Registration and Eligibility

Due to a national service disruption at Canada Post, all incoming and outgoing mail to York Regional buildings will be affected until further notice. YRT customers seeking eligibility for Mobility On-Request Paratransit can drop off applications at York Region Transit (Mobility On-Request) headquarters at 55 Orlando Avenue in the City of Richmond Hill during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

You must meet specific eligibility criteria to use Mobility On-Request Paratransit. Eligibility is considered on a case-by-case basis and is not based on a particular disability, nor is it based on income level or lack of accessible public transit in an applicant's area.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria is based on five guiding principles:

1. Mobility On-Request Paratransit is not for those who find it more difficult or who are reluctant or unwilling to use an accessible public transportation system
2. Mobility On-Request Paratransit is not an attendant care service
3. Eligibility is not based on a particular disability and persons are approved on a case-by-case basis
4. Eligibility is not based on income
5. Eligibility is not based on the unavailability of accessible conventional transit in the area in which the person resides

Levels of Eligibility

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), there are three levels of eligibility:

Level of Eligibility	Description
Conditional	A person with a disability where an environmental or physical barrier limits their ability to consistently use conventional transportation services. Conditional eligibility may involve YRT's Family of Services which include conventional YRT, Viva rapid transit, Community Bus, Mobility On-Request conventional and Paratransit door-to-door services. Paratransit customers with conditional eligibility will be advised at the time of booking if the trip is deemed Family of Services and will incorporate YRT’s Family of Services for all or part of their trip. All customers will be travel trained on their first new Family of Services' trip to assess the customer’s functional ability to travel on conventional transit. If deemed unsuccessful, the customer’s eligibility status will be changed from conditional to unconditional.
Temporary	A person with a temporary disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services. For example, a customer undergoing a hip replacement surgery who will be unable to drive or walk for a set period of time, would be eligible for temporary door-to-door service. Customers with temporary eligibility will fall under YRT's Family of Services unless deemed unsuccessful through travel training.
Unconditional	A person with a disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services. Customers with this type of eligibility will receive a shared ride, door-to-door trip within York Region. For example, a customer whose disability or functional limitation that prevents them from successfully using YRT's Family of Services and subsequently deemed unsuccessful through travel training, will receive unconditional eligibility.

Types of limitations

Applicants must have at least ONE of the following physical or functional limitations:

Type of Limitation	Description
Cognitive	Applicants with cognitive disabilities which impact their functional or physical ability to use conventional transit, including but not limited to: emotional disabilities, brain injury, intellectual or learning disabilities. Note: Applicants who are otherwise ineligible for Mobility On-Request Paratransit because they are physically-able to use conventional public transit may be eligible for trips to/from an approved day program or work placement within York Region. Written confirmation from the placement agency is required.
Physical	Applicants are unable to walk a distance of 175 metres/575 feet.
Sensory	Applicants experiencing sensory-motor conditions which impact their physical ability to use conventional public transit (e.g., Parkinson's Disease).
Visual	Applicants who are legally blind and have undergone travel training through an approved agency such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and are still unable to use conventional public transit, or applicants who have been deemed unsuitable for travel training.

 

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How to Register

For York Region residents

Complete and submit the Application Package below. You may also call us at 1-866-744-1119 to request a hard copy. There is no registration fee. Mobility On-Request Paratransit Application Package (PDF 1.8 MB) It can take up to two weeks to process your application. Applicants will receive notice of eligibility by phone call or mail All information will be kept confidential If you are eligible, you will receive a unique I.D. number, registration card and passenger guide If you require a Mandatory Support Person, this person must accompany you on all of your trips. Mandatory Support Persons ride free-of-charge. Mandatory Support Persons cannot be another registered Mobility On-Request Paratransit customer. All customers under the age of 18 must travel with a Mandatory Support Person unless determined otherwise, on a case-by-case basis All infants/children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or support person; children 12 years of age or younger are not permitted to travel alone on Mobility On-Request Paratransit

For non-York Region residents (Wheel-Trans, Peel and Durham Region)

Call us at 1-866-744-1119 with your transportation inquiries.

Notice of privacy and information practices:We comply with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and all other applicable legislation.

 

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Appeal Process

If your application is denied

If your application is denied, the Eligibility Appeal Process offers you the opportunity to appeal the decision.

 

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