Saskatchewan Party Will Improve Deafblind Services in Saskatchewan

A re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will improve services for D/deaf and Deafblind Saskatchewan residents, Premier Scott Moe announced today.

“Our government’s goal is to make Saskatchewan the best place in Canada for persons living with a disability,” Moe said. “In our recent budget, we announced new supports for D/deaf and Deafblind persons in our province. If re-elected, your Saskatchewan Party government will continue to increase those supports over the next three years.”

Deafblindness is the combined loss of both vision and hearing such that neither sense can be used as an accurate source of gathering information. Deafblind persons can be assisted by trained professionals called intervenors, who act as the “eyes” and “ears” of the Deafblind individual, providing specialized communications and supports.

New supports announced in the 2020-21 provincial budget provided funding for Deafblind Community Services in Saskatchewan and for:

• One deafblind intervenor;
• One American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter;
• Two sign support professionals; and
• Enhancing their 24-hour interpreter line to include access to intervener services.

The Saskatchewan Party’s platform commitment is based on a joint proposal from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (SDHHS). Support will include:

• Three additional Deafblind intervenors;
• Three new ASL interpreters;
• One additional sign support professional; and
• One case manager.

The cost when fully implemented will be $1 million per year.

“Working to make Saskatchewan the best place in Canada for persons with a disability is part of our plan for a strong Saskatchewan,” Moe said.

-30-

For further information:

Jim Billington
Communications Director
Saskatchewan Party Campaign
[email protected]
306-359-3633

Backgrounder: Expanding D/deaf and Deafblind Services in Saskatchewan