Province hints at increased funding for wheelchair services – Winnipeg Free Press

A Manitoba man fighting to improve provincial wheelchair services says he now sees a glimmer of hope.

In a statement Tuesday and in a letter from Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine to Steinbach resident Joy Gardner in January, the province advises it will soon address funding and service gaps.

“I hope it's not just words,” said Gardner, who recently spoke publicly about her battle to get a wheelchair lift.

A 70-year-old polio survivor has called for a policy change so that assistive equipment like electric elevators should be included in provincial coverage.

He received a new wheelchair in 2022 through the Manitoba Possible Wheelchair Program, which is funded by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority through provincial health and family budgets.

The wheelchair did not come with a power lifter, and Gardner was told that such devices are no longer available because they are commercially available in Manitoba. However, the price is over $3,000.

Gardner said even if he could, he couldn't find a qualified private sector technician in his area to install it.

In response, Fontaine wrote to Gardner on January 9 (he provided a copy of the letter to the U.S Free Click the button).

“I appreciate your proposal to develop a policy that would allow Manitoba to offer more options to clients (including electric lift chairs) and other devices that occupational therapists and doctors find necessary,” said the family minister.

“The Manitoba government is gathering more information on the need for wheelchair repairs and we hope to have a number of issues resolved in early 2024.”

Gardner said he was also contacted by a provincial government policy analyst last week.

The senior said he hopes for change and lives in fear of falling when transferring from his wheelchair. One such incident last year resulted in a rotator cuff tear.

“It's getting complicated,” Gardner said. “It's a daily thing, every day I wake up and think, 'Is it going to fall today?'

In a statement Tuesday, the families minister said Opportunity Manitoba is “doing amazing” through its wheelchair program, but has not received enough funding to meet demand. “We are working closely with Manitoba Possible to close these gaps and are committed to ensuring that more Manitobans have better access to the repair services they need.”

Meanwhile, Winnipeg resident Tom Landy, who has been incarcerated without basic mobility for four years, said he still can't use a new wheelchair because the process to get a special seat takes so long.

Landy has a degenerative condition called spinal muscular atrophy and requires a special motorized wheelchair.

He said he began the process of getting a new wheelchair in 2019 and has dealt with layers of funding approvals.

A new wheelchair was ordered last year and finally delivered, but he can't use it without a special seat. Landy said he would wait at least another six weeks.

Scheduling with vendors has been a “nightmare” and the process is taking too long, said Landy, who spoke publicly about his situation last summer.

“I've been in solitary confinement for four years and I don't see much change,” Landy wrote in a text message Tuesday. “There is too much red tape in the system.

“Why doesn't anyone fix this?” It's very frustrating.”

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