CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — After revamping and expanding supports for Islanders living with disabilities a year ago, the province has seen a 25 per cent increase in the number of individuals accessing these supports.
In a meeting of the standing committee on health and social development on Wednesday, MLAs heard that there have been close to 350 new applicants or recipients of AccessAbility Supports over the last year.
The disability support programs were revamped in August 2018. The new program, renamed AccessAbility Supports, was introduced after an extensive consultation with non-profit groups and community members.
Karen McCaffrey, director of social programs with the department of Social Development and Housing, said the increase in recipients was largely due to expanded eligibility, as well as new programs. The new program offers more funding for home and vehicle modifications.
“Now the program includes people with all disabilities. Also, there were some increased benefits to people as well," McCaffrey told The Guardian.
The AccessAbility Supports program has been expanded to include eligibility for mental illness.
The program provides expanded employment supports and a medical consultant to determine eligibility.
Applicants must have a disability diagnosed by a health-care professional.
New legislation supporting the AccessAbility Supports was introduced in the spring sitting of the legislation.
One-on-one supports
Some questions from MLAs focused on the need for a diagnosis before obtaining AccessAbility Supports.
Liberal MLA Heath MacDonald asked if there was a waiting list under the AAS program for obtaining a diagnosis.
“New applicants are usually within a few weeks of the program," McCaffrey said.
“If somebody is coming into the program, and they don't yet have a diagnosis, but they do require financial or income support, we do have some mechanisms in place to activate that quickly and the documentation follows," said Deborah Bradley, the assistant deputy for Social Development and Housing.
Progressive Conservative MLA Sidney MacEwen asked how the new program would affect people with intellectual disabilities, such as children on the autism spectrum.
MacEwen raised concerns about one-on-one support services for youth who graduate high school. MacEwen asked if youth would be able to receive one-on-one supports after the age of 18.
McCaffrey said this would depend on the specific circumstances.
“It would be whether the assessment tool determined their funding level and then they would develop the collaborative case plan to see if one-on-one supports were needed," McCaffrey said.
The department of Social Development and Housing is in the midst of establishing an independent appeals board for those who want a re-evaluation of their application. Although there is an internal appeal process within the department, the new appeals board will function through Engage P.E.I.
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