Province discontinuing funding for disability support group in Lethbridge

“There was no indication prior to this that there was anything coming, as well as with the other organizations that have also received the notice as well. It’s been a very big shock to everyone as there was no indication that there would be any cancellation of funding or any notice given prior to, you know, the holidays or anything,” says Dormaar.

Interim Board President Mark Davids adds that, up until this notice, the province had told SAIPA that it had been going “over and above” its contractual obligations every year and had been making good use of its limited budgets.

SAIPA helps people with disabilities to advocate for themselves and provides a range of workshops and other resources.

Dormaar says the work they do around advocacy is crucial for the people they serve.

“It’s anything that they need help with, whether it’s helping them create a script for advocating for their doctor, right, to their doctor to understand what their disability means,” says Dormaar.

She continues, “Advocating for themselves around accommodations at work. It’s learning how to advocate for themselves in their home with their roommates, with their service providers, with their [support] staff they have, with their families or their guardians, right, of knowing what their rights are. You know, we do a lot of teaching around knowing our rights and abuse prevention.”

For some people with disabilities, Dormaar says they do not have anyone else who can advocate for them as they navigate everything that life throws at them.

SAIPA serves hundreds of people every year in the Lethbridge area and also works with its regional counterpart, the South Region Self-Advocacy Network (SRSAN) to reach those in Medicine Hat, Brooks and other communities.

Dormaar and Davids are trying to figure out where else they can secure funding but admit that it will be difficult as governments are the main groups that can reliably provide money to organizations like SAIPA.

Dormaar says she has contacted members of Lethbridge City Council to see if they can help.

Calgary’s Disability Action Hall and the Self Advocacy Federation in Edmonton say they have received similar notices of the impending funding cuts. They, along with SAIPA, are set to lose $424,000 annually combined.

Despite the letters that were sent to the service providers by the provincial government, however, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Board claimed in a statement to LNN that there have not actually been any reductions to funding.

“No cuts have been made to direct services delivered by contracted community disability service providers. Alberta’s government remains committed to supporting individuals with disabilities, and we will continue to fund organizations that provide essential supports to Albertans with disabilities,” says spokesperson Justin Brattinga.

Brattinga adds that the government will redirect resources saved from this decision to services for individuals and families.

“Due to increased demand on the province’s disability programs, Alberta’s government is ensuring that resources are allocated to connecting individuals and families to supports and services as quickly as possible,” explains Brattinga. “As a result, a contract with SAIPA for advocacy will be concluded. No front-line services are affected by this decision.”

In the 2024 provincial budget, the government says it invested $3.3 billion to support Albertans with disabilities, including $1.65 billion on AISH, $1.22 billion on the PDD program, $234 million on the FSCD program, and $227 million on the Barriers to Full Employment (BFE) program.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

by David Opinko

Province discontinuing funding for disability support group in Lethbridge

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