Disability advocates say Manitoba day program gaps leave many behind through pandemic

Nancy Hamilton is a people person. She loves spending time with her nieces and nephews, and she has a wry sense of humour that she doesn't get to show off as often lately. 

The 39-year-old has Down syndrome and lives in a group home run by the non-profit, Direct Action in Support of Community Homes (DASCH). Before the pandemic, she went to a day service program which kept her busy, but it's been closed on and off due to pandemic restrictions.

As of Feb. 1, day services run by Community Living Disability Services are allowed to reopen gradually — according to a memo from the Department of Families that was posted online — but participants are being prioritized now. Only people who fit a "critical need" category can attend without question.

That includes people who can't be safely supported at home during the day, those whose mental health has suffered and people who are at risk of losing their jobs.

Because of the criteria and the pandemic, Hamilton hasn't been able to go to her program for nearly two years. 

"I feel a little bit upset about it," she said. 

One of Hamilton's two volunteer jobs was at the Grace Hospital. She'd bring water to patients and help with paperwork, and she was good at it. It's something Hamilton says she misses.

"I like going there to help out people," she said. "I care about a lot of people." 

Her mother, Andrea Nowosad, says Hamilton watches a lot more TV, and has become dependent on her family. Nowosad says it's heartbreaking to see society reopen and life inch back to normal when her daughter's life is still so restricted. 

"Nancy and the other people who access these programs, it's just like they've been forgotten," she said. 

Day programs have been impacted by ever-evolving public health restrictions, says Karen Fonseth, the Chief Executive Officer at DASCH. Programs are reopening, but not everyone is getting access. Add COVID-related illnesses to that, and the services aren't nearly what they used to be. 

"People don't get to do their activities, they don't get to do anything outside of the basic needs in life," she said. 

The Salvation Army-run Community Venture program has been serving people who meet the province's critical needs criteria, according to an emailed statement from executive director, Kim Park. She says just before Christmas the organization was at 80 per cent capacity. 

Nowosad says those critical needs definitions are another hoop to jump through for people like her daughter.