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The Pembroke Observer
May 11 2013
I am a front-line support worker at Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley and president of CUPE Local 5088. The provincial budget announced May 2 was a disappointment for those of us who provide services and supports to adults with developmental disabilities. The budget for developmental services is not enough to reverse cuts to services and supports or address the growing waitlists for services and the crisis families face in accessing much-needed supports.
For years, families of individuals with a developmental disability and community living staff have been appealing to the government to address the funding crisis and ensure that people get the supports they need. In the meantime, we have watched as supports for people with developmental disabilities are cut, residential homes close, and the growing number of families on waitlists grows longer.
Our agency has not been immune to the havoc and turmoil caused by underfunding. There is a high turnover of staff at our agency, which disrupts the continuity of care we are able to provide to the people we support. When employees are off sick or are in training, often they are not replaced. That means less time for the people we support to get out into the community to participate in programs like Special Olympics and bowling, run errands, connect with a friend, do laundry, get extra physiotherapy sessions, and more.
Under these conditions supports get reduced to a custodial care arrangement. The people we support deserve better. So too, do the workers who support them. But to make up for gaps in funding we are expected to accept low wages and poor working conditions as a condition of employment. At least that was the attitude of our former management. Thankfully they’ve been replaced. We are hopeful that like us, our new executive director is an advocate for services and better funding.
Our community is close-knit – we support each other. Ensuring services and supports for adults with developmental disabilities in our community is all of our responsibility. Let’s work together to make this a priority.
Jennette Surnoskie, Pembroke, ON
