Alberta’s First ADAP Town Hall: What’s at Stake

Written By Zachary Weeks

Tonight, I sat through the Alberta government’s first town hall on the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). They framed it as a chance to “consult” with Albertans with disabilities. But let’s be real: the decision to create ADAP has already been made. What we’re left with is the illusion of consultation — being asked to weigh in on details of a program designed without us. (Also… Was I the only one wondering how ‘accessible’ this disability town hall really was — when Deaf Albertans couldn’t follow, blind Albertans couldn’t read along, and anyone needing plain language was left in the dust?)

A Pattern We’ve Seen Before

This isn’t happening in isolation. It’s part of a long string of attacks on disabled Albertans:

  • AISH has been frozen, gutted, and indexed only after years of neglect, still failing to keep pace with inflation.

  • ADAP is being pushed forward without meaningful co-design, layering on reassessments and bureaucracy.

  • The Canada Disability Benefit was clawed back in Alberta before most even saw a cent.

  • The government buried its own accessibility report, then twisted it to justify employment policies instead of legislating accessibility.

  • Housing, education, and community supports have been chipped away, trapping too many of us in poverty and institutional settings.

When you zoom out, ADAP isn’t progress — it’s the next step in a pattern of shrinking supports while selling the illusion of opportunity.

What I Heard Tonight

People asked tough, real questions:

  • Who actually decides if I can work — me and my doctor, or the government?

  • What happens if I try working but can’t sustain it?

  • Will my benefits be clawed back if I earn income?

  • What about people in rural communities who can’t afford travel?

  • Will health benefits really stay in place no matter what?

The government’s answers were polished: Don’t worry, health benefits will remain until 65. Don’t worry, you can move between ADAP and AISH. Don’t worry, no one will lose support. They even dangled a generous income exemption — up to ~$48,000/year — as if that erases the deep mistrust so many of us feel.

But here’s the thing: we’ve heard promises before. Affordability payments. Indexing. Accessibility legislation. Each time, the government said the right words — then delayed, denied, or dismantled the follow-through.

Where Are the Jobs?

The entire premise of ADAP rests on the idea that those with disabilities can and should enter the workforce. I don’t disagree with the principle. In fact, I — and so many others — wholeheartedly want to work. Who wouldn’t?

The benefits of meaningful employment are clear:

  • Increased income and stability.

  • Greater independence.

  • A sense of purpose and belonging.

  • A better quality of life overall.

The problem? The jobs don’t exist.

Not in the numbers the government suggests. Not with the infrastructure, support, and accessibility that Albertans with disabilities need. For decades, the story has been the same: a handful of exceptional employers hire “the odd person with a disability,” often thanks to targeted grants or charity, but there’s been no systemic change. No widespread cultural shift. No legislation that ensures disabled people are not just hired, but actually supported to stay employed.

ADAP promises jobs, but it’s putting the cart before the horse. You can’t build a program around employment without first building the conditions for employment to succeed. That means real accessibility legislation — drafted with and by disabled people — that enforces inclusive hiring, workplace accommodations, and retention practices.

Until then, ADAP is just dangling the idea of work without delivering the means to achieve it.

The Bigger Picture

Albertans with disabilities aren’t fooled. We know that every new “assessment” is another hoop. Every “wraparound service” can turn into a waiting list. Every promise of stability can vanish with the next budget.

ADAP could have been an opportunity to build a modern, accessible income system rooted in trust and equity. Instead, it feels like a way to push people into precarious work while keeping the safety net as thin as possible.

Where We Go From Here

The government insists the details of ADAP are still being shaped. That means, if truthful, there’s still time — though not much — to push back. Here’s how:

  1. Read the full Q&A from tonight’s town hall if you weren’t able to attend 👉 [Click here]

  2. Attend the upcoming town halls: Friday, September 5 at 12:00 PM (MST)

  3. Contact your MLA — make sure they hear from you directly about how this program will impact your life.

  4. Stay connected with advocacy groups pushing for real change, because the only way we win is together.

Disabled Albertans deserve more than empty reassurances and staged consultations. We deserve supports we can rely on, equitable access to opportunity, and a government that works with us — not against us. We want to work. We want better lives. But until Alberta builds the jobs, enforces accessibility, and listens to disabled voices, ADAP is nothing more than a promise without a path.

Zachary Weeks
Next

Understanding the Proposed Changes to AISH and the New Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP)