Government Proclaims Disability Service Professionals Week

Released on May 28, 2018

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 28-June 1 as Disability Service Professionals Week.

Disability Service Professionals Week celebrates the important work staff of community-based organizations do to provide quality support to people with intellectual disabilities.

“The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the tremendous value of frontline disability support professionals,” Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said.  “I thank SARC and its member agencies for 50 years of supporting people to lead full lives in their communities.  Over the past 10 years, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $30 million to support those organizations in increasing wages for front-line, supervisory and leadership positions.”

Established in 1968, SARC is a provincial association of more than 90 member agencies across Saskatchewan.  Each agency is an independent community-based organization with its own independent board of directors.  Many of these agencies deliver residential and day program services and supports to people with intellectual disabilities.  The government is providing $870,480 in funding for the 2018-19 year to SARC.

“The disability services sector is made up of a large group of hard working, passionate, and resilient employees who deserve recognition for the unique and challenging demands of their roles,” SARC Executive Director Amy McNeil said.  “Let’s take this week to celebrate and acknowledge the amazing work that all professionals in the sector do every day to ensure that people experiencing disabilities are living meaningful lives to their full potential.”

This proclamation supports the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy by helping to create awareness and understanding of the rights of people with disabilities.  The strategy also recommends recognition of the value of disability service providers and direct-support workers who provide services for people with intellectual disabilities.

Saskatchewan residents and communities who have done work which aligns with the Disability Strategy are encouraged to share their accomplishments using the hashtag #SKDisability.  The Saskatchewan Disability Strategy Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/skdisability.

For more information about the supports and services that SARC provides, please visit www.sarcsarcan.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca

Nicole Linzmeyer
SARC
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-0616 ext.252
Email: nlinzmeyer@sarcan.sk.ca