'SHAMEFUL'

TAIT: 'Lack of respect' shown with UCP government funding cuts to Alberta Aids to Daily Living

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Author of the article: Cam Tait
Publishing date:Sep 03, 2022 • 

Kaylin Grant, 33, of Edmonton has spina bifida and is upset 

with the UCP government for its cuts to funding for people with disabilities.

 PHOTO BY SUPPLIED


Halfway down the email response from Kaylin and Melinda Grant, the raw emotions of UCP recent cuts to Albertans with disabilities, sadly, are raw and real.

Melinda is Kaylin’s mother and writes “just now she’s actually getting very teary-eyed talking about it, she’s getting very upset. Now she’s crying.”

Kaylin found the strength in her 33-year-old body with spina bifida to most aptly describe her feelings.

“It takes away some of my self-respect. I’m not happy that I will have to wear diapers,” the wheelchair user said. “It really upsets me.”

This means the pads Kaylin is now using will not be funded by the government. Diapers instead.

Hold the phone, right there. A 33-year-old woman? Are you reading this, Danielle Smith, or are you too busy sipping your weekend latte?

Some background. “These changes have not taken place yet for us,” said Melinda, adding an email from the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Northern Alberta was the information source.

“When I phoned Kaylin’s medical supplies provider, they confirmed for me that when Kaylin’s contract is up in September 2023, these changes will take place.

“They told me that as everybody’s contract comes up for renewal or if someone new comes into the system they will not have funding for pads, the funding will only be for diapers.”

Hold the phone again, please. Use of terminology goes a long way toward removing dignity and disability.

Incontinence products are always uneasy to inject into one’s conversation. But … diapers? For adults? Where’s the dignity? Nowhere.

Shameful.

Kaylin lives at home with her parents, who get nothing in return but love. She could be sharing even more time at home.

“It takes away my freedom and self-respect,” said Kaylin. “I don’t think I’ll want to be going out very much because I’d be embarrassed in diapers.”

Alberta Aids to Daily Living will obviously save some cash with this decision. But Kaylin says it’s so much more.

“It’s a lack of respect,” she said. “I have no idea why this happened and I’m very upset.”

Her mother echoes Kaylin’s sentiments. “I would have to say the lack of respect from the government but not just the lack of respect from them, but also the lack respect from Alberta Aids to Daily Living because they had to be part of this decision,’’ said Melinda.

“It would have been nice if the government and Alberta Aids to Daily Living had included the people that are affected, the stakeholders, in this decision. In my mind the government is making these cuts because there’s not enough funding. We know there’s funding because they said they had a $13.2 billion surplus so I really don’t understand the rationale behind these cuts.”

A story in which every Albertan should be in tears in support of Kaylin.

cam@camtait.com