Cut to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. Inclusion Alberta

Media release: Cuts to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families

January 22, 2025

For Immediate Release – January 22, 2025

Inclusion Alberta supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families across the province. We bring families together in both rural and urban communities to learn how to best create inclusive lives and to support each other in the continuous challenges they face.

Inclusion Alberta has been notified that we will receive a significant cut in the funding we receive from the government of Alberta to assist individuals and families in local communities across the province. At a time of growing uncertainty, rising costs and increasing strain on families, we now have less capacity to help families navigate the complex systems and challenges they encounter in trying to create the best life possible for their family member with an intellectual disability. This funding has has enabled families to come together to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities to actively pursue inclusion in every aspect of community life and do so in such a way that they are less dependent on government funding.

“Our ability to support these local grassroots family networks to build their capacity and capitalize on natural community supports and opportunities is more important than ever in a time when many families are waiting without any support from either FSCD or PDD,” says Keith Moore, Treasurer of Inclusion Alberta.

While Inclusion Alberta works to navigate the impacts of this funding decision, we’re concerned most for the families who rely on the community and connection that was created.

“Attending local workshops offered in partnership with Inclusion Alberta has had a huge influence on our daughter having a rich and inclusive life,” says Elaine Lupul, a Calgary parent of an adult daughter with an intellectual disability. “Connecting with other families keeps us going. I’m concerned about the funding being cut for the grassroots work being done to prepare families and communities to be creative in developing jobs for people with disabilities, leaving us to face the enormous challenge of finding employment for our daughter alone.”

Trish Bowman, CEO of Inclusion Alberta, says that reducing funding for these opportunities comes at a particularly difficult time. As the organization was looking to respond to the growing demand, it will now turn its efforts to preserving what was.

“Assisting individuals and families to navigate systems and make the best use of the resources available to them is critical to enabling lives of possibility and hope,” says Bowman. “In difficult times, the decision to cut support to those who already face significant challenges every day should be a wakeup call for all Albertans.”

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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.