November 9, 2022
Manitoba Government Supports Launch of Pilot Program to Close Gaps in Services and Care for Adults with Disability-Related Needs
The Manitoba government in collaboration with people with disabilities, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), is launching the Integrated Adult Services (IAS) pilot program to provide holistic services and care to 30 adults living in the Winnipeg health region, Families Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for accessibility, and Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.
“We are pleased to launch this project, which is a step forward in creating a more inclusive system,” said Squires. “The IAS project will be an opportunity to learn about support needs for complex disabilities and to identify solutions to address challenges wherever possible.”
“This pilot project is an opportunity to ensure Manitoba’s health-care system is responsive and inclusive,” said Gordon. “We look forward to working together with government, community partners, and health-care providers on this project to ensure Manitobans with disabilities have access to the supports and services they need.”
The IAS is the result of a settlement with Tyson Sylvester and Amelia Hampton, who in 2016 filed human rights complaints alleging that gaps in the provision of services and supports to adult Manitobans with disabilities, particularly those with complex disability-related needs, create systemic barriers to equality.
To address these complaints, Sylvester and Hampton, the Manitoba government and the WRHA, in conjunction with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, agreed to launch a pilot program. A steering committee comprised of representatives from the departments of families and health, WRHA, Manitoba Human Rights Commission, service providers, community members and the complainants participated in developing the IAS and are overseeing its implementation.
“We are very excited to be launching this integrated pilot with government and community partners to hear and understand the needs of adults with complex medical and physical needs, and together through the pilot explore creative opportunities and solutions into the future to best support their needs,” said Pat Younger, executive director, community health services, WRHA.
The project is looking to recruit up to 30 people living with disabilities in the Winnipeg health region in order to determine the types of challenges adults with disabilities often experience when accessing services and how those barriers may be overcome.
“The collaboration between the complainants, community partners, service providers and the Manitoba government will lead to a fulsome project over the coming years,” said Dave Kron, chair, IAS Pilot Project Steering Committee and executive director, Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba.
Participants will take part in a needs assessment, a service planning process and a program evaluation of project outcomes. The evaluation will be conducted at the conclusion of the pilot by an independent evaluator to assess the experiences of participants including whether the supports received met needs and how supports could be improved. When complete, the evaluation report will be made available to the public.
For more information on the project or to apply to receive supports, visit the IAS pilot project at www.gov.mb.ca/fs/ias/index.html.
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