September 11, 2018
Young adults with significant physical disabilities in Manitoba are being locked out by failures in the system. Locked out of their communities. Locked out of their dreams. Locked out of life.
Graduating from high school and turning 18 years old are milestones in a young person’s life. For people with significant physical disabilities, these milestones are bittersweet: just when they are ready to explore the world of adulthood, they lose comprehensive support services and become stuck at home.
Before graduating from high school or turning 18, young people with significant physical disabilities enjoy a suite of supports that foster their social inclusion. These supports make it possible to hang out with friends, volunteer, go to school, and participate in social events.
After graduating from high school or turning 18, these young people are locked out of these services. They abruptly lose access to equipment (such as screen readers and custom orthopaedics), one-on-one support, occupational therapy, and transportation. Instead, a “one-size-fits-all” approach provides a maximum of 55 hours of home care. Home care is limited to things like laundry, warming up food, and grooming. The system does not prepare or guide young people through these changes.
Locked Out of Life is a campaign to foster public awareness and to advocate for young adults with significant physical disabilities in Manitoba, so they can continue to access services to meet their needs to live safely and sustainably in their homes, schools, and communities. No Manitoban should age out of supports that have proven to work for them. No Manitoban should be locked out of their communities and dreams. No one should be locked out of life.
