We need your help to make all Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) aware of the issues of importance to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. As explained in our response to the 2025 provincial budget, funding falls short of addressing the current crisis being experienced by many people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Alberta. As government will soon be making decisions for Budget 2026, now is the time to let them know how critically important it is to address the following issues:

• Inclusive education: With trustee elections and potential job action by teachers keeping education issues in the limelight, it’s an important time to make sure that government also hears how frequently parents whose children have an intellectual disability are denied their choice of an inclusive education.
• Hundreds of individuals and families who responded to Inclusion Alberta’s surveys describe how the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) programs have become bureaucratic and unresponsive. Thousands of individuals and families have been left struggling without support.
• The failure to consult with individuals and families about the planned Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) which will replace AISH for some adults in 2026.
• The clawback of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB).

The following information is about the provincial government but summer is also a good time to introduce yourself to your newly elected or re-elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and discuss actions the federal government can take to make life better for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Ways to connect with your MLA:

Summer events: 

There are many upcoming opportunities to meet with MLAs to share your priorities. Examples include summer BBQs, the Calgary Stampede, and by-elections in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona, and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Find out about events your MLA is attending by following them on social media or contacting their constituency office.

Become a political party member: 

Inclusion Alberta is non-partisan and does not suggest which party you should support. There are opportunities to participate in the political process by buying a party membership for $10, joining a party’s local constituency association, attending UCP events or AGM to vote on policy, NDP events, or events of other Alberta political parties.

Arrange an in-person meeting with your MLA: 

We encourage you to directly contact your MLA to request a meeting, as MLAs are not at legislature in Edmonton again until the end of October. Find your MLA and their phone number by entering your postal code here.

Prepare for a focused and respectful conversation  

Choose to speak to one or two issues that matter to you and describe your family’s story in relation to those issues. We have provided some talking points on several issues that are currently impacting children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families, but you may choose to speak to other issues of importance to you.

Key Issues: Download talking points documents: 

1. The barriers to accessing a quality inclusive education (download)
2. Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program (download)
3. Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program (download)
4. The proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) (download) (plain language talking points for ADAP available here)
5. The clawback of the Canada Disability Benefit from adults who receive AISH (download)

• Start the conversation by thanking your MLA for taking the time to meet with you.
• Mention your roles in the community (employee, volunteer, small business-owner, etc.) and share a photo of your family member with an intellectual disability if they are not with you.
• Ask whether they are familiar with the policy or program you want to discuss (e.g. PDD, CDB). Be prepared to provide a high-level overview.
• Stick to your agenda. MLAs often respond with talking points about other things their party has a position on. You may need to boldly redirect the conversation by saying. “Sorry, I would like to return to telling you about my concerns as a constituent in your riding.” Do not expect the MLA to promise changes but do expect them to listen respectfully to you.
• After presenting the issues, you could consider ending by saying, “As my MLA I hope you will represent the issues faced by families like mine; that your role isn’t just to promote your party’s position.” Consider asking the following questions:

1. What actions are you going to take to advocate for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in this community?
2. Will you meet with your MLA caucus, the Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services (or Minister of Education and Childcare), the Minister of Finance, and the Premier to raise the issues I’ve shared today?
3. Once you’ve done so, will you meet with me again to provide an update?

After the meeting  

• Make sure to send a thank you letter or email to your MLA in which you can remind the MLA of the key requests you made in the meeting.
• Please complete this quick online form to let us know when you met with any MLA, who attended and how the meeting went. If we know that every MLA, or close to it, has had a meeting with families, we are in a much better position to advance funding, policies and practices that will positively impact the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Thank you for speaking up to inform MLAs of your concerns. Please contact us at 780-451-3055 or info@inclusionalberta.org if you have questions about these policy priorities or how you can raise them with your MLA.