It's anticipated a new citizen consultation team being organized by the province will help improve the lives of the province's disabled.
"We have designed a process to involve and hear from as many people as possible on this important issue," Social Services Minister June Draude comments. "At the end of this process, the Disability Strategy will support our goal of making Saskatchewan the best place in Canada to live for persons with disabilities, by supporting people with disabilities to fully participate in and contribute to the province's growing economy."
Nominations are now open for residents who feel they can contribute to the process.
The Disability Strategy will focus on the priority areas specified in the Plan for Growth: accessibility, affordability and availability of housing; transportation; employment; education; support for community inclusion; and support for caregivers. Other priorities may emerge during the consultation process.
Members of the public are invited to submit their nominations for the Citizen Consultation Team by downloading the application form from the Ministry of Social Services website at www.socialservices.gov.sk.ca. Nominations will be accepted until June 28, 2013, and the team members will be appointed in the fall of this year.
The 12-15 members of the team will provide advice on the consultation process and priorities and content of the Disability Strategy.
Members of the public who are not selected for the Citizen Consultation Team will have other opportunities to contribute to the process, including participation in working groups, public consultations and one-on-one meetings.
The public consultations will be held next spring, to be followed by the public release of the Disability Strategy in late fall of 2014. Preliminary plans call for a number of consultation methods to be utilized, including video conferencing, online submissions, written submissions and face-to-face public forums to ensure access for persons with disabilities. Community forums will also be held across the province.
"As our province grows, we need to ensure that everyone is able to share in the opportunities created by that growth," Draude concludes. "To do that, we need to hear from as many people, and as many different viewpoints, as possible in the development of our Disability Strategy. The members of our disability community deserve nothing less."
