The Waterloo Wellington Down Syndrome Society Board of Directors invites those who have been members for a minimum of one year to apply for our WWDSS Passport Funding Preparation Bursary.

This program has been developed to help offset the high cost of a psychological assessment that is a requirement for our young adults, in order to qualify and receive the Province of Ontario’s Passport Funding at age 18. Members can apply for this bursary if their teen with Down syndrome is turning 16 or 17 this year. It is at the age of 16 that families are able to discuss with the DSO (Development Services Ontario) the required documents for submitting a completed Passport Funding application. The goal is for our members to have the required communication with the DSO and work through the application process prior to their 18th Birthday when they become eligible for the funding. The Board has heard that a barrier in the past to completing the application is the high cost of a required psychological assessment.

This bursary will make it possible for families to work with local professionals in booking and receiving an assessment that will review their teen’s cognitive functioning, adaptive functioning and record the age of onset. Successful applicants will receive a bursary up to a maximum of $1,500.00. As with other bursaries, members are to use their work-related benefits first and then funds from their allocated bursary to pay for any remaining amount.

This year’s bursary program runs from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. As with other bursaries provided by WWDSS, families must contribute a minimum of 10 volunteer hours to participate in this WWDSS funded bursary program. These 10 hours are in addition to any other hours needed for other bursary programs (i.e. Camp, Therapy). These hours should be logged under their member’s account at www.wwdss.ca.

If your teen is 16 or 17 years of age this calendar year (born in 2005 or 2006) and still requires a psychological assessment to complete their Passport Funding application with the DSO, please complete the application form below.