December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members working in developmental services, families of supported individuals and disability rights activists will rally in front of Minister of Community and Social Services (MCSS) John Milloy’s office in Kitchener to draw attention to the impact of cuts to services and supports to adults with developmental disabilities.
Under the Ontario Liberal Government, inadequate funding has resulted in cuts to services and supports and growing waitlists for services across the province.
“There are currently 23,000 individuals waiting to get the services and supports they need in Ontario, says Jim Beattie, Chair of the CUPE Developmental Services Sector Coordinating Committee. Recently in Sarnia, two families were forced to surrender care of their son or daughter with developmental disabilities to a local agency, due to the absence of access to appropriate residential services. Unfortunately, they are not alone.”
Inadequate funding for services and supports to people with disabilities violates basic rights to accessibility and inclusion. Lack of provincial funding has meant fewer recreational activities for supported individuals and cancelled community-based inclusive activities, cuts to staffing hours sacrificing quality of care and a crisis in access to supports for ageing family members and individuals with developmental disabilities in a long queue for services.
“It is time the Provincial government met its responsibility to provide adequate funding to ensure quality services and supports and access to those supports for people with developmental disabilities,” added Beattie.
Join with CUPE in demanding that the Liberal government provide adequate funding for services and supports for people with developmental disabilities and ensure that every individual in need of services get the support they need.
WHO: Developmental services workers, families of supported individuals and disability rights activists
WHAT: Rally in front of MCSS John Milloy’s constituency office
WHEN: December 3, 2012 at 12:00 (noon)
WHERE: 1770 King St. E, Unit 6C, Kitchener, Ontario
WHY: Shed light on the impacts of provincial underfunding to individuals with developmental disabilities
For more information, please contact:
Marjorie Savoie, CUPE Communications: (613) 864-9924