Joint news release from Alberta Disability Workers Association, Alberta Council of Disability Services (ACDS) and Alberta Association for Community Living new release
For Immediate Release May 14, 2013
JOINT STATEMENT
IMPENDING CUTS TO
PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PDD):
EXCESSIVE AND
THREATENING
Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL), Alberta
Council of Disability Services (ACDS) and Alberta Disability Workers
Association (ADWA), who together represent almost the entirety of the community
who rely on PDD funding, - families and their family members with developmental
disabilities, service providers and support staff – have joined together to
express our mutual concerns. The
reduction in PDD funding of minimally $60 million is the largest cut in the Government’s
current budget – close to twice the size of the 7% cut required of
post-secondary institutions; the largest cut ever imposed on individuals with
developmental disabilities in Alberta’s history.
It may still be weeks before individuals with developmental
disabilities and their families are even informed as to their reduction in
supports and still time would be needed to consider the implications; with the
cuts to be implemented at the end of June.
For many, Alberta’s cold winter will begin this year on July 1. The depth of the reduction in funding is one
that we believe is not manageable and will result in the safety, well-being and
security of individuals with developmental disabilities being compromised.
Collectively we are supportive of Government’s interest in
having individuals with developmental disabilities leading more inclusive and
productive lives. However, this will not
be possible under the current circumstances and in fact, progressive change may
be set back further than ever. Contrary to the understanding of many that this
crisis is precipitated by a cut to community access funding, this is incorrect; as most of the community access funding has been
distributed to other line items. The single
overriding issue is the total and overwhelming reduction in PDD funding to be
implemented in the last three-quarters of the fiscal year. PDD funding
reductions are based on an arbitrary formula that will impact thousands across
much of their lives.
We wish to be clear that even a limited infusion of
additional funding will only delay this unmanageable reduction and not
eliminate the actual overwhelming impact. The current funding reductions will
push the persons with developmental disabilities community into crisis mode,
increase vulnerabilities and inhibit progress for possibly years to come.
We urgently call upon
the Alberta Government, as it is done recently in accommodating physicians,
post-secondary students and tuition, and pharmacists, to allocate sufficient
funds to sustain existing supports and services to Albertans with developmental
disabilities and their families as the means to advance the needed change we
are all committed to achieving.
-30-
For more information:
Alberta Association Alberta Council of Alberta Disability
for Community Living Disability Services Workers Association
Robin Acton Helen
Ficocelli Tim
Bear
President
President President
780.808.0752 403.250.9495 780.645.3441
Bruce Uditsky Ann Nicol Jamie Post
AACL, CEO
ACDS, CEO ADWA, Coordination &
780.940.4269 403.250.9495 Communications Director
