If you or someone you know has an intellectual or developmental disability, then you’re probably already aware of the dire and growing problems faced by B.C. families in this situation as they try to get the services they need:
Our members are angry and frustrated about the large waitlists for service from Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) and the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD). It is now estimated that there is 2500 adults and thousands of children with disabilities waiting for support that people need to function in the community and to relieve the pressure on families.
The waitlists are not new. We have been talking about them for many years. The difference now is that the waitlists are longer and the system has never been more convoluted and perverse – ask any parent trying to get support for their family member.
We have been polite so far – waiting to see what the creation of CLBC would mean and having faith in what seemed to be the good intentions of the new government. But enough time has gone by without adequate support for people with disabilities. It is time for change.
That’s from a Facebook group that’s formed recently to press the case for waitlist reductions. They’re promising to start ramping up action around the end of January, including a virtual rally.
If this speaks to you – whether it’s because you know someone in this situation or because you don’t like to see people wait forever for badly needed services – I hope you’ll consider joining their group. I have.
(For more info, check out the End Waitlists Now blog and this CBC News story on children with special needs in BC.)
Disclosure: I’ve worked with the group’s administrator, Kevin Lusignan, as part of Social Signal’s work on Untape.com with BACI, the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion.
