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012. Reimagining Disability Supports in Alberta: What Does Real Reform Look Like?
Episode Summary:
In this solo episode, Gordon VanderLeek steps back from reacting to policy changes and instead asks a bigger question:
If we could redesign Alberta’s disability support system from scratch, what would real reform look like?
With the introduction of the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), ongoing concerns about AISH, and limited consultation with the disability community, this episode explores what meaningful change could be, not just administrative adjustments, but structural reform grounded in dignity, stability, and inclusion.
Why this matters:
Disability supports affect:
- Over 79,000 Albertans currently on AISH
- Countless caregivers and families
- Support workers and community agencies
- Employers seeking inclusive workplaces
- The long-term dignity and economic stability of disabled Albertans
Reform is not about political positioning, it’s about ensuring people can live with dignity, security, and opportunity.
Key Takeaways:
- AISH currently provides subsistence-level support that does not keep pace with real cost-of-living increases.
- Indexing benefits to inflation should be automatic and legislated, not discretionary.
- The $100,000 asset limit has never been adjusted and no longer reflects economic reality.
- Clawbacks, especially of the $200 Canada Disability Benefit, undermine financial stability.
- Families are forced into roles as case managers navigating fragmented systems.
- Disability support workers are underpaid, leading to burnout and workforce instability.
- Employment should increase quality of life, not create fear of losing benefits.
- Alberta lacks accessibility legislation, unlike several other provinces.
- Real reform must involve co-design with the disability community: Nothing about us without us.
Memorable lines:
“Can we get beyond a system of barely getting by?”
“Work should increase quality of life. It shouldn’t threaten survival.”
“As a society, we’re judged by how fully we include and support people.”
Resources & Links:
Disability Advocates Website:
https://www.disabilityadvocates.ca
AISH Program Information:
https://www.alberta.ca/aish
Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) Overview:
https://www.alberta.ca
Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD):
https://www.alberta.ca/persons-with-developmental-disabilities-pdd
FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities):
https://www.alberta.ca/fscd
View all episodes
By Gordon & Annie VanderLeekEpisode Summary:
In this solo episode, Gordon VanderLeek steps back from reacting to policy changes and instead asks a bigger question:
If we could redesign Alberta’s disability support system from scratch, what would real reform look like?
With the introduction of the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), ongoing concerns about AISH, and limited consultation with the disability community, this episode explores what meaningful change could be, not just administrative adjustments, but structural reform grounded in dignity, stability, and inclusion.
Why this matters:
Disability supports affect:
- Over 79,000 Albertans currently on AISH
- Countless caregivers and families
- Support workers and community agencies
- Employers seeking inclusive workplaces
- The long-term dignity and economic stability of disabled Albertans
Reform is not about political positioning, it’s about ensuring people can live with dignity, security, and opportunity.
Key Takeaways:
- AISH currently provides subsistence-level support that does not keep pace with real cost-of-living increases.
- Indexing benefits to inflation should be automatic and legislated, not discretionary.
- The $100,000 asset limit has never been adjusted and no longer reflects economic reality.
- Clawbacks, especially of the $200 Canada Disability Benefit, undermine financial stability.
- Families are forced into roles as case managers navigating fragmented systems.
- Disability support workers are underpaid, leading to burnout and workforce instability.
- Employment should increase quality of life, not create fear of losing benefits.
- Alberta lacks accessibility legislation, unlike several other provinces.
- Real reform must involve co-design with the disability community: Nothing about us without us.
Memorable lines:
“Can we get beyond a system of barely getting by?”
“Work should increase quality of life. It shouldn’t threaten survival.”
“As a society, we’re judged by how fully we include and support people.”
Resources & Links:
Disability Advocates Website:
https://www.disabilityadvocates.ca
AISH Program Information:
https://www.alberta.ca/aish
Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) Overview:
https://www.alberta.ca
Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD):
https://www.alberta.ca/persons-with-developmental-disabilities-pdd
FSCD (Family Support for Children with Disabilities):
https://www.alberta.ca/fscd