Lək̓ʔəŋən [LEKWUNGEN] TERRITORY / VICTORIA, B.C. — The BC Greens announced today their statement on changes to Children and Youth with Support Systems Needs.
“We have deep concerns over the new Children and Youth with Support Needs system. While we are encouraged to see supports extended to those who’ve been underserved and underfunded for too long, this model removes a support system before fully developing a new one, lacks consultation and a consideration of lived experience in its development, and is fundamentally outdated and reactionary. The new application process requires parents and families to navigate a laborious and confusing new route to funding, without understanding who is going to receive the sensitive information they are providing and what resources, if any, they will receive. Numerous families and disability advocacy groups have repeatedly voiced their opposition to this change, yet are met with claims that consultation has been extensive, without evidence. The CYSN criteria for the Disability Benefit sets an unreasonably high and deficit-focused threshold that excludes too many who need support.
Instead, the BC Greens would:
1) Convene a working group consisting of a broad range of disability community representation to co-design a provincial disability strategy that supports ALL families within the disability community.
2) Centre and build strong partnerships with children, youth, parents, and families with disabilities to ensure any disability support framework is developed to meet each life stage.
4) Work in partnership with Indigenous families to create dedicated and culturally-responsive approaches and funding models to meet the unique and diverse circumstances of rural and remote communities and Indigenous First Nations.
3) Ensure consistency and government transparency by aligning the commitments made in the Child and Youth Well Being Action Plan with Child and Youth Disability Funding.”
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Media contact
Prym Goodacre
+778 650 0597
newsroom@bcgreens.ca