Apply for Support

Variety provides direct support to low-income families who care for children with disabilities and complex health needs. This support is delivered via grants that are distributed directly to the vendors that provide support. Our support programs include funding for adaptive equipment, specialized therapies, private assessments, mental health supports, as well as tuition and tutoring.

Only families whose child meets all of the following criteria can be considered for an individual grant:
– Children from birth to their 19th birthday. (Note: for autism assessment, the child seeking help must be 4 years or under.)
– A child must be a B.C. resident with a valid Personal Health Number (PHN) or Yukon resident with a valid Health Care Card
– Qualified special need (medical and/or developmental) as confirmed by a designated health care professional. (This does not apply to private autism and psychoeducational assessments or mental wellness requests)
– Financial circumstance that limits the ability to afford the item or service required. (We are currently able to consider requests from households with an annual income of up to $85,000).

Our current grant priority areas are:

• Adaptive & Mobility Equipment (e.g. Power and manual wheel chairs, adaptive trikes, hearing aids, standing walkers, custom orthotics, van conversions)
• Mental Wellness Counselling
• Specialized Therapies (e.g. Speech & language, occupational, physical, music, equine & counselling)
• Tuition & Tutoring Bursaries for Learning Disabilities
• Private Autism (age 4 and under)
• Psychoeducational Assessments
• Type 1 Diabetes support

The following are not funded by Variety grants:

1. Services or equipment not directly related to a child’s complex needs and are not diagnosed as medically/developmentally necessary
2. No medicines/prescriptions, eye glasses or dental, or medical service  plan premiums or deductibles
3. Alternative or naturopathic treatments or those not provided in person including neuroplasticity or computer stimulation
4. Any program/service or equipment that can be or is paid wholly by government
5. Behavioral Intervention/Consultation
6. Funding for any services related to autism for children under six years old who receive over $22,000 per year in government funding, with the exception of music therapy
7. Childcare, respite or related programs/services
8. Warranties, insurance, maintenance, service agreements, batteries, repairs
9. Administrative fees or operational costs
10. Electronic devices, including apps or software
11. Travel costs
12. Sports equipment that is non-adaptive
13. Support for residents outside of B.C. or Yukon
14. Reports or consultations
15. Autism assessments for children age 5 and over
16. More than one autism/psychoeducational assessment per child
17. Expenses that have already been initiated or have already occurred prior to submission or written approval
18. Service providers without specific certification or professional credentials to deliver services to clients
19. Equipment from non-Canadian distributors that cannot be invoiced directly by Variety or services outside Canada

Variety’s funding is always based on what funds are available. We will consider one application per year, per child and must be completed within one Variety fiscal year. Your priorities must be listed on the application for Variety’s consideration.
Limits also include:
– Therapies: Maximum $2,500 per year for one and $4,000 total for two.
– Tutoring: Maximum $1,500 per year; Tuition: Maximum $4,000 per year (reviewed only from August to October)
– Compliance with our policies and guidelines does not guarantee funding of any application.