specialists with first and last dates. Asks about working history and employer - job titles, duties, dates EI questions Education and job training Children - benefits, parenting time etc. You get a top up on CPPD for each child. Asks for details of each child Rules around volunteering, working or attending school. Banking information for them paying you if approved Consent for Service Canada to contact everyone from doctors to employers to financial institutions etc. If you do not consent it will likely impact your application and payments. Multiple places to sign so read carefully. Witness signature if you can't sign it properly yourself.Legal representative can sign too. Can fill in as the parent or guardian (separate instructions on website) Check list at end to make sure that all sections are completed, including your doctor's Do not wait on Doctor/PCP, send yours in when done. To see the status of your application, in MSCA it's located under Canadian Pension Plan (Remember that "Canadian Disability Benefit" is a separate thing, this is CPP Disability).  This is where you can upload documents, see what your application's status is etc. Medical form can be uploaded to MSCA, or mailed, once you get it from your Dr. CPP/Service Canada will phone you in about 3-4 months to confirm that you did everything right and that it's now going to the medical adjudicator.   Emphasize that you have children if you have them, they will likely speed up your application significantly. Keep notes on all interactions with Service Canada/CPPD. The medical adjudicator - Be brutally open about your disability. Answer all questions thinking of your worst days. This person is making the final call on if you will be approved. And for those of you wondering about Yemen... Yemen's social programs are limited and fragmented due to years of conflict, economic collapse, and divided governance. Most support today comes from a mix of legacy government programs, humanitarian aid, and international organizations rather than a fully functioning welfare state. Here's a clear breakdown: 1. Social Welfare Fund (SWF) What it is: Yemen's main pre-war cash assistance program Who it served: Poor households, widows, elderly, people with disabilities Status: Largely nonfunctional since 2015 due to conflict and lack of funding Replacement: Many beneficiaries now receive aid through UN-backed programs instead 2. Emergency Cash Transfer Program (ECTP) Run by: UNICEF with World Bank funding Purpose: Temporary cash assistance to former SWF beneficiaries Reach: Millions of Yemenis Type: Unconditional cash transfers to help with food and basic needs Current status: Ongoing but funding-dependent and irregular 3. Food Assistance Programs Run by: World Food Programme (WFP) and NGOs Support includes: Monthly food rations or vouchers Nutrition support for children and pregnant/lactating women Coverage: One of the largest humanitarian food programs globally Challenges: Ration cuts due to funding shortfalls 4. Health Support Programs Public healthcare: Largely collapsed Support comes from: WHO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) NGOs Services include: Free or subsidized primary care Vaccination campaigns Malnutrition treatment 5. Education Support Programs Issues: Teacher salaries unpaid in many areas Support mechanisms: Incentives for teachers funded by UNICEF/World Bank School feeding programs Emergency education kits Goal: Keep schools operating despite state failure 6. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Programs include: Clean water trucking Rehabilitation of wells and sanitation systems Hygiene kit distribution Run by: UNICEF, ICRC, NGOs 7. Social Insurance & Pensions Pre-war system: Civil service pensions and social insurance Current reality: Payments are inconsistent or suspended, depending on region and employer Key Reality to Know Yemen does not currently have a comprehensive, state-run social safety net Most "social programs" are humanitarian and externally funded Access varies greatly by region and controlling authority Programs are vulnerable to donor funding cuts

    42 min

  4. JAN 5

    Episode 8: CPP Disability Part 1 - The What and Why of Applying

    The What and Why of Canadian Pension Plan Disability Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Government of Canada webpage for Canadian Pension Plan Disability Benefit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp-disability-benefit.html Tips: CPP-D is for Canadians who have contributed to The Canadian Pension Plan and have a severe and prolonged disability. As of 2025 you are limited to earning $7100 (gross before tax) before you have to notify CPP of your earnings, at which point they will assess if you are capable of doing regular work. This limit goes up with inflation (2026 it's $7400). Benefits may be impacted once you pass $7100 in income. Once you go over $20 153 it's likely you'll be cut off CPP-D. (2026 it's $20 971). Yes, it's mainly employment income that the CRA is looking at here. From googling we've learned that the CRA of course knows about your investment income anyway, from your taxes. CPP-D does not fully replace your income. It's a small percentage. The average CPP-D income per Canada.com is $1192/month. ⅙ of Canadians with disabilities live below the poverty line. If you're on Long Term Disability that insurance company will likely claw back all of your CPP-D (or will drop what they're paying you by exactly what you get from CPP-D). So why apply for CPP-D? CPP-D is often the key to getting into other programs and benefits. CPP-D tells insurance companies that provide LTD that you are recognized as a severely disabled person, making it harder for them to deny you your LTD benefit (this is what's been experienced by doctors and patients, but is not any sort of official rule). CPP-D tells the government you aren't choosing not to work and therefore the government protects your CPP (the actual pension), allowing you to get the full pension when you retire. CPP-D pays on the third to last day of the month. CPP-D is calculated as: a base amount that everyone gets, plus a portion that's income based ("CPP pensionable earnings"). If you had to take time off for child rearing they will adjust the calculation so that it isn't punitive. CPP-D benefit goes up a (very) small amount every year. There's an additional benefit in CPP-D for your children. You will speak to CRA workers during the application process, they will give you time frames and phone numbers to watch for. The application processing will take longer than they say it will. Application requires you and your doctor/primary care provider's input. You will need names of medications, tests, symptoms etc., along with amounts, dates, places etc. Only 40% of applicants to CPP-D are approved the first try. Be thorough when filling in the forms!

    31 min

  5. 12/21/2025

    Episode 7: Being on Both Sides of the Coin with Laura

    A discussion with Laura, who has two points of view on going through the disability process as she is both an insurance executive and currently on disability while fighting cancer. Guest: Laura, who works as a group benefits account executive for a national broker. Insta:@alilcoffee Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Screening mammogram information: Ontario: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer/screening B.C.: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/health-professionals/breast What is Lymphedema, per The Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lymphedema/symptoms-causes/syc-20374682 BC Lymphedema Association http://www.bclymph.org Tips: Rules around screening mammograms and self referring differ between provinces and territories. In many provinces you can start screening mammograms at age 40. The younger you are when you develop breast cancer, the higher the mortality risk (see SEER, Canadian Studies - Seely et.al, and The Young Women's Breast Cancer Study). Increase in mortality risk at a younger age is due to tumour biology, delayed diagnosis and socioeconomic factors. You may get called back after your mammogram for further follow up. Do not panic as these can often be due to non cancer findings/errors/etc. If there are suspicious findings on your screening mammogram you may then receive further mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, etc. Surgery to remove a tumour may also include removing some or all of your surrounding lymph nodes. Other tests could include CT scans, bone scans and MRIs to look for spread of the cancer. Treatment plans for breast cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone blockers and more. Consider where your best family/community support is, when undergoing cancer treatment. Different surgeons in different provinces may have different surgical techniques. Lyphedema is a known side effect of having lymph nodes removed. Lymphovascular reconstruction helps reduce the risk of lymphedema. If you're planning a move it can be very difficult to coordinate care in the receiving province before you have actually moved. Laura found a BC doctor who she could see virtually to get the referral going before she moved to BC. There is a waiting period to transition to the new province's medical plan. For BC it was 2 months plus the remaining portion of the month you arrived in. Your original province's plan would still be covering you for that time. Immediately apply for the new province's medical plan when you arrive. Delay of care is a risk if you plan to move provinces during any health crisis. A breast cancer diagnosis means so much of your time is taken up with medical calls/appointments/etc. that working was no longer possible. In Laura's case she received sick time for a week, then Medical E.I, then Long Term Disability. Don't forget about waiting periods to qualify for Medical E.I., Long Term Disability etc. Benefits can also overlap, depending on the wording of the policy. CPP Disability is for someone who is anticipated to never return to work. Can your LTD company cut you off? Not as long as you meet the criteria of disability. Most plans go to age 65. The risk is getting cut off of the rest of the plan (health and dental etc.) Most LTD policies have a clause that, at the 1-2 year mark of disability, changes from you being able to work your own occupation to being able to work ANY occupation. Each insurance policy has different rules around extended health benefits plans, and you may be required to pay partially or in full for these benefits when on LTD. CPP Disability may help signal to the insurance company that you are profoundly disabled. When going through breast cancer treatment it is largely scheduled by the care team. From Laura: choose your chemo day of the week carefully as you must get bloodwork done ahead of time. "Tuesday is a bad day for chemotherapy!".

    48 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    Episode 6: Keeping House

    Discussion of dealing with and accessing community resources for housecleaning. Guest: Linsey, who has worked in Vancouver Coastal Health for over a decade. Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links:  Disability Alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Better at Home: http://www.betterathome.ca Tody (chore app): https://todyapp.com Tips: From feedback/listener questions: What to do if you're denied STD/LTD/CPP-D? There is usually an established appeal process you must follow. Many services like Disability Alliance of BC has mentors/advocates and lawyers to help. Google the equivalent for your province. There isn't as much MSP/public coverage for help with housekeeping as there is with personal care (episode 5). Better at Home is a United Way administered service that helps seniors with tasks such as driving to appointments, grocery shopping, light house/yard work etc. You'll likely have to private pay for household help for tasks that are not directly health related such as house care, hair/makeup, laundry etc. If you're being discharged from hospital ask the social worker for a list of available private pay services. If you are disabled to a point where you cannot do basic household tasks for yourself, and you cannot afford to pay for help (and you don't have friends/family to help) then you'd be looking at being moved into assisted living/long term care. GP/case manager in community would be link to further assessments for this. Long term care (public government funding) takes 80% of your income, to cover housing and care cost. If a disabled person moves into long term care and leaves a spouse at home this could have serious financial implications for that spouse. Talk to social worker about your financial options. Decide which household tasks are necessities to you and which ones can wait/have corners cut. Use apps, such as Tody, to help keep track of household tasks. Simplify tasks, for example buy socks in all one colour. Look into getting a robot vacuum! They can vacuum and mop, some self empty. Massive energy savings. Buy a rechargeable spinning brush, with multiple attachments. Cleans bathtub, counters, windows etc. Look into how you can use all your vacuum attachments.  Get some reacher/grasper tools. Useful for around the house tasks, grocery shopping etc. Look into ways you can just keep things cleaner longer, like placemats, slip covers, RainX etc. Put a cleaning kit in several rooms, reducing the barrier of distance to cleaners when you get the energy to clean. Community is so important when it comes to household tasks. Meanwhile we all live so independently. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Remember to think about how you can participate in/show up for friendships too.

    34 min

  7. 11/24/2025

    Episode 5: Community Resources - Personal Care

    Discussion about community resources to help with personal care such as bathing, self care, wound care etc. as well as general day to day tips for personal care. Guest: Linsey, who has worked in public health care in Vancouver for over a decade. Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links:  Patient Attachment Initiative/Health Connect Registry: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry Vancouver Coastal Health Home Care: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/how-to-access-home-and-community-care-services Fraser Health Home Care: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/home-and-community-care Tips: Looking for a Family Doctor/GP/Nurse Practitioner? BC's Patient Attachment Initiative's Health Connect Registry can help hook you up with a primary care provider. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry Look online for your town's/region's available GP list. Check your province's College of Physician and Surgeon's online list of GPs accepting new patients. If you're paying someone to come into your home to provide a service, make sure they're insured. Be cautious of anyone coming into your home as you, as a disabled person, might be a target. Paying for activities of daily living can be a qualifying factor for some government disability services and programs such as Person's with Disability and Home Owner's Grant. MSP/Health Authority funded personal care Requires a home assessment by their team. This would include help with things like bathing/showering, self care, mobilizing around the home, wound care etc. Frequency of home visits depend on your approved needs. Maybe be once or twice a week, or as much as four times a day. Home Support Workers are task oriented. They cannot go outside the tasks they are approved to provide. They can do such tasks as: helping get socks on, heating a meal (but not cook), helping get out of bed, helping with meds from a blister pack. The time that the worker is scheduled to come is an arrival time, not a total length of visit. They will arrive, do the tasks, and leave. Home Support Workers cannot help with unscheduled medication needs or emergencies. Home care features an Interdisciplinary Care team which can provide home physiotherapists and occupational therapists. They can assess mobilizing, transfers, bathing etc. and suggest mobility aids or more supports. Wound care is directed by a community nurse. If you are being discharged from the hospital, the plan will be based on a wound care plan from the hospital team. Community wound team will decide if you will get care in home or at a clinic, based on many factors. GP/NP can refer you to all home health care programs. In hospital the social worker helps coordinate. Some services may have some cost. May need to provide tax info to access the sliding scale. Private Care (paid) Private care/privately paid companions can help with everything from cooking to personal care to psycho-social support. Tasks as above but also things like helping with hair/make up, playing video games, watching tv/sports together. Do you really need to shower every day? Do you need to wash everything every time? Watch your ergonomics while doing personal care, and while you're sitting. Does a different position feel better? Do you need tools like pillows for sitting or shower seats for the tub? Can you facilitate doing personal care while sitting? A stool for the bathroom? A caddy to bring your skin care needs to the couch? Look for tools to help make personal care easier. Ex: automatic curling irons. There is a wide variety of walkers, canes etc., which may offer specific features you may need. Use what you have - pillows, towels, stools - to help improve comfort. Advocate for your needs!

    40 min

  8. 11/09/2025

    Episode 4: Long Term Disability Part 2

    Part 2 of Long Term Disability (Part one is Episode 2). Covers qualifying period, pay, taxes etc., plus a recap of the first three episodes. Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: Canada.ca for EI estimator North Shore Resource Centre https://nsdrc.org Inclusion Alberta https://inclusionalberta.org Centre for Independent Living Toronto https://cilt.ca/ Disability Alliance of BC https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Tips - from this episode: Qualifying period and criteria for Long Term Disability vary by company.  Use your allied health professionals (Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists etc.) in applying for Long Term Disability, in cooperation with your doctor. Previous overtime pay likely won't be used in calculating your LTD pay. LTD pay is taxable. Consider having the insurance company take tax off for you so you won't be left with a tax bill at the end of the year. Note that they may take less than necessary. *Note that Meghan says for her the insurance company takes $3000/month in taxes. ERROR! They take off about $300/month in taxes at her request.* Hellooo brain fog. Or, consider using an online tax calculator to figure out how much tax you will owe at the end of the first year on LTD income and put that away throughout the year, so you're not stuck with a huge tax bill you can't pay at the end of the year. If you have extended medical benefits through work you may keep your benefits but you may need to pay some of the premium. Note that your portion is tax deductible. Because your income drops your eligibility for things like GST credits, FairPharmacare and other government programs may change (as in you may qualify for more benefits). Tips - from summary of first three episodes Episode 1: Short Term Disability Look on Canada.ca for EI estimator Don't abuse your sick time, you may need it STD and LTD can overlap, bringing your pay way up (temporarily, for as long as STD lasts) Episode 2: Long Term Disability Part 1 Photocopy Dr portion of application and fill in yourself to give Dr a fuller idea of what's going on. They can then fill in their portion better. Keep notes of all interactions with the insurance company, government etc. with names and dates. If you don't have a GP try to stick to one walk in clinic to keep your chart all in one place. Episode 3: Be the Village Look for local resource groups. Examples:  North Shore Resource Centre (https://nsdrc.org) Inclusion Alberta (https://inclusionalberta.org) Centre for Independent Living Toronto (https://cilt.ca/) Disability Alliance of BC (https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Be mindful of what you post on social media Be part of the community, you can give back in your own way Look into your Buy Nothing Group Remember to respect your/others boundaries

    36 min

  9. 10/10/2025

    Episode 3: Being Part of the Village

    Discussion on how your community can support you and how you can contribute back to the community. Feedback: Navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links Discussed in this Episode North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://nsdrc.org And a few more similar resources from around the country: Disability alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/ Inclusion Alberta: https://inclusionalberta.org Centre for Independent Living Toronto: https://cilt.ca/ Tips 1) Google "(My town/region/province etc.) Disabled Benefits" or "(My town etc.) Disability Programs" etc. to find all sorts of programs, benefits, discounts etc. 2) Be part of the community, do what you can, but remember your needs and limitations. 3) Be compassionate and understanding of your friends'/helpers' needs too. 4) Make a trusted, close by, friend an emergency contact for quick help. 5) Look into Facebook groups (and other social media) for both condition specific support and for Buy Nothing etc. groups. 6) But be mindful of what you post on social media - people/insurance companies may get the wrong idea if you post highly active pics.

    39 min

  10. 09/26/2025

    Episode 2: Long Term Disability Part 1

    First in a two part series (Part 2 can be found in upcoming Episode 4) on Long Term Disability in Canada, specifically BC.  Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links Health Connect Registry BC (to find a GP/NP): https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/find-care/health-connect-registry Maple: https://www.getmaple.ca/ Telus My Care: https://www.telus.com/en/health/my-care Tips (your mileage may vary!) Know your benefits package! Ideally read up when you are hired, but once you're disabled you really have to get to know the packages. Talk to your union rep or company resource person with questions. Don't forget that you might have benefits/requirements through your professional body. If you're self employed, ideally you have paid for disability or critical health insurance. Do you have extra disability insurance through your credit card?  LTD comes in different forms - insurance company may be the payer or simply the administrator. Clarify what yours is. Keep notes of all interactions with insurance company, with names and dates. Save emails in a folder. Take note of your folio (Disability I.D.) number, which is generated by the insurance company. It's different from your general insurance group or ID number. If multiple people are helping a disabled person communication is key! Be clear about who is doing what, and respect the disabled person's wishes. Respect your boss, union rep, HR and each of their roles. Pace yourself through LTD applications. Find out what your qualifying period is for LTD. Get applications done early if possible as you don't want a gap in pay between STD and LTD. So if your LTD kicks in at the 5 month mark of disability, get the LTD application in at the 3.5 month mark (or early for whatever is required by your insurance company). If you don't have a GP try to stick to one walk in clinic to keep all your files are in one place. Specialist MDs may be an option for filling in applications, if you can get in, or already have an appointment scheduled. Don't forget online medical platforms like Maple or Telus My Care, which may be able to help with applications.  Print out an extra copy of anything your doctor has to fill in. Fill it out yourself, using daily challenges as examples. Take that to the doctor with you so you can discuss and not miss any points when the doctor is filling in the official copy. Give real life examples of your limitations and symptoms on applications. Consult your relevant allied health professionals when filling in forms for their insight. Relay to GP or get their reports. Respect the insurance company reps, remembering that they are not your friends. Do not post unthinkingly on social media - people can easily misinterpret. Expect a functional assessment in the first year on LTD. If forced into an excessive functional assessment (your doctor's documentation isn't enough to satisfy the insurance company) go in to the assessor. But book a GP appointment ahead of time for right after the assessment. At the assessment, the moment you start having symptoms stop, tell them what is happening (if it can't be seen) and why you can't continue, leave. If it's a 2 day assessment do the same the next day. Then go in to your GP appointment to have this all documented in your chart.

    39 min

  11. 09/14/2025

    Episode 1: Welcome! Short Term Disability

    Welcome to Navigating Disability with Me, with Meghan and Pam! Meghan is a person with lived experience of disability and Pam is an able bodied person who has been a friend and support to several people in her life living with disabilities. Overview of the short term disability process including sick time, EI qualifications, and working with your employer Feedback: navigatingdisabilitywithme@gmail.com Links: CRA EI estimator calculator: https://estimateurae-eiestimator.service.canada.ca/en North Shore Disability Resource Centre: https://www.nsdrc.org/ Disability Alliance of BC: https://disabilityalliancebc.org Deltassist: https://deltassist.com/ Volunteer Cancer Drivers: https://volunteercancerdrivers.ca/ Wheels of Hope: https://csl.cancer.ca/en/Detail/1a9b6c6c-ea2d-ec11-b6e5-000d3a333c22 Tips: 1) If you have sick days, don't abuse them! You may need them for a disability. Do not treat any insurance payout as a windfall. That is supplementing your income. 2) For 2025: EI maxes out at 55% of your earnings at a cap of $695/week. Generally for a maximum of 45 weeks. This is taxable (confirmed post recording). 3) Read your collective agreement/union book/corporate policies on sick time, special leaves etc. Ask a knowledeable colleague or the union any questions. 4) Contact your union with any questions, search out your union disability rep. 5) Have a trusted friend/family member help with/proofread paperwork, applications etc. Or look for a local disability resource group - be patient! 6) Pace yourself through paperwork, get it done with time to spare. Be patient as everything takes lots of time to be processed. 7) Print out an extra copy of anything your doctor has to fill in. Fill it out yourself, using daily challenges as examples. Take that to the doctor with you so you can discuss and not miss any points when the doctor is filling in the official copy. 8) If forced into an excessive functional assessment (your doctor's documentation isn't enough to satisfy the insurance company) go in to the assessor. But book a GP appointment ahead of time for right after the assessment. At the assessment, the moment you start having symptoms stop, tell them what is happening (if it can't be seen) and why you can't continue, leave. If it's a 2 day assessment do the same the next day. Then go in to your GP appointment to have this all documented in your chart. 9) Check if you can continue to pay out any remaining sick time once you're on long term disability, as a top up. Other option is to save it for if you go back to work. 10) Google multiple variations of "(My town/region/province) Disability Benefits" to see what benefits or programs exist in your area.

    31 min
  • 11 Episodes

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A conversational podcast that empowers Canadians with disabilities (and those supporting them) by cutting through the complexity of the system. Featuring authentic lived experiences and insights, it brings together essential resources and real voices to guide, inform, and inspire

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