Colin and Marty Stephenson were left distressed and disheartened after receiving a recent phone call. They were informed that the day program their 24-year-old daughter Abbie participates in had its funding completely removed from the provincial government’s budget. Abbie, who has a complex form of epilepsy and requires continuous care, usually attends day programs at Club Inclusion from 9 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m. Attending these programs not only gives Abbie socialization and a sense of belonging but also provides the family with much-needed respite.
Club Inclusion, part of the Prescott Group in Halifax, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has been in existence since 2008. The organization’s CEO, Alice Evans, acknowledged the challenges posed by the cuts but reassured that they will persevere and maintain their programming despite facing a 10% reduction in day programs and a complete cut to Club Inclusion’s day program funding. The Group has also experienced wage reductions due to the budget constraints.
The provincial budget includes cutbacks to various programs that impact people with disabilities and their support networks. Advocates in the disability community are asserting that the most vulnerable individuals are disproportionately affected by these changes and are urging the Progressive Conservative government to reverse its decisions. Premier Tim Houston has indicated that there are no plans to amend the budget, despite the outcry.
Colin Stephenson expressed concern that the cuts will require organizations and groups to intensify their efforts to sustain service levels to the community. He emphasized that success should not be solely measured by financial metrics but by the care provided to the most vulnerable individuals. The Stephensons, prepared to care for Abbie well into their 70s, are apprehensive about the province’s future role in her care, feeling a sense of betrayal and uncertainty.
Kari Robertson, whose 44-year-old son Graham also attends Club Inclusion’s day program, is awaiting clarification on how the cuts to disability support and the caregiver benefit, a $400 monthly stipend for caregivers of seniors and adults with disabilities, will affect her family. Robertson criticized the cuts in the provincial budget as “deplorable” and emphasized the significant role the caregiver benefit has played in supporting her family over the years.
There is uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the $2.5 million cut to the caregiver benefit. Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Barbara Adams could not provide specifics on how the reduction would be applied, citing the need for further details post-legislature session. Jenny Theriault, from Caregivers Nova Scotia, highlighted the immediate repercussions of reducing the caregiver benefit, as caregiver struggles can have ripple effects on various sectors of care.
Henk van Leeuwen, president of the Directions Council of Nova Scotia, criticized the cuts as contradictory to the Human Rights Remedy aimed at enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities. Despite budget constraints, Adams affirmed the province’s commitment to fulfilling obligations under the remedy and expressed reliance on community organizations to minimize redundancies and maintain efficiency in their operations.
