For immediate release – February 28, 2025

Budget 2025 provides increases to the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program (PDD) but falls short of addressing the current crisis being experienced by children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families.

“We’re appreciative of the increases but know 1000’s of families will continue to struggle” says Monica Braat, parent of a son with intellectual disabilities and President of Inclusion Alberta.

The Government’s fiscal framework limits new spending to a maximum of the prior year’s population growth plus inflation, which combined would be 7.3%. Spending increases in FSCD and PDD fall significantly below this rate and fail to recognize these programs have been inadequately funded for years, causing significant waitlists.

PDD:

“It is heartbreaking to know how many adults and their families have been forgotten, left to fend for themselves, while our communities miss out on all the contributions adults with intellectual disabilities have to offer,” says Braat.

The 5.94% increase to PDD spending is welcomed but won’t address the lack of support for the 1000’s of adults not deemed to have ‘critical and urgent needs’ or receiving inadequate support. Without access to these supports, adults with intellectual disabilities who can and want to participate in the social and economic fabric of our communities are left behind, denied the hope of a life of possibility.

FSCD: 

The 3.61% increase in FSCD spending falls below the government’s projected population and inflation growth, and does not address the 1000’s of families already waiting 3 or more years after applying to obtain access to critical supports. Waitlists will continue to grow, as families watch critical developmental years slip away.

Trish Bowman, Inclusion Alberta CEO, says, “We have heard from hundreds of families about the devastating impact of being unable to access these critical supports such as job loss and being plunged into financial insecurity, children being unable to access needed developmental opportunities during critical early years, and escalating physical and mental health challenges for all members of the family. The failure to provide timely support will have lasting impacts on these families, resulting in more costly support and interventions being required in the coming years.”

Education: 

Within Education, Specialized Learning Supports (SLS) received a 5.2% increase however whether this improves access to inclusive education in regular education classrooms will depend on decisions made by school divisions.

AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped): 

Budget 2025 states that the reduction to the AISH budget will not impact overall client income, however with caseloads and benefit levels increasing, it raises the question of how the government will sustain benefits. Adults with disabilities should be concerned that the Government of Alberta has not yet stated a position on whether it will claw back funds AISH clients receive from the federal government’s Canada Disability Benefit, slated to begin in July 2025.

Inclusion Alberta continues to advocate on behalf of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families for adequate supports needed to live a good life, fully included in their community. We are actively seeking to bring family perspectives to government as they make decisions about the future of disability supports for Albertans. We encourage all families affected to reach out to their Member of the Legislative Assembly to let them know how these budget choices affect them.

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Inclusion Alberta Chief Executive Officer Trish Bowman is available for interviews. Please contact Sara Protasow, Inclusion Alberta Communications Coordinator at sprotasow@inclusionalberta.org or 780-906-4693.

About Inclusion Alberta: Inclusion Alberta is a family based, non-profit federation that advocates on behalf of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Together, we share a dream of meaningful family life and community inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As an advocacy organization we support families and individuals in their desire to be fully included in community life.