Ontario Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 2026: What's Covered, the 75/25 Share and How to Apply

Ontario's Assistive Devices Program (ADP) helps pay for equipment like hearing aids, CPAP machines, walkers, wheelchairs and power scooters for Ontario residents with a physical disability lasting 6 months or longer. For most devices, ADP pays 75% of the approved price and you pay 25%, and your income is not considered. You must be assessed and approved before you buy.

That last rule is the one families trip over. Buy the walker or hearing aids first and ADP pays nothing. This guide covers what ADP pays for each device seniors ask about most, what it never covers, and the exact steps, forms and phone numbers to get it right the first time.

Who qualifies for the Assistive Devices Program?

According to ontario.ca, you generally qualify if you:

• Live in Ontario and have a valid Ontario health card.
• Have a physical disability requiring the equipment or supplies for 6 months or longer.
• Meet the clinical criteria for the specific device, confirmed by a registered professional.

ADP does not consider income, so a retired teacher with a good pension and a parent on the Guaranteed Income Supplement qualify the same way.

You can't get ADP funding for the same equipment if the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board already covers it, or if you are a Group "A" veteran receiving Veterans Affairs Canada support for it. People living in a long-term care home can be funded for some devices (for example CPAP) but not others, so check the device page first.

How much does ADP pay?

ADP uses three funding models, set by device type:

If your parent receives Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, ADP pays 100% of the approved price, maximum or grant. Seniors on OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement alone are on the standard 75/25 share.

If the 25% is a stretch, the ADP page points families to Easter Seals Ontario, The War Amps and Lions Clubs, which sometimes help with the client share.

Does ADP cover hearing aids?

Yes. ADP covers 75% of the cost of hearing aids up to a maximum of $500 per side, so up to $1,000 for a pair, once every 5 years. Adults are tested by an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist registered with ADP, and the prescription must come from an audiologist or a physician.

Hearing aids typically cost $1,000 to $4,000 per device in 2026, so the $500 often covers a smaller share than families expect. Lost hearing aids aren't replaced. Our hearing aids cost guide explains what the pricier models buy and how to compare clinics. Ask the clinic to confirm it's ADP-registered before your test.

Does ADP cover a CPAP machine?

Yes. ADP pays 75% of the ADP price of a CPAP (positive airway pressure) system, and you pay 25% directly to the registered business. A doctor at an ADP-registered sleep clinic must assess your parent, and the respiratory policy manual requires a sleep study (level 1 polysomnography) at a registered sleep lab.

The system includes the machine, a heated humidifier, a basic mask and headgear, tubing and filters. Replacement masks and headgear are not covered, so budget for them, and ADP funds a replacement machine every 5 years. Long-term care residents can still receive CPAP funding.

Does ADP cover walkers, wheelchairs and scooters?

Yes, for longer-term needs. ADP covers wheeled walkers for adults, manual and power wheelchairs, power scooters, positioning devices and forearm crutches. An occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with ADP assesses your parent, the vendor bills ADP 75%, and you pay the remaining 25%. A registered business can't charge more than the ADP price for the approved device.

Two rules worth knowing. A power scooter is funded only when it "is not intended to be a replacement for a car or another transportation modality," and your parent must be able to get on and off it on their own. Walkers and wheelchairs can be replaced every 5 years. Standard canes, transport chairs, recliners, ramps and most rentals are not covered.

What doesn't ADP cover?

This list surprises most families. ontario.ca names these as not covered, among others:

• Bathroom equipment: bath and shower aids (benches, chairs, bath lifts), commodes, raised toilet seats and grab bars.
• Lifts and home changes: stair lifts, chair lifts and other lifting devices, ramps, porch lifts and other home renovations.
• Bedroom and daily living: hospital beds and mattresses, incontinence supplies and diapers.
• Safety and devices: life-alert (medical alert) systems, smoke detectors, cellphones, blood pressure monitors.
• Upkeep: repairs and batteries, even for equipment ADP helped buy.

For these, the money usually comes from elsewhere. The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit applies to up to $20,000 a year of eligible renovation costs for seniors 65 and older, the Disability Tax Credit opens other claims, and many items can go on the Medical Expense Tax Credit. For grab bars and bathroom changes, compare local grab bar installers and their prices.

How do you apply for ADP?

The order matters. Follow these steps from the device pages on ontario.ca:

1. Get assessed by an ADP-registered professional. For mobility, an occupational therapist or physiotherapist. For hearing, an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist. For CPAP, a doctor at a registered sleep clinic. If you can't find one, email adp@ontario.ca for a list in your area.
2. Complete the device's application form with them. Forms are on Ontario's Central Forms Repository: mobility, hearing and respiratory.
3. Choose an ADP-registered business. Each device page on ontario.ca lists registered vendors. The business helps finish the form and submits it to ADP electronically.
4. Wait for approval, then buy. ADP aims to review applications within 8 weeks. When the device arrives, you pay your 25% to the business and ADP pays its share separately.

Have these ready: your parent's Ontario health card, a list of diagnoses and current devices, and notes on what they struggle with day to day (distance they can walk, falls, trouble hearing on the phone). The clearer the picture, the smoother the assessment.

How do you contact ADP?

• Phone: 416-327-8804 or toll-free 1-800-268-6021
• TTY: 1-800-387-5559
• Email: adp@ontario.ca
• Mail: Assistive Devices Program, 5700 Yonge Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M2M 4K5

There is no public ADP "payment dates" calendar. For grant-funded supplies, ADP makes one or more payments through the year, with the first within about 30 days of approval, and direct deposit is the fastest way to receive them.

What's the smartest way to use ADP?

Get assessed before you shop. It is the single rule that saves the most money. A clinic or store that sells you a device on the spot, before the paperwork, can cost you the full 75%.

Ask what the ADP price includes. Optional upgrades (a premium hearing aid model, a nicer mask, a lighter walker) are on you. Decide what is worth paying extra for, rather than accepting the first upgrade offered.

Plan for the gaps. ADP is generous on core devices and silent on the bathroom, stairs and repairs. Pair it with the tax credits above so the whole home plan is funded, not just one device.