Released on November 14, 2016
The Ministry of Social Services will research and pilot an assessment tool developed by the World Health Organization to determine the impact of a person’s disability on their daily life. New applicants to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program will be given the opportunity to volunteer in the pilot, beginning today.“Developing a unique income support program for people experiencing disabilities was one of our government’s first priorities,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “From the beginning, our government and the disability community agreed that SAID should support people with significant and enduring disabilities, and be sustainable over the long term. Continuously reviewing and improving the program will help to ensure that we are adhering to those original principles and supporting those in greatest need.”
During the pilot, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) will be evaluated to assess whether it can accurately and effectively measure the impact of disability for the purposes of the SAID program. Impact refers to the individual’s difficulty with daily living activities and the supports required for those activities. The impact assessment is one of the tools used to determine eligibility for the SAID program.
“The evaluation and pilot of the assessment tool will provide a careful and measured process for determining the best approach for this very important program,” SAID Program Implementation Advisory Team Chair Merv Bender said. “The Advisory Team looks forward to working with the Minister and the government as we continue to support a better quality of life for Saskatchewan people experiencing significant and enduring disability.”
Currently, applicants to the SAID program participate in a disability impact assessment (DIA) administered by the Saskatchewan Abilities Council. Beginning on November 14, 2016, new SAID applicants will be invited to take part in the pilot. The pilot will not affect existing SAID benefits or have any impact on participants’ eligibility for SAID.
The pilot is expected to run over the next few months. Results will inform future decisions about the SAID application process.
The WHODAS 2.0 is an internationally recognized instrument for measuring the impact of disability, using research done by the World Health Organization and studies undertaken across various countries, languages, and populations.
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For more information, contact:
Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-591-7835