The Disability Tax Credit News

Remember Jennifer Heil and Alex Bilodeau?
Here is part of their story on the road to the Gold and Silver Medals at Cypress mountain and how there is a link to neuro feedback and autism.

The aim is to control one’s physical and mental response, to gear up in the moments before a performance and mellow out afterwards. The idea is that the pattern of the electrical activity of the brain can be trained. The quest for small differences is what drives the aptly named Top Secret project – a five year, $8 million technological arms race in Canadian sport history. Reasearchers across the country have been breaking down the science of winter sport, looking for an edge in training human performance and equipment. Here is one part of it which now can be told.

There is a number of brain waves. Delta-theta brain waves, associated with lack of attention and focus. SMR sensor motor rhythm, associated with a relaxed alertness. B-B “Busy brain” (high beta) brain waves, associated with anxiety.
Looking at a computer screen (usually special video games) the electrodes placed on the person’s head feeds information on how he/she is doing. By controlling his brain waves say a cartoon character could go through a maze. You may want to look up the plasticity of the brain.
Currently we have two boys going to the AADcentre in Mississauga.
http://www.addcentre.com/ (Dr. Lynda Thompson)
Problems Seen Include:
A. FOCUS and CONCENTRATION:
• Difficulties with attention span
• Learning Difficulties
B. OPTIMIZING PERFORMANCE:
• Executivies
• Altletes
Other Associated Difficulties Including:
C. MOOD REGULATION:
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Depression (mild)
•
D. AUTISTIC SPECTRUM: Asperger’s Syndrome
• High Functioning Autism (PDD)

• Asperger’s Syndrome
• High Functioning Autism (PDD)
E. HEAD INJURY:
• Concussion
• Mild TBI (also includes whiplash injury)

F. SEIZURE DISORDER

For feedback please call or e-mail me. Since this costs alot of money having a financial plan helps. We are putting on free seminars on how to fund these types of activities. Getting a disability tax credit or the new RDSP, like sports can give one an edge on the war of taxes and inflation.

Sources Globe and Mail June 5th 2010 Anne McILroy
Macleans’s Jan. 18th 2010 Ken MacQueen and Nicholas Kohler

Origins and key events
The Disability tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit which will reduce the income taxes one pays. The disability tax credit recognizes that individuals with severe and prolonged impairments incur additional expenses related to their disability.

In 1944, an income tax deduction was introduced for blind persons in recognition of such expenses. To help blind WWII vets. A few years later, it was extended to individuals confined to a bed or who use a wheelchair. In the mid 1980s, the definition of eligibility for the deduction was extended to individuals with a severe and prolonged mental or physical disability that markedly restricts a basic activity of daily living. The deduction was converted into a credit in 1988. Since many doctors do not do their own taxes and do not know changes to the disability tax credit, sometimes they need to be educated.

This credit can be transferred to a supporting spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece of the individual. The credit amount is fully indexed to inflation. This is why involving other family members helps lower taxes! Since most people don’t do taxes for a living or many Chartered Accounants do not ask questions of health about other members of the family, like a son or daughter, grandmother etc. the disability tax credit is missed many times.

Why? Many people file their taxes the last minute!
Since there is also another $90,000 in grands and bonds in the new RDSP (registered disability savings plan) this will cost up to $500,000 in lost opportunity costs in one’s lifetime…this is more then some houses!