How to get the services you need
Getting there
To receive services, you have to get there, unless they are online. This can sometimes be hard if you live in an area where there aren’t a lot of services available, you don’t have a car to use or public transportation isn’t easy to access.
If this is important to you, you may want to ask your service provider some (or all) of the following questions:
- Is there a service that can help me get there?
- Could a service provider come to where I am or meet me close to home?
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If you are planning on taking public transit to and from appointments, it is important to think about the costs. Find out if the agency can help out with the costs of getting to and from appointments. Ask if they can cover transit, how it works and if there is a limit to how much they will cover.
If this is important to you, you may want to ask your service provider some (or all) of the following questions:
- What are their office hours?
- How can I get there? Is transportation provided?
- Do I need a health card?
- Will they see me if I am a new patient?
- Will you pay for my public transportation to get there?
- If there is a reimbursement process, how does it work? Is there a limit on how much I can be reimbursed?
- I am on a provincial/territorial support program. Is there a particular reimbursement process I can follow for this program?
- How do I get to your location?
- Is there a map?
You can often find this information online or by calling them and asking!
For some people, it’s important and necessary for the service to be close by. Finding a service near you may be important if you do not have access to a car or do not live near a bus station, or if you are in a new area and are not comfortable travelling too far. Check to see where the service provider is located.
If this is important to you, you may want to ask your service provider some (or all) of the following questions:
- I am unable to travel far. Are there any services I can access near me?
- Can I get help travelling to appointments, like a peer support worker or agency vehicle?
Some services are able to send service providers to you! They may be able to meet you at school or even at your home. There are many reasons why someone may want the service provider to meet them where they are, especially if they have a hard time leaving home or getting to where the service is located.
If this is important to you, you may want to ask your service provider some (or all) of the following questions:
- I am unable to travel to your location. Can you visit my school/home/rural area in person?
- If the answer is no, you can ask: Do you have any tips for accessing similar services at my school or from home?
In some cities, it can be difficult to find parking. If you plan on getting to the service by car, it might be helpful to ask questions about parking.
If this is important to you, you may want to ask your service provider some (or all) of the following questions:
- Is parking free?
- Can I be reimbursed for parking?