Rally held to speak out against PDD cuts

The beat of drums and singing voices could be heard coming from Main Street last week, as individuals gathered to protest the cuts to Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) that have recently come to light.

The crowd of about 30-40 gathered outside MLA Maureen Kubinec's office from about 1-2 p.m. on May 28. Both people who provide and use services such as Blue Heron were in attendance, carrying signs, holding photos, or just providing their presence for support.

The message the group wanted to send was evident in the song they sang together:

We the people in the community. We the people, with abilities. Now you see us, then you won't. We want to be, part of community.

Take advantage of our vulnerabilities – Standing together, voices proud. All we ask is a helping hand to help us now, we’re walking tall.

We the people in the community, say these cutbacks just won’t do. If you cut back our support money, we’re never ever going to support you. We’re never ever going to vote for you.

Barrhead resident Des Hughes, a disability support worker for 25 years, said the focus was to raise their voices and share their stories to let the government know their concern about the budget cuts to PDD.

"We're willing to work on anything that they want to see improved," said Hughes. "No one's afraid of improvements, but you can't just pull the rug out from underneath people and expect everything to be good. It's going to hurt."

Anyone who wanted to speak had the opportunity to do so.

Though she was uncomfortable reading her speech personally, Barrhead resident and Blue Heron client Nicole Brown allowed Hughes to reach what she had written.

While holding a picture of her small dog Mia, the 28-year-old expressed her fears and concerns about the budget cuts. S

“Who will help me with my budgeting and day to day living? Who will support me at my job, because I can't do it myself? Who will be there for me when I burn myself on the stove when I try to cook my own meals because I don't have any support? And where will I live if my house burns down, if I make it out safe? Who will be there for me when I am taken advantage of?”

“Please don't cut my support staff,” ended the speech. “I need them.”

The crowd also welcomed Westlock resident Jason Huish as took the microphone to tell his story.

As someone with his own challenges, including depression and anxiety from a stroke he suffered at just 18 months old, Huish receives assistance each and every day to accomplish his goals.

"The funding gets your foot in the door for employment with the help you get from the association," he said. "I have a job, for 12 years, and I'm still hanging on to it at Sobeys there in Westlock."

But it doesn’t stop there. Employment is just one of the many achievements Huish has been assisted with. Associations and providers also make it possible for individuals to take trips and have fun, he said, in addition to completing daily tasks.

"Without our funding we would be lost with no direction. Why let anybody else stop you from achieving your goals?" He asked the crowd. "We don't want people to stay home. We want them to have access to community."

Hughes said she thinks the gathering went well. Although many individuals were quite nervous, as this was somewhat out of their norm, they still came out to express their concern.

Even those who weren't able to attend have been encouraged to send in emails, letters and videos to their local MLA. Hughes said the community has been behind them through these recently troubling times, and she’s happy with that.

“We're getting really good support from the community, and we just want to show people that we are concerned,” said Hughes. “What affects people with disabilities affects community.”