The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Saskatchewan has taken the first step toward its goal of becoming the most accessible province for people with disabilities. Last year the Wall government committed to engaging the disability community in the development of a comprehensive Disability Strategy. Now things are moving forward with a consultation process to involve people from all over Saskatchewan over the next year. 'We have designed a process to involve and hear from as many people as possible on this important issue,' said Social Services Minister June Draude. Draude will be supported by Legislative Secretary for Disabilities Mark Docherty, who will serve as a member of a group known as the Citizen Consultation Team, and report directly to Draude. 'I am proud to be a part of this effort and look forward to working with both government and community stakeholders over the coming year,' Docherty said. 'This Disability Strategy has the potential to be the gold standard by which similar initiatives are judged in other jurisdictions.' The Disability Strategy will be designed to address the support and service needs of children and adults with physical, psychiatric, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities. It will address the supports required for daily living, inclusion and participation rather than the medical aspects of a disability. The Disability Strategy will focus on a handful of priority areas: accessibility, affordability and availability of housing; transportation; employment; education; support for community inclusion; and support for caregivers. Other priorities may emerge during the consultation process. Ian Wilkinson, executive director of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, said he was pleased with the pending consultation process. 'By engaging the public, we can create a strategy that will meet the needs of people with disabilities,' he said. Members of the public are invited to submit their nominations for the Citizen Consultation Team by downloading the application form from the Ministry of Social Services website at Socialservices.gov.sk. ca. Nominations will be accepted until June 28, and the team members will be appointed in the fall. The 12-15 members of the team will provide advice on the consultation process and priorities and content of the Disability Strategy. Members of the public who are not selected for the Citizen Consultation Team will have other opportunities to contribute to the process, including participation in working groups, public consultations and one-on-one meetings. The public consultations will be held next spring, to be followed by the public release of the Disability Strategy in late fall of 2014. Preliminary plans call for a number of consultation methods to be utilized, including video conferencing, online submissions, written submissions and face-to-face public forums to ensure access for persons with disabilities. Community forums will also be held across the province. 'As our province grows, we need to ensure that everyone is able to share in the opportunities created by that growth,' Draude said. 'To do that, we need to hear from as many people, and as many different viewpoints, as possible in the development of our Disability Strategy. The members of our disability community deserve nothing less.' _ Compiled from a Government of Saskatchewan news release
