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‘Staggering’ number of families struggle in B.C.’s system for disabled kids: advocate
British Columbia’s children’s representative says in the 18 years her office has been in place, the province has been slow to respond to the growing needs of children with disabilities and their families, often reacting to tragedies rather than making improvements.
With a promised change on the horizon, Jennifer Charlesworth says B.C. needs a collective approach across ministries to ensure that critical progress actually happens.
The latest report from her office says up to 83,000 young people with disabilities are not receiving adequate services in the province, and that while spending increased by 190 per cent in the last 18 years the majority of that went to salaries and a narrow set of programs.
Charlesworth is calling for immediate funding increases, stronger mental health services, equitable access to education and supports and a cross-government data management system.