Родителям взрослых людей с нарушениями развития в Комокс-Вэлли не хватает поддержки и финансирования

More support needed for adults with developmental disabilities Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Dear Editor, Raising an adult child with developmental disabilities in the Comox Valley is not for the faint of heart. I have listened to concerns from ten mothers who live here and are still caring for their grown kids whose ages range from 25-40 years old. Their adult children need assistance with just about every aspect of their lives. Not surprisingly, these moms suffer from constant caregiver burnout and also from the lesser recognized burden of advocate burnout. In attempting to obtain help for their kids, families face countless struggles to navigate an overwhelming maze of bureaucratic processes only to be repeatedly refused supports. The moms with whom I spoke, love their children with such passion and have already proven tenfold that they will do anything for them. They share a constant dread as they grow older and face their own health battles. They must deal with their own aging issues, yet carry the daily physical and emotional tole of caregiving. They cower to even verbalize their ultimate fear: What happens the day I die or become too frail to be my child’s caregiver? Community Living BC (CLBC) is the provincial Crown corporation responsible for funding community inclusion, respite, and residential services for adults. However, accessing these resources can feel like an impossible hurdle and parents often find themselves endlessly advocating for vital supports. CLBC uses tools like the Guide to Support Allocation to measure needs. However, their staff then have the unenviable task of communicating to parents that although their child has been deemed eligible for supports, there is little or no funding available. The provincial government funds CLBC and, because service requests far exceed allotted funds, families face multi-year waits. Meanwhile, for adults with higher needs to have any hope of meaningful inclusion within their communities, they are left totally dependent on their parents being not only their caregivers but also their community aide supports. Secure, full-time residential placements remain drastically out of reach until a crisis (like death of a parent) hits. Although adults with developmental disabilities are a small minority group, they are arguably the most important representatives of our Province. These are the forgotten few who cannot advocate for themselves. The care and support that we provide for them sets the standard for how we all hope to one day be treated if/when we can no longer advocate for ourselves. British Columbia needs a system that is designed to help some of the hardest working parent caregivers who live here. Adults with disabilities deserve full, active, involved lives out in their communities. The Provincial Government needs to increase the annual funding allocated for CLBC so that the system can move away from crisis-response funding and toward guaranteed, sustainable long-term care plans that outlive aging parents. We live in a beautiful place of community and belonging and we must ensure our most vulnerable experience that too. Michelle McIntyre Courtenay