Sight Substitution

The Sight Substitution Centre (SSC) is located at W. Ross Macdonald School, Ontario’s only school for the blind, deafblind and visually impaired. The SSC is an Assistive Devices Program Assessment Centre. This centre is part of the network of assessment centres, throughout the province, and operates under the Ministry of Health’s Assistive Devices Program, in partnership with our school.

The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) provides 75% of the funding for approved equipment to eligible clients. Individuals receiving assistance through the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Ontario Works (OW), the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) qualify for additional funding. ACSD is a program for children who are under the age of 18 and have a developmental disability that results in an ongoing functional loss. The program is income-tested.

The SSC provides assessments for ADP funded equipment for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired, and whose primary means of reading or writing is auditory, audio books or screen reading software or tactile, i.e., Braille. Visual aid equipment approved through the ADP, at the SSC, consists of low and high technical reading and writing aids for personal and home use. Equipment ranges from the low tech end such as the Perkins Brailler, to the high technical such as desktop or portable computers with screen reading software, and Optical Character Recognition software used with optical scanners.

Other devices include Braille embossers or printers, refreshable Braille displays, personal information managers (note takers) with Braille or QWERTY keyboards, Audio or Daisy Book readers. The SSC also provides telephone and on-site user support for clients. If necessary, the SSC works in conjunction with other ADP assessment centres, to ensure individual needs are met.

In order to be eligible for an assessment for ADP funded equipment, you must be a resident of Ontario, and have a valid Ontario Health Number. There is no age or income restriction. Eligible individuals may be eligible for a low tech reading or writing aids, and a high tech writing or reading aid.

The SSC is located on the main floor of the W. Ross Macdonald School.

Interested individuals can contact us by phone: Toll free (800) 434-2105 or (519) 759-0730, Ext. 281/286. O
ur e-mail address is: ssc.adp@sympatico.ca