Alberta Government Cuts Critical Services: AACL Issues Urgent Notice
 |
The Government of Alberta has recently announced that it will cut funding to organizations and eliminate critical services that provide imperative supports to vulnerable Albertans. The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is gravely disappointed with these announced cuts and encourage all citizens to advocate for a favourable resolution that benefits all Albertans with developmental disabilities. The Alberta Association of Community Living (AACL) has released an important message to all Alberta families and self-advocates receiving funding for adults with developmental disabilities. See the urgent notice and attachment(s) from the AACL under "Read More". The Canadian Down Syndrome Society works diligently to lobby public decision makers to ensure decisions made nationally and in provinces across the country are in the best interest of over 35,000 Canadians with Down syndrome and their families. |
Urgent Notice to Families and their Allies
Alberta Association for Community Living
December 16, 2009
The attached Media Release and Background Information provides information on imminent cuts to services and funding for adults with developmental disabilities of which you might not be aware. These unannounced cuts might be stopped if enough families take immediate action.
If you do not want to see the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities put at risk, we urge you to contact your MLA immediately and to have as many of your allies contact them as well. Ask the Premier to keep his promise to protect vulnerable Albertans.
You may call, write, ask for a meeting and/or email. We ask as well that you let AACL know if you have contacted your MLA. In order to find the contact information for your MLA you can go to:
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home
Alberta maybe putting the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities in harm's way, when it could easily absorb the cuts or have prevented the need for them in the first instance.
You will note in the attached information PDD's intent to begin assessing every individual. Under the circumstances we suggest families and individuals refuse to undergo this assessment until the cuts are stopped, and refuse to support resources being allocated to these assessments while cuts are being made. Further to this individuals and families are advised not to agree to these assessments until PDD openly and transparently communicates the purpose of these assessments and assures families that individual supports and services will not be reduced as a result of these assessments.
We suggest as well that families consider requesting from PDD, not from agencies but PDD, the reinstatement of any cuts to their support and failing that reinstatement, launch an appeal. AACL will be pleased to assist you any such appeal.
If you require additional information than that attached, please give one of our staff a call or email. Please note the attachments regarding PDD funding cuts and distribute this information as widely as possible.
STOP THE CUTS: REMOVE THE FEAR
Read More:
Background PDD cuts 2009 -2010.doc (47,616 KB)
Media Release PDD Cuts 2009 -2010-2.doc (84,480 KB)
Your cart is empty!
