CALGARY- Parents of children with disabilities launched a protest at Mount Royal University on Friday, following news the school is cutting the two-year Disabilities Studies program.
The group says getting rid of the program to make up for a budget shortfall will devastate a number of Alberta families.
“I worry about that, because as a parent I can offer that support, but I won’t be around forever,” says Linda Sunderland, of her son’s future. “That’s a big concern for a lot of special-needs parents.
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“Like any mother, I want him to be happy, successful and as independent as possible.”
She adds it’s hard to find well-trained support staff. Patti Desjardine, a Community Rehab Disability Studies instructor at the University of Calgary, agrees that helpers are not ‘glorified babysitters.’
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“It’s really looking at how do you fulfill their greatest aspirations, the same as everybody else might.”
The group is asking MRU’s board of governors to change its mind about cutting the program, when it votes on the proposed cuts at the end of the month. However, the school says it’s unlikely the decision will be reversed, as they’re trying to make up for a $14 million budget cut by the province.
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