Balancing Care Methods: Agency Services, Direct Funding, and Whimble

By: Katie McMillan

When you live in a world that wasn’t made for you, your life is dependent on what that world is willing to offer. As someone with Cerebral Palsy this is an everyday reality for me. I view myself as a a strong, capable, independent woman. However, I think able-bodied society paints a very narrow perspective on what it means to be strong, capable, and independent. For some, strong could mean running a marathon; for others, like myself, strong could mean getting out of bed, getting dressed, and accepting the help to do so. Both scenarios are equally valid.

Everyone’s disability is different, no one person who has a disability has the exact same experience as the next person.   Everyone’s unique view of what their independence means to them is important and valid. For me, the avenue through which I receive my care – which I am capable of directing - has a big impact on my independence.

My Experience with Agency Services

For the initial first few years in my apartment, I received care through an agency. Over that time, I was able to expand on my abilities: I learned and developed my own adaptive ways to cook, clean and carry on with daily life. I was provided with the care that I needed to be an active participant in society and learn more about my own abilities. With that being said, there are some aspects of receiving care from an agency that were not ideal for me. For example, I take a lot of pride in making decisions about my care, from who delivers it to how I receive it. When you receive care through an agency, however, you as a client are obligated to abide by their rules and policies. I don’t have a lot of specific, difficult requests when it comes to my care but, at the very least, I do insist on being heard, listened to, and understood. Agencies provide attendants as they see fit. It doesn’t matter if they are a good fit for you individually, they are solely interested in filling a shift. Another downfall of agency services is the existence of a “head office” where attendants can go to express their issues or concerns with clients. I would much rather my attendants address me directly when they have a concern.

Transitioning to Direct Funding

Three years later, I transitioned into becoming a direct funding self-manager. Direct Funding is a provincially-funded program that provides funds to people who qualify to receive attendant care and can manage their own care services. As a manager, I recruit, hire, train, and direct every attendant in the delivery of my care - I have total control.  The only disadvantage is that, in the event of an emergency, it can be very hard to find an attendant to provide service on a moment’s notice. If care is provided from an agency, this is not a concern because someone is (usually) always someone “on call” to respond.

Whimble: A New Frontier

This new app could really open up the opportunity for people to be able to be more in charge of who provides their care, and how and where it is delivered. It’s going to be very freeing for all clients, no matter the type of care they are receiving outside of the app, because of the flexibility and range of care services the app will offer to clients. When you receive care from an agency, the care service is usually restricted to a specific location, like an apartment building where clients live. Sometimes, they may also be restricted in what type of care tasks they are able to provide (i.e grooming). When you are a manager with Direct Funding, your attendant can accompany you appointments, running errands, and being out in the community - even going on a trip with you. However, you have less options for emergency/back-up assistance when there is a hole in your regular ‘roster’.

Empowering the Disabled Community

Whimble will be the perfect balance for the many people who would benefit from its service. It will improve freedom, security, and a sense of control for agency-served clients. Whereas, self-managers receiving Direct Funding, may opt to receive care from Whimble every now and then, to provide some back up on-demand.

The world can offer the disabled community a lot more with an app like Whimble and I can’t wait to be apart of it.

We’re live in Ottawa! Join our beta here if you’re in the city. For those outside of Ottawa, join the waiting list here so we know where to expand next!

Header image (people at a bar) via Unsplash (Elevate)

Katie McMillan is an advocate for people with disabilities, and has lifelong lived experience with a disability. She has spent some time working with the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto, where she continued her work towards disability awareness, advocacy and support. She has spent her adulthood receiving care services, both from agencies and has experience as a self-manager with the Direct Funding Program. Currently, she is working with the Toronto Blue Jays JaysCare Foundation. The foundation raises funds for underprivileged children and youth with disabilities, to assist them in being able to enjoy participating in sports. Katie is an aspiring writer, and wants to travel more in the very near future.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Katie on her social platforms, for support, assistance with advocacy or just to have someone to relate to.

Email: kmcmilla83@gmail.com

Twitter: @bsbraven

Instagram: katielee3891