TOP FUNDING OPTIONS — NEW BRUNSWICK
01 — FAMILY SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Provincial Disability & Medical Equipment Support
The Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Program, administered by the New Brunswick Department of Social Development, helps families support a child with a disability at home and in the community.
Importantly for families exploring adaptive mobility equipment, the program specifically identifies medical equipmentas one of the supports that may be included in an individualized family support plan. Other potential supports include medical transportation, relief care, home support services, social inclusion support and therapeutic-based recreation activities. (GNB)
Who May Qualify
Eligibility and the level of support are determined individually based on the child’s disability-related needs and family circumstances.
Families participating in the program work with a social worker to identify unmet needs and develop a Family Support Plan.
The program offers two approaches to case management:
-
Social Worker Managed — services are coordinated with the family by the assigned social worker.
-
Family Managed — the family coordinates approved services identified in the Family Support Plan and receives funding from the Department of Social Development to arrange those supports. (GNB)
Potential xROVER Pathway
For an xROVER request, the family may explore whether an adaptive mobility system can be considered as part of the child’s documented medical, functional or participation needs.
Supporting information may include:
-
Child’s diagnosis and functional mobility needs
-
Current mobility equipment
-
PT / OT or other healthcare professional recommendation
-
Explanation of where existing mobility equipment does not meet the child’s needs
-
Recommended xROVER configuration
-
Official equipment quotation
-
Information regarding other available funding resources
xROVER Funding Note
xROVER is not automatically covered or approved by the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities Program.
Funding depends on individual eligibility, assessed needs, the Family Support Plan, applicable program policies and authorization by the Department of Social Development.
BEST FIRST STEP:
Families should speak with their FSCD social worker or healthcare professional about whether specialized adaptive mobility equipment may be considered within the child’s individual support needs.
Families who are not yet connected with the program can make a self-referral through the Department of Social Development or have a professional working with their child make a referral. (GNB)
Explore Family Supports for Children with Disabilities
02 — MOBILITY AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM
Provincial Mobility & Adaptive Equipment Program
New Brunswick’s Mobility and Adaptive Equipment Loan Program provides eligible individuals with specific mobility and adaptive equipment to support daily activities and safe living at home.
Equipment may be supplied through recycled inventory or purchased for loan when appropriate recycled equipment is unavailable. Eligible clients do not pay for entitled services, although program cost limits and equipment criteria apply. (GNB)
What Equipment May Be Supported
The provincial program is divided into three major categories:
-
Basic Adaptive Aids
-
Complex Adaptive Aids
-
Mobility Aids
The Mobility Aids category includes manual mobility aids, power mobility aids and positioning aids for mobility equipment. Complex adaptive benefits can also include stability, transfer and positioning-related equipment. (GNB)
Who May Qualify
The program is available to certain:
-
Department of Social Development clients and their dependents
-
Individuals with special health needs who qualify for assisted healthcare under provincial requirements
-
Individuals with the applicable New Brunswick Health Card eligibility designation. (GNB)
Clinical Documentation
This is an important clinical pathway.
Equipment must be required for use within the client’s home environment and must be prescribed by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. Each type of equipment also has its own administrative, business and clinical eligibility requirements. (GNB)
Potential xROVER Pathway
Families should explore whether their individual mobility needs and recommended adaptive equipment fall within an eligible program category.
A potential request may involve:
-
PT / OT mobility assessment
-
Functional and positioning needs
-
Clinical justification
-
Review of existing mobility equipment
-
Recommended equipment/configuration
-
Applicable program authorization
xROVER Funding Note
This pathway requires particular caution for xROVER.
xROVER should not be represented as an approved product or automatically eligible under the Mobility and Adaptive Equipment Loan Program.
The program is primarily structured around specified eligible equipment and a loan model. Therefore, the appropriate PT / OT and provincial program should first determine whether an xROVER configuration could satisfy the applicable clinical and equipment requirements.
Explore the Mobility and Adaptive Equipment Loan Program
03 — EASTER SEALS NEW BRUNSWICK
Rehabilitation Equipment & Personal Services Support
Easter Seals New Brunswick (ESNB) provides another potential pathway for individuals who need rehabilitation or mobility equipment and do not have another practical way to obtain it.
Through its Personal Services Program, Easter Seals NB assists New Brunswick residents who have no ability to rent or purchase required equipment, have no applicable medical coverage, and cannot obtain the required support through another agency. (Easter Seals New Brunswick)
How the Program Works
Easter Seals NB maintains an inventory of recyclable rehabilitation equipment that can be provided to eligible clients on a long-term loan basis.
Requests are evaluated individually by a client coordinator to determine need and appropriateness. Referrals may come from healthcare professionals including:
-
Occupational Therapists
-
Physiotherapists
-
Public Health Nurses
-
Speech-Language Pathologists
-
Extra-Mural Program staff. (Easter Seals New Brunswick)
The program may also provide financial assistance for certain non-reusable equipment or other disability-related needs when appropriate. (Easter Seals New Brunswick)
Potential xROVER Pathway
For an xROVER family, Easter Seals NB may be worth exploring when:
-
There is a documented disability-related mobility need
-
A healthcare professional supports the equipment request
-
Government or insurance coverage is unavailable or insufficient
-
The family cannot reasonably purchase the required equipment independently
-
Easter Seals determines that the requested solution fits its current program criteria
xROVER Funding Note
xROVER is not automatically funded or available through Easter Seals New Brunswick.
Because much of the Personal Services Program operates through recycled equipment and long-term equipment loans, a new xROVER purchase would require individual review and confirmation directly with Easter Seals NB.
Easter Seals NB also operates an Equipment Assessment Loans Bank that allows people with disabilities and healthcare professionals to evaluate certain rehabilitation devices before purchase, providing another potentially useful resource for equipment assessment. (Easter Seals New Brunswick)
Explore Easter Seals New Brunswick Personal Services Program
WHICH FUNDING PATH SHOULD YOU START WITH?
Not every funding program is appropriate for every family — and xROVER funding is never guaranteed.
The most appropriate pathway may depend on the individual’s age, diagnosis, functional mobility needs, current equipment, professional recommendations, New Brunswick Health Card eligibility, family circumstances and whether other government, insurance or community funding resources have already been explored.
For children, Family Supports for Children with Disabilities may be an appropriate first program to explorebecause medical equipment can form part of the supports available through an individualized Family Support Plan. (GNB)
xROVER USA can help families identify potential funding pathways and organize the information needed to begin the process.
START WITH A FREE FUNDING SCREENING
Tell us about your family member, mobility needs, current equipment, provincial support or insurance, and how you hope to use xROVER.