The Government of Saskatchewan proclaimed Dec. 3 as International Day of Persons With Disabilities in Saskatchewan. This year’s theme is Sustainable Development: the Promise of Technology. The purpose of the day, which was created in 1992, is to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends.
“Technology continues to play an important role in connecting us all together – to share experiences, and interact in ways never thought possible,” said Humboldt MLA, Donna Harpauer in a news release. “Evolutions in videoconferencing, text-to-voice translation, in addition to the continuous development of accessibility functions on computers, tablets and smart phones are but a few examples of the progress being made in technology. These technologies play an invaluable role in enriching the lives of people with disabilities, their friends and families.”
Starting in 2007, Harpauer, as the Minister of Social services, began a program to help people with disabilities.
“Disabilities had not been given attention before that,” she said.
There was a 440-person wait list for services for people with intellectual disabilities and Harpauer said they were “languishing” there. The Ministry of Social Services committed $62.5 million to ending the wait list. In Humboldt specifically, there is the HILDA Home, which is a group home for people with intellectual disabilities. Saskatchewan’s other big initiative to help people with disabilities is the SAID program (Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability), which provides income to people with significant, long-term disabilities that is separate from the Saskatchewan Assistance Program.
“We need to recognize that there are additional expenses that come with having disabilities,” Harpauer said.
In addition, the City of Humboldt has also begun sloping the curves at the corners of sidewalks for individuals with wheelchairs.
Last fall, the Saskatchewan government formed a Citizen Consultation Team (CCT) to lead consultations and use the input to develop a provincial Disability Strategy, which is set to come out this coming spring. The group conducted public forums across the province. The CCT also used input from social media, online surveys, and written submissions.
The CCT outlined several consistent concerns to focus on in the upcoming Disability Strategy.
-Community inclusion: This includes accessibility, information, and better support and coordination.
-Support for caregivers: This is the need for families taking care of disabled relatives as well as for paid caregivers to get a respite, as well as improved wages and training.
-Education: Funding for education supports and improved transitions support in and out of K-12 schools.
-Supported accommodation: expansion of home care programs and more residential care options, particularly for those groups who don’t have as many options as others, such as autism or those with significant physical disabilities.
-Housing: Increased accessible housing
-Employment: increased employer awareness of disability as well as better disability employment support systems.
-Transportation: better transit systems for disabled people, accessible taxis, and financial support for vehicle modifications.
“It wasn’t long ago that people with disabilities were kept hidden in the home,” Harpauer said. “It was a thing that was regarded … with some sort of shame. I think the more we can include individuals with differences from us in the community, it makes for a better community all around.”
