DISC – Letter to the Editor – 250 Word Version
(Feel free to share this version or the original version HERE on your websites, this is the shorter version as some newspapers requested it be limited to 250 words.)
August 4, 2015
Dear Editor,
Subject: DISC requests government to renew commitment to assist people with disabilities
In 2011, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall stated it was the government’s “vision and goal to make our province the very best place in Canada to live for those with disabilities.” Since that time, the provincial government has increased funding to Geneva Disability Center (SAID) program, which provides approximately $1,300 in monthly funding to a person with a disability.
Unfortunately, the cost of living is escalating beyond increases to SAID. The Geneva Disability Support Coalition (DISC) is asking the government to renew its commitment by increasing monthly SAID funding by $250 per person. Whether it means finding an accessible apartment, paying for a mobile device which provides security and connection to community, or paying for paratransit, SAID funds quickly disappear.
By increasing SAID funding, the government will be providing people with disabilities with the financial ability to pay for basic necessities. We realize the challenges the government faces in balancing the budget, but a commitment to increasing funding on an incremental basis will provide hope for thousands of people. A survey by the Canadian Mental Health Association discovered that 88 per cent of Saskatchewan residents believe people with disabilities should receive $1,600 or more per month, indicating there is public support for this increase.
On behalf of DISC, thank you for the support we have received from the provincial government in recent years. We look forward to working together to make Saskatchewan the best place in Canada to live with a disability.
Yours sincerely,
Judy Hannah
DISC Chair
3031 Louise St
Saskatoon, SK S7J 3L1
Phone: (306) 955-3344
Fax: (306) 373-3070
[email protected]