Increasing risk for disabled

The Alberta government is cutting $60 million in supports for persons with developmental disabilities for 12 months beginning July 1. More cuts are planned after that.

The Persons with Developmental Disabilities program is also in the process of assessing each person who receives funding. Only half the assessments are complete and many are incorrect because the people who made them never met the person face to face.

Individuals assessed to have lower needs will see their funding reduced and will be expected to find jobs. Those with higher physical or behavioural needs will also receive less funding and see a loss of one-to-one support. Families and the community will be expected to fill in the cracks.

The government says it hopes to encourage greater community inclusiveness. After working in this field for almost seven years, I foresee different outcomes:

People with low to moderate needs will lose most of their funding.

People with high needs will lose a lot of their funding, which will place them, their support workers and possibly their communities in danger.

People in schools will face a future with limited opportunities.

If we live in a wealthy province, why must these cuts be made? They are too big and are coming too fast. Brenda Randall, St. Albert