| While the Alberta government spends $1.3 billion to hand out $400 rebates to all Albertans, people with developmental disabilities in the province may be about to experience cuts in programs and services that help them.
Bruce Uditsky, executive director of the Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL), says he’s worried the office that administers programs and services for Albertans over the age of 18 with developmental disabilities will have to make cuts if it doesn’t get a high enough increase in funding to keep up with inflation and new cases. Last year the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Alberta Provincial Board (PDD) received a two per cent increase in funding, which wasn’t enough to keep up with rising costs. The provincial government will begin budget deliberations in February and will likely release a budget in March.
NDP MLA Ray Martin says his party has heard from a lot of Albertans who are concerned about the level of funding PDD receives.
"We’ve had all sorts of letters come in from organizations, also individuals," he says. "People are very upset about it."
Martin says the NDP is trying to pressure the government now to commit to adequate funding before it releases its budget.
"It just seems that the most vulnerable in society are not a high priority for this government," says Martin.
Uditsky says if there’s not enough funding to the PDD, it may be forced to lay off support workers who enable developmentally disabled Albertans to live in their own homes or enter the workforce, and reduce the amount of respite care available to family members who are caring for a developmentally disabled relative, which would lead to a greater strain on families. A developmental disability is defined as a mental disability, which in some cases also includes a physical disability.
Uditsky says without the supports currently in place, some people with developmental disabilities could "end up in crisis."
"If a person with a developmental disability is living in their own home, they need assistance to balance their own budget, to cook their food, to go shopping. If there isn’t that kind of assistance, they’re obviously going to be in significant difficulty," says Uditsky. "Right now quite a number of people are able to be employed because somebody shows up on a daily or weekly basis to help them out, make sure they can follow instructions, that they’re not in danger. If that support isn’t there, it’s less likely an employer will keep somebody if they’re not able to do the job."
Uditsky says there’s already a high level of turnover among support workers because the pay is low, which is difficult for people with developmental disabilities because they have to keep adjusting to new people.
"At the very least, the government should provide enough funding so that the supports and services continue to be maintained for people who are currently being served, as well as for individuals turning 18," he says.
Jason Chance, spokesperson for Seniors and Community Supports, the government ministry that oversees PDD, says the budget for PDD hasn’t been finalized. However, he says the program is "very well funded." PDD received a little over $500 million this year to provide community supports for 9,000 people with developmental disabilities. Chance says the PDD caseload increased by 20 per cent since 1999, but funding has increased by 70 per cent over the same time period. He points out over 90 per cent of PDD clients also receive financial assistance through AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped). |
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