Colin and Marty Stephenson received a call this week that left them feeling stressed and betrayed.
They were told the day program their 24-year-old daughter Abbie takes part in had its funding completely cut from the provincial government’s budget.
Abbie lives with a complex form of epilepsy and requires around the clock care.
She typically attends various day programs at Club Inclusion from 9 a.m. until around 4 p.m..
Her mother says attending day programs gives the family respite and provides Abbie with socialization, community and a sense of belonging.
“It is really unthinkable to be in the position where something so fundamental to Abbie’s quality of life is at risk,” she said.
Club Inclusion has been around since 2008 and is a part of Prescott Group, an organization in Halifax that works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Group’s CEO, Alice Evans says although the impact of the cuts is difficult to tell now, they will push through and continue programming.
“There’s a 10 per cent cut to day programs altogether and the complete cut to the Club Inclusion day program funding,” she said.
“We’ve had some reductions to our wage base as well.”
The provincial budget includes cuts to a variety of programs affecting people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and the organizations that support them.
People from the disability community say the province’s most vulnerable are being disproportionately harmed, and they’re calling on the Progressive Conservative government to reverse the proposed changes.
Premier Tim Houston says he has no plans to adjust the budget.
Abbie’s father Colin says the cuts mean organizations and groups will have to work that much harder to “maintain levels of service” to the community. He says their success shouldn’t be measured with money.
“It’s measured by how they care for the most vulnerable and in this aspect, in this moment, in this decision, our government has failed us and we feel betrayed,” he said.
The Stephenson’s say they are fully prepared to care for Abbie well into their 70’s. But it’s an “untenable reality” and at this point they do not trust the province to help take care of her daughter.
“We are not going to be here forever and not knowing how the province is going to take care of her is something that we are constantly worrying and frantic about,” Marty Stephenson said.
Kari Robertson’s 44-year-old son Graham also attends day programming with Club Inclusion.
She’s anxiously waiting to find out how he’ll be impacted by cuts to disability support and to the caregiver benefit – a $400 monthly stipend that’s available to people caring for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Robertson said the cuts in this provincial budget are “absolutely deplorable.”
“I don’t understand how you can go after a vulnerable population like this and not think twice about it, and take so much away from them all at one time,” Robertson told reporters Wednesday at Province House.
Robertson was at the legislature for a news conference with NDP Leader Claudia Chender to highlight cuts to the caregiver benefit, which faces a 20 per cent reduction.
Chender said adjustments to that program’s budget should be in the opposite direction; she tabled a bill Wednesday that would see the benefit double to $800 and rise annually at the rate of inflation.
Robertson’s family has been receiving the caregiver benefit since it was created 16 years ago. Her son was diagnosed with a complex form of epilepsy at age 4. She left her career to stay home and care for him.
Robertson said the caregiver benefit made a world of difference, helping make up for some of her lost income.
“More than that, it told me that the government actually cared and valued what I was doing,” she said.
“When I heard about the cruel cuts to this program, we were immediately anxious, concerned and quite frankly very angry.”
The benefit has not changed since it was introduced and Robertson said she asked the government for an increase five years, to no avail.
“As long as we can breathe and walk and care for him, he will be in our home. But it’s getting harder and harder and much more expensive to do all of that.”
It’s not clear how the $2.5-million cut to the caregiver benefit will be applied. Whether the amount per person will drop or the eligibility will change, Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Barbara Adams could not say.
“As soon as we have those details I will be certainly happy to share those with you,” Adams told reporters at Province House, adding that she expects to have more to say once the legislature rises.
Adams said she understands families’ concerns, but “difficult decisions had to be made” as the province faces a $1.2-billion deficit.
Jenny Theriault, executive director of the non-profit group Caregivers Nova Scotia, said reducing the caregiver benefit will be felt immediately.
“When caregivers struggle or burn out, the impact ripples outward, increasing pressure on home care, hospitals and long-term care.”
Theriault’s organization gets 95 per cent of it’s funding from the province but it’s being reduced by 20 per cent. She said the board is looking for ways to mitigate the loss.
Henk van Leeuwen, president of the Directions Council of Nova Scotia, said the cuts are “illogical” and contrary to the work of the Human Rights Remedy, aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities.
There’s about $180 million in the budget directly connected to the remedy, about $60 million of that for new initiatives.
The Directions Council of Nova Scotia represents about 34 organizations who provide inclusion and support to people with disabilities in their communities across the province.
“This crucial work is just now beginning to take shape and these cuts will negatively impact the organizations carrying it out and the people they serve,” said van Leeuwen in a news release.
“This budget punches down,” he said.
Adams said she’s committed to fulfilling the obligations under the remedy. She said she’s relying on community organizations to help and her department will work with those who are impacted by cuts to “maximize efficiency, reduce redundancy,” and continue their work.
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