My parents abandoned me at the hospital. I was raised in a series of foster homes. I f Aboriginal children with disabilities are to remain in the Aboriginal community, issues such as poor sanitation and water which endanger their health must be addressed. Families which care for these children must be given the necessary support services to enable them to maintain their children in their homes. The lack of adequate home care and respite care on Indian reserves was cited as a major obstacle.
Jurisdictional ambiguities appear to be at the crux of the problem.
They said there's no services. I phoned Victoria and I talked to the lady there. But I said there are no moneys, no dollars available through the federal government, therefore that is why I was going to the provincial government. E ven at the community level, there are barriers to service, to self-sufficiency and to the integration of Aboriginal persons with disabilities. The band is supposed to be delivering a holistic program but the programs are fragmented.