Strengthening Our Voices
Barbara McCormack, FAO President, sent a letter of welcome to Ministry of Community and Social Services Minister John Milloy which contains an emphatic message from families frustrated with the slow pace of Transformation, and the shameful instability and/or lack of supports for our loved ones who have developmental disabilities.
We have been notified that a meeting with the Minister will be scheduled for early in the New Year where we also plan to discuss the serious issues raised by the 2011 Auditor-General's Report into Passport and SSAH. Note that these disturbing findings are on top of many other issues detailed in the 2009 A-G report regarding agency-managed residential accommodation.
We will also be developing a joint strategy with the SSAH Passport Provincial Coalition and ARCH Disabiliity Law Centre to address entitlement to disability supports, not just eligibility. We strongly value our relationship with our partners and look forward to building further coalitions to create change.
With only a few days notice in mid December, Barbara submitted a strong Pre-Budget presentation for the Minister of Finance and was invited to give a two-minute pitch along with the written submission - not long enough.
We have also opened communications with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care with respect to direct funding options for Community Care Access Centre support, issues regarding nursing home placements and inappropriate Inter-RAI assessments. (Letter to Alex Bezzina) We have a meeting scheduled February 6 with Assistant Deputy Minister Alex Bezzina as a first step to getting the issues of our loved ones with disabilities and complex medical needs on the table.
Other activities include opportunities for our voices to be heard through the CBC program W5 (thanks to Marilyn Dolmage, Janis Jaffe-White, Trish Spindel, Debby Vernon and all others who have been involved with the producer).
We are working on a submission to MCSS regarding potential issues with the move of adult supports from SSAH to Passport - please let us know your fears with this move.
Finally, Linda Viscardis, Board Member from Peterborough, will start building our portfolio of postive, successful stories whith which to inspire other families. We look forward to sharing these.
Our voices are gaining strength through the growing numbers of local networks and family directed groups. Each of us needs to do our best to influence change. Please let us know what is happening in your area and how you are dealing with the issues your family is facing.
Election 2011 - Party Responses to FAO
FAO recently sent letters to the three provincial party leaders. We outlined some issues of importance to families which deserved their attention.
FAO questions for PC Party, for Liberal Party, for NDP Party
PC Party Response
NDP Party Response
Liberal Party Response
Transformation
FAO wants to make sure you are updated on the announcement of the amalgamation of the SSAH and Passport programs, for adults with disabilities, on April 1, 2012. The Policy division has asked FAO, and other representatives at the Partnership Table, to share what we are hearing in response to this change. The Ministry staff would like our suggestions of how best to communicate with families. We welcome your comments and will make sure to continue to influence the positive development of a comprehensive direct funding model, which must be a viable and sustainable choice of support for our loved ones.
Ministry's Spotlight on Transformation
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