April 11, 2006

Edmonton... Proposed changes to provincial legislation will enhance the role of the community boards that administer services through the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program, while improving the province's ability to better coordinate all the programs that provide support to Albertans with disabilities.

"We are committed to the important supports the PDD program provides to ensure Albertans with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to participate in everyday activities across the province," said Yvonne Fritz. "PDD's Provincial Board has done an excellent job in establishing the principles of this program. Now that our programs that support Albertans with disabilities are under one ministry, it is time to ensure that they are being delivered in a coordinated, effective and efficient way."

Currently, a provincial board has the responsibility for establishing provincial PDD policies, allocating funding to six community boards, and providing province-wide coordination and oversight of the PDD program.

Under Bill 30, the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Community Governance Amendment Act, 2006, the functions of the provincial board will be transferred to the Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports, while creating direct reporting lines between the ministry and the PDD program's six community boards. The community boards will continue to work with individuals, families, guardians and local service providers to meet identified needs as they have in the past. This structure is similar to the one used by Alberta Children's Services and its 10 regional Child and Family Services Authorities.

While ensuring PDD services are delivered in a fair and effective way throughout the province, this proposed change will also promote the coordination of disability programs and services. For example, 90 per cent of people receiving PDD supports are also receiving Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefits. The ministry is also responsible for the Office for Disability Issues, as well as the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, which under the structure proposed in Bill 30, will be asked to provide advice on the needs of people receiving PDD supports.

"Having the community boards directly report to the ministry will build upon the strengths of our community delivery system, which is responsive to the unique needs of persons with developmental disabilities," Fritz said. "The continued efforts by these boards to respond to local needs and priorities will make this administrative change seamless for the people receiving PDD supports."

PDD's annual budget is $509 million. Approximately 9,300 people are currently receiving PDD supports that help them live, work and participate in the community.

Bill 30 was introduced in the Legislature by Dr. Neil Brown, MLA Calgary-Nose Hill, who also served on the MLA AISH Review Committee in 2005.

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Backgrounder: Additional information on the Persons With Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Program.

Media enquiries may be directed to:
Jason Chance
Seniors and Community Supports Communications
(780) 415-9950

Backgrounder

• The PDD program provides supports to adults with developmental disabilities to help them live quality lives in Alberta's communities.
• The program contracts with private service providers to support persons with developmental disabilities in their own communities. This usually involves staffing support (up to 24 hours per day) in their homes, at work, at school and/or in community or recreational activities.

• Eligibility is based on three criteria rather than a clinical diagnosis of developmental disability:
• onset before age 18
• significantly below average intellectual capacity
• limitations in two or more adaptive skill areas, such as communications, self-care, social skills, and health and safety

The extent and type of staffing supports that PDD provides varies to reflect the unique needs of each person.

• Home living supports assist individuals to learn skills that help them to live safely in a wide range of settings, such as supported independent living in an apartment, sharing a home with a roommate, living with a family, or living in a group.
• Work-related supports assist individuals to gain the necessary skills to find and keep a job, as well as to provide on-the-job assistance if required.
• Community-related supports assist individuals to get connected with others in their communities. This includes learning skills such as navigating bus routes or participating in a local hobby club or fitness centre.
• Post-secondary educational supports assist individuals to take college and university courses of interest, with staff supports helping to choose courses, identify expectations and arrange for classroom help from peers who agree to share notes, etc.

• In November 2004, Premier Klein created the Ministry of Alberta Seniors and Community Supports. All programs for adults with disabilities-including PDD, the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, the Office for Disability Issues, and the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons With Disabilities-were brought under one ministry.
• The PDD program currently operates at arms-length from the ministry with policy, funding allocation and program delivery being the responsibility of the PDD provincial board.

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Media enquiries may be directed to:
Jason Chance
Seniors and Community Supports Communications
(780) 415-9950

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