March of Dimes Canada

March of Dimes Canada (MODC), officially the Rehabilitation Foundation for Disabled Persons, Canada) is a registered national charity established in 2005 by Ontario March of Dimes, to provide community-based rehabilitation services and resources across the country to people with physical disabilities.

March of Dimes in Canada has no affiliation with the American organization. Like its American counterpart, it began in 1951 with the Marching Mothers fundraising campaign to eradicate polio.

After vaccination programs effectively eliminated the threat of the disease, mandates changed to offering programs and services for people of all ages with physical disabilities, particularly in Ontario.

For many years various provincial organizations operated under the name March of Dimes as members of the Easter Seals March of Dimes National Council.

In 2005, however, Ontario March of Dimes acquired the exclusive right to use 'March of Dimes' in Canada, and now operates March of Dimes Canada as a national subsidiary. It no longer has any affiliation with Easter Seals Canada.

March of Dimes Canada continues to work with polio survivors through Polio Canada, a national support network for people suffering from post-polio syndrome, or the late effects of polio.

It is also attempting to establish Conductive Education programs across the country, which Ontario March of Dimes imported to Canada from Europe in the 1990s.

In 1949, in an effort to find a cure for the polio virus, mothers across Canada joined a North America-wide fundraising effort. These dedicated volunteers, known as the Marching Mothers®, went door-to-door collecting donations of 'just a dime' to donate to the Canadian Foundation for Poliomyelitics (sic) for research for a cure to polio.

In 1951, the Canadian Foundation for Poliomyelitics was granted use of the name 'Ontario March of Dimes'. Funds raised went to support research into the cure for polio.

In 1955, the polio vaccine created by Dr. Jonas Salk proved effective in limited test trials. With the threat of polio greatly diminished, Ontario March of Dimes began funding assistive devices for people who had contracted the polio virus, as well as providing programs focused primarily on rehabilitation and job training for polio survivors.

By the early 1960s, the organization shifted its mandate to serve the broader needs of all adults with physical disabilities, regardless of whether the disability was a result of a disability at birth, the polio virus, an accident, or even due to aging.

In 2006, Ontario March of Dimes looked to expand its service offering to people with physical disabilities outside of Ontario and the name 'March of Dimes Canada' was registered. The robust offering of programs and services that were offered under Ontario March of Dimes (in Ontario) since the early 1960s have been gradually expanded and offered throughout the country under March of Dimes Canada.

Ontario March of Dimes has four subsidiaries to meet the various needs of the community: March of Dimes Canada, Ontario March of Dimes Non-Profit Housing Corporation (NPHC), OMOD Independence Non-Profit Corporation, Rehabilitation Foundation for Disabled Persons Inc., U.S..

Our Vision:
To create a society inclusive of people with physical disabilities.

Our Mission:
To maximize the independence, personal empowerment and community participation of people with physical disabilities.

Since 1951, March of Dimes has been on the forefront of the disability movement, dedicated to helping Canadians with disabilities lead more independent and empowered lives.

Through a wide range of programs, such as Conductive Education, Home & Vehicle Modification, Assistive Devices, Attendant Care, and Employment Training, we serve more than 50,000 children and adults each year.

External links

• March of Dimes Canada website