PROVINCE CONTINUES LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Saskatchewan continued its commitment to achieving the full participation and inclusion of people with disabilities with the release today of a Disability Inclusion Policy Framework.

"This new framework provides a long-term vision and principles to address disability issues in Saskatchewan," Minister responsible for Disability Issues Kevin Yates said. "It will guide the development and delivery of the provinces disability programs as we continue to move forward in partnership with people with disabilities, their families, community-based organizations and employers."

The new framework is the province's official response to the Disability Action Plan of the Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues. Since the Plan's release in 2001, the province has invested more than $49 million to support the participation and inclusion of people with disabilities. Key investments have been made in transportation, employment, education, income support, housing and cognitive disability supports.

"This new framework would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the many past and present members of the Saskatchewan Council on Disability Issues," Yates said. "The Council will continue to play an important role as we implement the framework in the months and years ahead."

Five new members of the Saskatchewan Council on Disability issues were also announced today: Lisa Brownstone of Regina; Georgie Anne Davis, Nadia Lewicki and Bernice Schindelka of Saskatoon; and Randy Stomp of La Ronge.

Along with the framework, the province also released a review of Saskatchewan's long-term social assistance caseload, which identified that people with disabilities now make up about 70 per cent of long-term cases.

"The caseload review confirmed that improvements to income assistance programs -- and stronger partnerships with community-based organizations and departments like Health and Advanced Education and Employment -- are helping low-income people to make progress to independence," Yates said. "The review also makes it clear, however, that our province, including government, needs to do more to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind. The Disability Inclusion Policy Framework positions us to develop better supports for people with disabilities. It sets the stage for further engagement with the disability community so we can work together to address disability issues in an effective, collaborative fashion."

The Disability Inclusion Policy Framework and the long-term social assistance caseload review can be downloaded from the Community Resources web site at www.cr.gov.sk.ca.

To view a word document of the accompaning backgrounder please visit http://www.cr.gov.sk.ca/council-disability-bio.htm.

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For more information, contact:

Brian Miller
Community Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: bmiller3@cr.gov.sk.ca