Apply for Support

Variety steps in where health care ends aiming to fill the gaps which are not covered by government programs, health care or private health plans. Variety relies solely on the generosity of individuals, corporate sponsors and organizations to fund our child grants. Grants are designed to be flexible to allow you to apply for the items that best meet your child’s needs. As every child is unique, so is every application and each is reviewed on an individual basis. Sometimes, Variety tops up funding where another agency cannot fund the entire cost. An example would be a partial contribution towards vehicle modifications.

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

No medicines/prescriptions, eye glasses or dental

1. Services or equipment not directly related to a child’s special/extra needs and which are not deemed medically/developmentally necessary
2. Alternative or naturopathic treatments or those not provided in person including neuroplasticity or computer stimulationAny program/service or equipment that can be or is paid wholly by government (including Autism, At Home,
3. Early Intervention, Health Region, First Nations Health, BC Family Residence Program. Top up considered
4. Behavioral Intervention/Consultation
5. Funding for any services related to Autism for children under six years old who receive over $22,000 per year in government funding. Except for music therapy will be considered for under six year olds with Autism funding.
6. Childcare, respite or related programs/services
7. Warranties, insurance, maintenance, service agreements, batteries, repairs
8. Administrative fees or operational costs
9. Vehicles – except: Sunshine Family Van program and van conversions (including van ramp and tie downs) to a maximum of $7,500
10. Medical services plans, premiums, deductibles – except for type 1 diabetic supplies.
11. Electronic devices, including Apps or software
12. Travel costs including: time, gas, mileage, truck or car rentals, parking or insurance
13. Sports equipment that is non-adaptive or does not support special needs
14. Non-B.C. residents
15. Reports, consultations, assessments – except autism/psychoeducational assessments
16. Autism assessments for child age 5 and over
17. More than one autism/psychoeducational assessment per child
18. Expenses that have already been initiated or have already occurred prior to submission or written approval
19. Incomplete application forms
20. Those without specific certification or professional credentials to deliver services to clients or the use of assistants
21. Children or Youth over 19 years old
22. A child without a personal health number (Care card)
23. More than two request in one Variety fiscal year over $4000 total
24. Children under five who qualify for early intervention or services through a Child Development Centre (CDC) or Health Authority (HA). (Top up considered)
25. Equipment from non-Canadian distributors that cannot be invoiced directly from 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.