The Yukon government funding that was promised last week for families who receive disability services is being awarded per household, not per individual.

That has sparked criticism from families who have more than one member with disabilities.

“It’s a little bit disappointing; I really appreciate the support but I think it should be equitable,” Stacey McDiarmid, a Yukon parent, said in an interview with the Star Tuesday.

McDiarmid is the mother of four children with disabilities, three of whom have autism and are in virtual occupational therapy during the pandemic.

When the government announced the $400 benefit, McDiarmid said, the announcement led her to believe the benefit would be paid per child.

She was surprised to learn that all families would receive the same flat rate.

“It’s really tough,” McDiarmid said.

“I split the $400 three ways and that’s $130 per child, when someone who has one child receives $400 for them.”

McDiarmid said she’s spent hundreds of dollars on equipment and supplies for her children to continue occupational therapy at home during the pandemic.

These expenses include Internet overages for virtual therapy lessons as well as sensory materials and gym equipment. This is equipment that would usually be provided by schools and disability services programs.

“I don’t foresee being able to cut any of those things out,” McDiarmid said.

“Typically, children with autism have a lot of sensory needs – squishy balls, therapy aids, special putty stuff – there’s lots of tools you don’t really think about, but if you’re going to be delivering this programming at home, then you need it.”

This summer, McDiarmid and her children will travel to Vancouver for behavioural camps specializing for kids with autism and dyslexia.

These services aren’t available in the Yukon, and the disability funding could have aided in recouping some of those extra travel costs if it was allotted per child.

McDiarmid said other families in her circle have incurred even higher expenses for extensive occupational therapy equipment during the pandemic.

“I don’t want to paint it that I’m not appreciative of the services, because I am so appreciative of our social worker and the program is really great,” McDiarmid said.

“I just feel like there should be an equitable way of doing it…. If you think about it in logical terms, that person needs that support, it should be person-based, it shouldn’t be family-based, because each family is made up differently.”

NDP Leader Kate White said she didn’t know the government funding was per-household until she spoke with McDiarmid, because the announcement last week was misleading.

“The premier (Sandy Silver) made a statement that said ‘disability services clients’, which makes you think of individuals,” White said.

The payment per household is a gaping hole in a well-intentioned support program, she added.

“My hope is it’s a small oversight and it will be remedied immediately,” White said.

“We shouldn’t be saving money on the backs of families or individuals with disabilities ... we have to remember those children weren’t getting the support they were getting in schools.

“For households with complex needs, how do you decide where that $400 goes?”

White said this situation is an example of why debate in the legislative assembly is important – as this could have been caught and rectified at an earlier stage.

“It could have strengthened the program, which is the point we’ve been bringing across all the time,” White said.

Clarissa Wall, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services, told the Star in an email that families can request additional funding for disability support.

“Families who need more support can reach out to Disability Services to discuss their options,” Wall said.

“They may also be eligible for other funding, including the educational funding offered by the Yukon government, and new supports announced by the federal government on June 5.”