Local concerns regarding changes being made by the province to how persons with disabilities are provided support and funding were obvious at last week's meeting with Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Frank Oberle, who stopped in St. Paul on Friday afternoon to speak to residents.
The hour-long meeting acted as a way for Oberle to offer information, but it also gave residents a venue to ask questions and voice concerns about the impending changes.
Oberle began his speech by stating he understands that there needs to be “local input" regarding the upcoming changes. He added that those in attendance could “consider (the meeting) the start of the conversation."
He explained that there are problems with the system that prevent individuals from achieving goals, and there is a big discrepancy in the amount of funding disabled Albertans are receiving. Oberle also stated a number of times that he believes focusing on employment helps disabled people become more engaged in their communities.
The current system, he said, is focused on activities and not goals.
In Oberle's public statement, which was handed out at the meeting, he states that, “The right thing to do is to provide supports based on need. That need first has to be fairly and impartially determined by conducting scientific, internationally recognized assessment, which is what SIS (Support Intensity Scale) is."
When speaking in St. Paul on Friday, Oberle said this year is going to be a “transformational year" and wants to see a system that is fair, efficient and sustainable. He added that $42 million has been removed from community access, but funding has been set aside for wage increases and staff retention.
In his statement, he acknowledges that “when we implement the changes to community access supports, there will indeed be impacts, but they will not be as severe as has been suggested." Oberle said his department is working with providers to ensure the impacts are manageable.
In attendance at the meeting was a number of St. Paul Abilities Network (SPAN) clients, staff, and also many family members to persons with disabilities. A concern regarding how clients are feeling about the impending changes and the stories appearing in the media was expressed.
“We're not talking about cutting people off supports," said Oberle in response to those concerns. He later added that the current system is not sustainable but added, “it's not about saving money, it's about improving service."
Challenges facing rural areas in offering supports and services were also discussed and contracts with service providers were also noted. Contracts between the government and service providers will expire on July 1.
One parent in attendance asked what the government's next step would be to ease fears while moving forward, and the cancellation of a couple post-secondary programs in the disability field was also mentioned.
Oberle said the province will be sending out letters to Albertans and again affirmed that the meeting was the beginning of a conversation and not the end.
“Any transformation is difficult," said Oberle after the meeting. He added that through his meetings across the province he hopes to tell Albertans what the government's vision is and why change is needed.
He acknowledged that people are scared and are feeling the pace of change is fast.
“Everywhere we go, we hear a new issue," said Oberle, adding, the meetings offer Albertans a place to express any fears they may have.
Following the meeting, SPAN Executive Director Tim Bear expressed his ongoing concerns with the changes facing the system. Bear said he doesn't believe the province should be starting its “results based budget exercises" with persons with disabilities, as they are some of the most vulnerable Albertans.
“There are a lot of unknowns," said Bear.
He added that he does not believe SIS was designed to be used as a tool to decide how much funding a person should get. It is a tool that measures the kinds of supports an individual will need to have in their life, explains Bear, adding, he doesn't support it being used as a “funding trigger."
“The government says that there's going to be about a seven per cent error rate, and in fact we're finding a 30 per cent error rate," said Bear, when speaking about SIS. He adds that the government has added the numbers to the tool to decide funding, but “people are individuals" and the averages designated may not be accurate.
Bear says that coupling budget cuts with a massive change in strategy is troubling.
For the St. Paul area, the budget cuts translate to about a million dollar cut, but Bear anticipates a reduction of about $500,000, which for a small rural community is still huge.
“There's no question staff are going to be worried," said Bear, adding, SPAN will try to minimize the impacts as best as it can.
“There are lots of questions out there," said Bear, adding, Albertans have been rallying in Edmonton and Calgary “because there are so many questions."
In the end, Bear says he doesn't disagree with the outcome based funding model, but he does feel the changes are happening too quickly, and in turn, “the government is really breaking trust with the community."
