The Cost of Daily Living

FACT: The number of Manitobans living with a disability is continuing to grow, in large part due to the aging population developing age-related disabilities.

FACT: Many of these Manitobans will require an assistive device of some type (i.e. hearing or mobility aids) or may require lifestyle changes (i.e. modifications to home, home or personal care services).

FACT: Assistive devices and health care costs money.

Considering how most people already struggle to balance their budgets to cover the essentials (food, shelter, bills, etc.), it shouldn't come as a surprise that adding an expense such as home care or the cost of an assistive device can end up breaking the bank for a person living with a disability.

A recent study released in the United Kingdom found that people living with disabilities already experience higher costs in everyday areas including transport and clothing. The addition of what the study calls "personal assistance" - which includes such things as home care or personal care services - only adds to the financial stress, especially for those who are living off of some form of benefits program or combination of programs. Ultimately, the study concluded that the added costs were driving people with disabilities further into poverty.

It is reasonable to believe that many Canadians living with disabilities face similar financial challenges, especially when you consider that - according to the most recent Participation Activity and Limitations Survey (PALS) - only 43.5 percent of people living with a disability are employed. (Of course, some conditions hamper a person's ability to work which contributes to this number).

Still, the Canadian government recognizes that there is a cause for concern. One of the problems federal, provincial and territorial governments have had in creating policies to effectively address disability-related costs has been the lack of hard data.

The Price Survey of Assistive Devices and Supports for Persons with Disabilities by Children, Youth and Social Developments Directorate (December 2003) was commissioned to help create "a more accurate and comprehensive portrait of the costs borne by individuals with disabilities." The survey examined the costs of items ranging from hearing aids and insulin pens to specialty furniture and lift devices to nursing services and interpreters.

The Government of Canada has also openly said that it is making people with disabilities a priority which is good news for Canadians living with a disability. The Price Survey of Assistive Devices and Supports for Persons with Disabilities is a good start as it will provide people and policy-makers with a better sense of just how much items can cost, guiding development and improvement of programs.

But the question remains: what can be done about addressing those costs right now?

Who Can Help?
A good place to begin is your local Yellow Pages. There are numerous provincial and national organizations that offer services and support for specific types of disabilities either for free or at a reduced cost. The Social Services Section of your Yellow Pages should list the ones in your area.

Another good place to look is online. www.enablelink.org provides a listing of more than 5,000 disability organizations in Canada. The Canadian Health Network (CHN) has a section on Living with Disabilities on its site ( www.canadian-health-network.ca). Among the FAQs are answers on how to find services and supports and funding, as well as links to valuable resources.

And of course, SMD provides a wide array of services for adults and children living with various disabilities, as well as for their families. These include:

• Outreach Therapy Program for Children
• Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
• Recreational and Life Skills Program
• Case Management/Counselling Services
• Vocational Assessment
• Work Experience
• Employment Services
• Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults
• Life Skills Programming for Adults
• Computer Training
• Financial Support
• Wheelchair Services

The Cost Benefits of Membership Membership in SMD Alliance is also becoming a means of saving money. SMD Alliance has recently reached an agreement with Dufresne Furniture and Appliances than entitles SMD Alliance Members with a discount on items purchased at all Dufresne stores, Palliser Rooms (in Calgary and Winnipeg) as well as in La-Z-Boy and Sleep Source stores in Winnipeg.

• 15% off the regular store price of furniture, mattresses and accessories
• 7% off the regular store price of appliances and electronics

To qualify, all a person has to do is present their SMD Alliance Membership Card at the time of their purchase.

SMD Alliance is also working on developing other discount deals with other retailers, including those who distribute hearing aids and mobility devices. ..continued.

SMD Alliance 825 Sherbrook Street Winnipeg, MB R3A 1M5 e-mail: volunteers@smd.mb.ca