Refer a Child Today
Referrals are accepted from healthcare professionals, parents or legal guardians, or a child directly. By law, private medical information can only be shared by these three categories.
Who is eligible?
At Make-A-Wish Canada, we believe in hope and innovation. Our eligibility criteria are reflective of the latest therapeutic advances and are reviewed regularly in partnership with our medical advisory committee to ensure we adapt to the ever-changing landscape of healthcare science. While our current guidelines are specific, they are not static, and may evolve over time as new treatments become available.
A child’s medical condition does not need to be terminal to be eligible for a wish. In fact, this is one of the enduring myths about Make-A-Wish. Thanks to research and new medical treatments, this is no longer the case for the vast majority of children we serve.
- The child is biologically between the ages of 3 and 17
- The child has a critical illness that is currently in the life-threatening stage
- The child has not received a prior wish from any wish-granting organization
- Children whose current medical condition requires high-risk therapy to survive may qualify for a wish.
- Children who are dependent on technology to survive may qualify for a wish.
- Children with chronic conditions who demonstrate extreme long-term complications may qualify for a wish.
- Children at high risk of death not covered by other criteria on this list may qualify for a wish.
While we strive to reach as many eligible children as possible in Canada, it’s important to note that conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder/ADHD, speech/language delays, learning disabilities, psychiatric/mental health disorders, diabetes, asthma and global developmental delay, though serious, on their own may not fall within our wish granting criteria. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.
