The Manitoba government is establishing a new task force and appointing a special advisor to the minister to improve services for adults with intellectual disabilities, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced.
“Our government is committed to making Manitoba a better place, which includes ensuring that Manitobans with disabilities have as much independence and ability to make decisions as possible,” said Stefanson. “This new task force will review policies and practices affecting adults with intellectual disabilities to ensure we can achieve this goal. The new special advisor to my office will also provide an important perspective and help guide our government’s work on a broad range of issues.”
The task force will work with community experts to develop a strategy to encourage supported decision-making and a two-year action plan to reduce reliance on substitute decision-makers for adults with intellectual disabilities. They will also review issues such as community engagement and the roles of community services workers and public guardians.
Much of the work of the task force will focus on the Vulnerable Persons Living With a Mental Disability Act, which establishes the framework for provincial services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
“We have assembled a knowledgeable group to review eight areas under the act, which came into law in 1996 and was last reviewed in 2007,” said Kendel. “We will endeavour to produce a plan for the minister within six months that will improve practices in the field. This is an exciting opportunity and I congratulate the minister for her leadership on this issue.”
