As a mother of an autistic child, I am writing out of sheer frustration and desperation. My son was just removed from another daycare because they couldn’t support his needs.
This isn’t the first time, and unless something changes, it won’t be the last. Alberta claims to offer support for families like mine, but in reality, these services are largely inaccessible.
We applied for the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program in summer 2023. It has been 20 months, and despite repeated follow-ups, all I have received is a vague assurance that we are “still on the list.”
No timeline, no solution — just a broken system leaving families stranded. Parents of children with disabilities want to work, contribute, and provide for their families, but when child-care centres cannot accommodate our children and the province offers no viable support, we are left with no choice.
Are we simply not allowed to have careers? Because that is the reality Alberta is imposing on parents like me. I have spoken directly with provincial officials and their only response is that the system is broken. But what good is that acknowledgement if no action follows?
Families are drowning while politicians observe from the shore. This is not just my story.
A recent report from Inclusion Alberta highlights that thousands of families across the province are waiting indefinitely for essential supports. Children, like my son, are falling through the cracks.
I am urging the provincial government to take immediate action: Provide transparency on current FSCD wait lists—how many families are waiting, and what the expected timeline is.
Push for emergency funding to clear the backlog and get support to families immediately. Publicly commit to addressing this crisis so families aren’t left in limbo indefinitely.
If FSCD is not functioning as intended, then it needs immediate reform, not vague promises. Families like mine cannot afford to wait any longer.
Our children—and their futures—are worth more than empty words.
Megan Hanson,
Sylvan Lake
