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The Vulnerable Persons
Living with a Mental
Disability Act
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Support Services
Who is eligible to receive support services?
Support services may be provided to vulnerable persons, within available resources. The Act defines a vulnerable person as an adult with a mental disability who needs assistance to meet his or her basic personal care or property management needs. Mental disability means a significant intellectual impairment plus impaired adaptive behavior, both having occurred before the age of 18 years. Persons meeting these conditions are eligible to receive support services.
What are support services?
Support services include a broad range of programs, services and supports that may be provided to vulnerable persons through Manitoba Family Services and Housing. Besides the ongoing support that a community service worker provides, the following are some of the support services that may be available:
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Residential Services
Residential Services support vulnerable persons in a range of living options that provide varying levels of care and support. For example, a vulnerable person may live in a supported apartment living situation, a community residence or developmental centre. As well, support may be available to assist vulnerable persons to live in their parental home, a foster home or independently.
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Day Services and the Vocational Rehabilitation Program
Day Services provides a range of options that respond to the vocational, social and personal care needs of vulnerable persons. The Day Services Program may support vulnerable persons in finding a job and in arranging for assistance they may need to do the job. Alternatively, when vulnerable persons need to learn work skills or life skills, Day Services can help them find appropriate resources.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Program can help people living
with a mental disability to plan for a job, get the training
they need and obtain work in the competitive labour market.
Services of a generic nature may also be provided by organizations
within the larger community.
How does a vulnerable person get support services?
The Act states that an individual plan must be developed for
every vulnerable person who receives support services. Through
the individual planning process, support
services are identified.
The planning process helps the vulnerable person to identify
and move towards a desired future. The vulnerable person, members
of that person's support network,
and the substitute decision maker
or committee (if any) work with a community service worker to
identify the person's strengths, needs and dreams for the future.
The vulnerable person and the planning team can then begin to
determine what services and supports are required. Services may
include those provided through Manitoba Family Services and Housing
as well as those available in the larger community. This process
results in a written document called an individual plan.
What happens if persons are denied services
or are not satisfied with the support services they are receiving?
If disputes arise about eligibility for service or about the support services provided to a vulnerable person, Manitoba Family Services may appoint a mediator to try to settle the dispute.
Regardless of whether mediation is attempted, a vulnerable person,
substitute decision maker or committee (if any) may appeal such
disputes to the Social Services Appeal Board. Disputes that are
not eligible for appeal are those involving increased funding or
changes to policy.
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