Disability Strategy’s Citizen Team to Host Province-Wide Public Forums

Released on April 11, 2014

Members, friends, caregivers, supporters and families of the disability community, along with the general public, will soon be able to attend a Saskatchewan Disability Strategy forum near their community.  Public forums begin April 28 in Swift Current, and will take place province-wide until May 29.

“As set forth in the Plan for Growth, we are committed to making Saskatchewan the best place in Canada for persons with disabilities to live,” Social Services Minister June Draude said.  “These public forums will provide all Saskatchewan people the opportunity to play a vital role in shaping Saskatchewan’s Disability Strategy.”

Members of the disability community and the public are encouraged to participate in the consultation process by attending in person and by taking part in online discussions before, during and after the public forums on the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/skdisability.

“The contribution from citizens across the province is critical to assist us as we look to create a strategy that will change how disability is viewed in the province and support the inclusion of people who experience disability,” Citizen Consultation Team Co-Chair Amy Alsop said.  “We encourage citizens to thoughtfully consider solutions to the issues and seize the opportunity we have today to change the disability support system for generations to come.”

Legislative Secretary for Disability Issues Mark Docherty serves as a member of the Citizen Consultation Team and is helping to guide the development of the consultation process.

“We anticipate the Disability Strategy will focus on six priority areas: housing; transportation; employment; education; support for community inclusion; and support for caregivers and families,” Docherty said.  “We look forward to great discussion on these topics throughout the coming months.  All feedback will be considered as we work to prepare a recommended strategy for creating inclusive communities across Saskatchewan.”

The public consultation process will include input from the public, members of the disability community, CBOs, employers, municipalities, school divisions, post-secondary institutions and health authorities.  The work is being led across government by the Ministry of Social Services, with support from the Ministries of Health, Education, Advanced Education, Economy, Government Relations and Justice.

More information regarding the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy can be found on the Strategy’s website at www.saskatchewan.ca/disabilitystrategy.

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For more information, contact:

Brennen Schmidt
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: brennen.schmidt@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-9702