Many individuals and organizations are reading yet another comprehensive report published by the Office of Representation of Children and Youth, released today January 29th, 2025 at 11 am. In fact, as noted in this report, they have written 18 of these reports in the last 20 years (p. 15).
I have a deep appreciation for the people involved in creating these reports, as they document the underfunded systemic neglect.
We have so much evidence. Lack of awareness is not the issue.
This report outlines the consequences that people are experiencing by such an underfunded poorly designed system. Society should be shocked and appalled by this report. This system punishes people for being disabled.
I am struggling to understand why designing a system that harms families and sets them up for failure and financial ruin benefits society as a whole. The system creates years of chronic stress and is traumatizing. Legislating families into poverty and underfunding these systems is a pay now or pay later system. With high costs in other expensive reactive systems (health care, courts) and high human costs. People are sucked into the whirlpool and cannot get out.
“38 percent of caregivers report
needing mental health supports
for themselves and/or members
of their caregiving circle (e.g.,
relatives, siblings, and others living
in the home)” (p. 35)
“79 percent of caregivers reported
they either had to leave their job
or reduce their hours of work
to care for their child with a
disability, or they had to increase
their employment to pay for
the services their child needs,
pushing families into poverty and
impacting caregivers’ future career
development, mental health, and
well-being” (p.35)
Families need systems in place so they can continue to work and provide for their family and other siblings and not be depleted and drained by the system. The emotional strain families are experiencing while navigating and trying to survive through these human-made systems is unnecessary. These systems can change. Designing and maintaining a system that creates the outcomes outlined in this report is not logical, humane, or fair. It is ableist, discriminatory, and oppressive.
There are so many quotable statements in this report. It is clear that there have been years of inaction.
“In fact, a four-year review by RCY on the progress
of the Alone and Afraid recommendations, released
in 2024, found little movement by government, with
actions on some of the recommendations even
deteriorating over time.” (p. 16)
The time is NOW to start somewhere.
Thank you RCD, yet again for excellent work in this area. This is advocacy! Shining a light on those pushed into the dark.
Don’t Look Away: Issues Spotlight
Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive https://rcybc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CYD_Final_Jan29.pdf
January 29th, 2025
Written by the Office of Representative for Children and Youth