A coalition of British Columbia disability The groups have launched a new campaign on social networks using the provincial government to repair what it calls a “broken” support system.
The “I am one of them” campaign includes videos that features nine families with children who need specialized support services.
“It is the child who knows the system, it is not only a number,” said Nanaimo’s mother, Ashley Gardner, about the videos.
Gardner’s son, five years old, Daniel, who is legally blind and who is autistic and epilepsy, missed weeks in class at the start of the year Due to a lack of educational assistants.
She said that her problem obtaining him the support he needs was only the last embodiment of a system that the services of Siloss provided by various ministries, leaving parents exhausted as they try to navigate the bureaucracy.
“They are not interconnected, they do not consult the child as a whole – it is a full -time work to try to get what you need to get your child the equal access and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities and the opportunities The support they need, and many times, you can’t even get them, even when you fight all the time, “she said.
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“My hobby, my personality, is to be the defender of my son … It has an impact on work, it has an impact on our social relationships, our mental health, our quality of life.”
The video campaign is an initiative of the BC Disability Coalition, an alliance of 19 advocacy groups for families with complex needs.
The president of the coalition, Pat Mirenda, says that people with disabilities often need a variety of services from several ministries, including the ministries of health, education and children and family development.
“There is no good coordination,” she said.
“So for families, what it means is when I need something, I don’t know who to go, I don’t know who to access, I spend half my life to talk, and It is really problematic. »»
The coalition calls on the province to commit to “cross -investments” to better coordinate services and simplify the system for disabled people and families.
Mirenda said disabled people had not been a priority for provincial or federal governments. As a result, the programs that support them have been hungry for funding, she said.
But she said that very publicized cases such as the tragic death of the death of Florence Girard and the attention of the media to stories like Gardner or that of British Columbia Community of Columbia have an impact – the one they hope that the new campaign will increase.
“If there are enough drops in the bucket, maybe the bucket will be full and people will pay attention,” she said.
“We are tired, it’s ridiculous, it must stop.”
In a statement, the Minister of Children and Family Development, Jodie Wickens, recognized the challenges that parents face.
“We must do better – and it is so important to rely on the knowledge and first -hand experience that parents, caregivers, service providers, support workers and defenders have to offer,” -Ali said.
The Wickens added that the ministry was determined to “strengthen and align” services with the health system, a management included in it and the Minister of Health Josie Osborne, saying that she is trying to align her mandate To better work with the Ministry of Health and improve services.
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