Funding a GPS tracker in Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, Autism Spectrum Disorder Individualized Funding (ASD-IF) gives families of children under 12 money to spend on approved supports, and its published list includes safety-related purchases for a child's personal safety. The Cognitive Disability Strategy helps with unmet needs more broadly. This page explains both, with links to the official pages. It is general information, not advice.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Written by StepSafe, which sells a GPS tracker for children who wander, so read the product parts with that in mind.

Read this first

This is general information, not legal or medical advice. We are not benefits advisors and we have no relationship with any program named here. No product of ours is covered, approved or endorsed by any of them, and we cannot tell you whether your child qualifies.

Programs change. Treat this page as a list of questions to ask, confirm everything with the agency before you spend money, and keep your receipts.

Last checked: 7 October 2026. That is the date we last read the official pages linked below.

Programs in Saskatchewan to ask about

None of the official pages we read names GPS trackers for children who wander. The closest is Saskatchewan's autism funding list, which includes safety-related purchases for a child's personal safety. Those are the words to use when you ask.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Individualized Funding (ASD-IF)

Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services

ASD-IF gives parents or guardians of a child with an autism diagnosis funding to purchase approved, eligible therapeutic interventions and family supports.^[1]

The published list of eligible expenses includes "safety-related purchases for a child's personal safety". It is in the group of expenses that must be recommended by a listed professional, such as a provider on the Registry of Autism Service Providers, a pediatrician or a family physician, as part of the child's therapeutic or intervention plan.^[2]

The list of expenses that are not eligible includes household items, "including appliances, security systems", and "telephone/telecommunications (e.g., home or mobile phone services, internet, etc.)".^[2]

Safety devices: The list names safety-related purchases for a child's personal safety, with a recommendation, but not GPS trackers, and it excludes mobile phone services, which may matter for a device with a monthly plan. Ask the Ministry before you buy.

Cognitive Disability Strategy (CDS)

Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services

The Cognitive Disability Strategy is meant to address the unmet needs of people with cognitive disabilities and their families. It offers Cognitive Disability Consultants, who support families to develop behavioural support plans, and the Cognitive Disability Benefit, an income-tested financial benefit for an identified unmet need.^[4]

Safety devices: May cover safety or assistive technology; ask your coordinator. We did not find an official page that names GPS trackers for wandering.

Who qualifies, in general terms

ASD-IF is for children under 12 with a diagnosis of autism who live in Saskatchewan and are not ordinarily resident on reserve.^[3] First Nations children on reserve can ask about Jordan's Principle instead.

Out-of-province diagnoses need to be reviewed and confirmed by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.^[1]

For the Cognitive Disability Strategy, a person must have a cognitive disability, present from an early age and long term, and an unmet need related to it that an evidence-based intervention can address and another system cannot support.^[4]

Only the agency can decide whether your child is eligible. These are the general rules as published, not a test you can apply yourself.

How to apply, step by step

Apply for ASD-IF online. You will need your Social Insurance Numbers, your child's Health Services Number, proof of Saskatchewan residency, the ASD Diagnostic Form and a direct deposit form.^[1]
Before you buy anything, check the List of Eligible Services and Expenses and ask the professional who works with your child to put the recommendation in writing as part of their plan.^[1],[2]
After approval, submit proof of your expenses online.^[1]
For questions about applications, payments or eligible expenses, contact the Ministry of Social Services at 1-833-304-1774 or autismif@gov.sk.ca.^[1]
For the Cognitive Disability Strategy, send the application package to a Cognitive Disability Consultant. If you cannot complete it yourself and have no case worker, the consultant can help.^[4]

What to ask your caseworker or coordinator

Questions to take to the meeting

Would a wearable locating device count as a safety-related purchase for my child's personal safety, and what should the recommendation say?
Does the telecommunications exclusion apply to a locating device's monthly plan?
What documentation do you need from my child's doctor or therapist about the wandering?
Do you need quotes, a product description, or a specific vendor?
Does the program pay for an ongoing service plan, or only for the device?
If it is not approved, can I have the decision in writing, and how do I appeal?

For a sample request letter and a note on how wandering is recorded in a medical file, see what to say when you ask.

Programs change

Program rules, eligibility and application steps are updated regularly. We last read these pages on 7 October 2026. Before you rely on anything here, confirm it with the agency or your coordinator. If you find something out of date, email support@stepsafekids.com and we will fix it.

Other provinces

Not listed? Read the Canada overview for the federal tax measures that apply in every province and territory.

What we make

StepSafe makes a clip-on cellular GPS tracker for children who wander. StepSafe ships in early 2027. Nothing on this page means any program will pay for it.

See the shop, or start with our free safety toolkit, which works whatever device you choose.