Sadie: Ehlers Donlos Syndrome

Sadie is a 4-year-old girl from Sudbury On. suffering from Ehlers-Donlos Syndrome which affects connective tissues, most typically in the joints, skin, and blood vessels, and causes effects ranging from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications.
Sadie wears a special suit (body brace) called a “Spio Suit” (thoracolumbar sacral orthosis, and a lower body orthosis) that she cannot take off and on herself, she requires constant on one support beyond what any 4-year-old would need with walking, dressing, playground, everyday social settings, toileting and eating.
Sadie’s parents pay out of pocket for Physiotherapist and Speech Therapist.

With all of the above impairments, you would think the CRA would find Sadie eligible right away, but Sadie’s original Disability Tax Credit Application was denied by the CRA.
Disability Credit Canada appealed the CRA’s decision and requested a second review.
we studied the previous DTC application and found several issues with the way the DTC was originally submitted.
We reviewed Sadie’s medical records, interviewed the parents, and spoke with the pediatrician and the specialist. We then formulated the case using all material and submitted the new information we gathered to the CRA and requested them to review the case again.
The CRA reviewed Sadie’s case and approved her for the DTC from 2016 to 2023.

Sadie’s parents received a total of $8,454.84 in retroactive refunds and are expected to receive about $4000 in tax refunds and Child Disability Benefits for the next 5 years.