CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Summerside MLA says two parents in her district have been cut off from disability support for their children.
In question period on Thursday, Green MLA Lynne Lund said two mothers in her district have found that physiotherapy services are no longer offered to their school-age children. These services were offered to their children in kindergarten.
Health P.E.I. offers physiotherapy assistance to children up to age five. But for children over the age of six, the responsibility falls on the school system.
"I've learned that as children with special needs reach school-age, they age out of certain supports within the system, despite the fact that their needs for those supports haven't changed," Lund said.
"Without a physiotherapist, these children do not have professional support for their exercises or to watch for muscle stiffness on a regular basis. But they also don't have a physiotherapist to write the referrals required for wheelchairs and various necessary equipment."
In an interview with The Guardian, Lund said the two mothers have been unable to get a referral from a physiotherapist, which would allow them to access provincial support for needed equipment.
"Step one is getting the referral from the physiotherapist. And if there's one in the child's school, that's probably great, but that's not the case in Summerside," Lund said.
Lund was unsure if the parents have incurred costs from private physiotherapy services for their children.
STUDENT WELL-BEING TEAMS
In response, Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Brad Trivers said supports are offered in the school system for physiotherapy through the Student Well-being Teams program. He said a physiotherapist has seen 325 students over the last school year.
Three full-time occupational therapists currently work as part of Student Well-being Teams, offered to support students in the WestIsle, Montague and Colonel Gray family of schools.
"Rest assured, there is at least some occupational therapy support within our school system for these students," Trivers said.
However, the supports are not currently offered to students in Summerside schools.
Trivers acknowledged more physiotherapy and occupational health supports are needed, including in Summerside.
"All of the families of schools will be covered when the roll-out is complete. Both physiotherapists and occupational therapists are included in those teams,” Trivers said.
"Do I say that covers off every single student that needs help? Probably not, but we're constantly re-evaluating."
Trivers said the Student Well-being Team programs were offered through both Health P.E.I. and his department.
He said he expected the Student Well-being Team program to be expanded to all Island schools before the end of 2020.
