This article is Part 2 of CBC’s series focusing on the expanding waitlist for children with disabilities. Explore the challenges faced by families waiting for assistance here.Â
Alexandra Bejarano is witnessing her daughter’s regression while they await provincial support for her Down syndrome, leading to speech difficulties and decreased communication abilities.
Syeda Zehra, having paused her accounting career, is self-training through online resources to provide therapy for her six-year-old son, regretting leaving behind his previous therapy in Oman upon moving to Canada.
Carissa Campbell contemplates separation from her husband as they seek assistance for their daughter with ADHD and Tourette syndrome, who has struggled attending school regularly, causing significant strain on their family.
More than 700 families shared their experiences with CBC News after responding to a survey on the waitlist for Alberta’s Family Support for Children with Disabilities program.
The program aims to assist families with the additional expenses related to caring for children with disabilities, including specialized respite care, one-on-one daycare aid, and targeted therapy services. However, access to these services is contingent upon being enrolled in the program.
Despite a budget increase of $44 million, the system has experienced a slowdown, with 18,584 active cases in 2026 compared to 20,033 two years ago. The backlog has grown as Alberta’s population has increased, resulting in an estimated 20,000 children waiting for caseworkers to access individual therapy services.
Alexandra Bejarano, along with her daughter Amelie and son Jean. Amelie, diagnosed with Down syndrome, has experienced setbacks in her speech development while awaiting support from the FSCD program in Alberta. (Submitted by Alexandra Bejarano)
Parents have reported job loss, financial strain, and difficulties finding suitable daycare options due to their children’s special needs and lack of access to necessary aids. Some resort to homeschooling, accumulating debt for therapy, or relying on private insurance until coverage expires, resulting in regression in their children’s progress.
The prolonged wait times have taken a toll on families, leading to neglect of siblings, increased stress levels, and strained relationships. The uncertainty of when help will be available adds to their frustration, particularly as crucial developmental stages in their children’s lives pass by.
Keltie Marshall, from the peer support group Hold My Hand Alberta, echoes the sentiments of many
