FAN Winter 2022 Bulletin

Greetings Family Advocacy Network (FAN) members and families:

FAN is hopeful that you all are coping during these unprecedented times.  Our wish is that you are able to find peace, joy, hope and some laughter even if it is for a moment.  We all understand in deeper ways, the need to be in this together.  As our loved ones rely on us, if you are finding yourself in a place where you need to reach out and share your concerns, joys, hardships or whatever is helpful please do so via e-mail at families.caregivers@gmail.com.   

ACTION GROUP REPORTS:

QUALITY OF CARE:

FAN will have representation on a group to help with the formal evaluation of the Quality Framework Project started in April 2019. Abilities Manitoba and the Department of Families are partners in this Project. Due to the pandemic the Project has been extended until August 2022. A consulting business will help ensure the evaluation is framed correctly so that the government understands the value and benefit of Personal Outcome Measures (POM) within the CLD Service system. Phase 2 of the project has been using a POM tool to appraise community quality of life for a small group of people in urban and rural residential services. The POM tool aims to determine whether quality of life indicators are present for an individual and whether supports and services exist to help achieve identified outcomes.

SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING (SIL) – “SMILE” SUPPORTING MANITOBANS TOWARD INDEPENDENT LIVING EQUITY:

Members of FAN have been working collaboratively with the University of Manitoba on this important project over the past year. Researchers have closed the surveys and feel they have sufficient data to begin the analysis stage of their research. The research team met in January 2022 to begin their analysis of the data and once completed they will meet with FAN and discuss the preliminary findings and next steps of action.  Please stay tuned!  If anyone is interested in joining SIL Action Group please email us! 

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION:

The Inclusive Education Action Group recently held two virtual evenings focusing on Inclusive Education for our loved ones.  The evenings were well attended and the discussion was great. Information from these meetings was compiled and submitted to the Ministers Advisory Council on Inclusive Education.   Members of FAN are currently representing families on this council and the Education Funding Review Team.  In addition to this work, the group is working on a strategic plan. We have so many ideas we need to prioritize!   Some of our ideas include working on Family Guides to provincial education documents, creating a “How to Advocate in the School System“ cheat sheet, creating a reference list of inclusion accommodations different schools are using, and creating training for EAs and school teams from the family perspective.  We are always open to more ideas and open to anyone who would like to join our group to work on any of these projects!   If you would like to join us, have an idea, or need help advocating let us know via email or Facebook.   Watch out for other FAN Inclusive Education evenings and join us to discuss with other parents that “get it.”

EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE:

FAN, along with the Children’s Coalition of Manitoba, are looking for families who feel they have been denied access to a daycare spot due to their child’s disability or additional needs.    If this applies to you and you would be willing to share your story, please email us!

OTHER UPDATES:

Triage Protocol Coalition:

FAN has a representative on the Human Rights Triage Protocol Coalition and our objective was to have the government develop Triage Protocols so that people with intellectual/developmental disabilities are given the same opportunity for treatment as everyone else when beds, equipment and healthcare are in short supply.  Our loved ones cannot be denied treatment for COVID on the basis that their disability makes them less worthy of care than anyone without a disability. See www.HRTPC.ca for more information.

Wage campaign:

At this time the wage campaign is on hold.

“Every winter has its spring” – H. Tuttle. 

We got this everyone!