Overview

To understand the context of the community rehabilitation sector, it is important to consider the population of persons with disabilities in Canada and in Alberta—particularly those children, youth, and adults who receive supports and services. This Section describes what Workforce 2010 has found.

Children with Disabilities

Children in Alberta
In 2001:

• Alberta’s population was about 3.2 million.


• There were approximately 23,000 children (under the age of 15 years) with a disability.


• About one-quarter of these children—approximately 5,900—had a developmental disability.

By the year 2010, it is estimated that:

• Alberta’s population will grow to 3.6 million.


• About 700,000 people will be under the age of 15 years.


• There will be about 27,000 children with disabilities.


• About 6,900 of these children will have a developmental disability.

Children Receiving Supports
In 2004:

• There were 6,156 children (under the age of 18) receiving supports from the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program.


• Two-thirds of children receiving FSCD services lived in Calgary or Edmonton. Nearly 5,000 of these children received Community Aide services.

Of the children receiving services, 65% were male and 35% were female. Their ages were:

• 25% were between 0-5 years


• 35% were between 6-10 years


• 40% were between 11-17 years

Types of Disabilities

• Of the children receiving supports from the Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program in 2004, 63% had a developmental disability.


• Nearly one-third of children with a developmental disability had a primary diagnosis of autism.

Children with Developmental Disabilities Receiving Supports

Of the children with developmental disabilities who received supports from FSCD in 2004:

• 22% were in the 0-5 years age group


• 38% were in the 6-10 years age group


• 40% were in the 11-17 years age group

Children Receiving Supports in 2010
We predict that by 2010, there will be about 6,700 children under age 18 receiving FSCD services (compared to 6,156 in 2004 – a 8.8% increase).

• 35% – about 2,400 – will be female


• 65% – about 4,300 – will be male


• 60%about (4,200 – will have a developmental disability / 600 – will be children 15 – 17 years of age / 3,600 – will be children under the age of 15)

Of all children with developmental disabilities in 2010, about half will receive services from FSCD.

Documents (available in .pdf format)

Service Expectations for the Future: Results of Family Focus Groups (.pdf)

Facts for a Solid Foundation: Essential Intelligence for Planning the Future Workforce (.pdf)

Trends, Issues and Best Practices: A Synthesis of the Labour Market Intelligence About the Rehabilitation Field in Alberta (.pdf)

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