Raising parents’ confidence and ability to advocate for their loved ones is listed as the big achievement of Inclusion Lloydminster in 2025, says Tami Smith, Executive Director. She points out that funding reductions highlight how fragile supports can be for the families they serve.
Question 1: What is/are your organization’s major accomplishments this year?
Smith: This year’s biggest accomplishment has been the increase in parents’ confidence and ability to advocate for their loved ones. Parents are speaking up more in school meetings, with government programs, and with service providers, and are better able to understand their rights and options in systems like AISH/ADAP, FSCD, and Inclusive Education.
Question 2: What was your biggest challenge?
Smith: Our biggest challenge has been the combination of family-level and system-level pressures, including ongoing problems with disability income programs (AISH and the new ADAP which both show a marketable decrease in resources available to a population of people already living at the poverty line, as well as create increased barriers and complexities in even accessing the resources), Inclusive Education barriers, and children only being offered partial school days instead of full, meaningful inclusion.
At the agency level, we also faced a decrease in funding, which forced difficult decisions organizationally and highlighted how fragile supports can be for the families we serve.
Question 3: What are you looking forward to in the new year?
Smith: In the new year, we are looking forward to building on parents’ growing confidence and continuing to walk alongside families as they advocate in schools, with caseworkers, and in policy spaces. We are excited to deepen our direct work with families, strengthen community connections, and find creative, flexible ways to support people despite funding cuts and shifting government priorities.
Question 4: What are you concerned about in 2026?
Smith: Looking ahead to 2026, there is serious concern about the continued stress being placed on families as governments shift focus away from direct support and as income and disability programs remain inadequate or unstable. Families are worried about children only attending partial school days, the impact of long waits for services like Family Support for Children with Disabilities, and the financial strain connected to changes in AISH/ADAP and other supports.
Question 5: What are your plans to overcome this hurdle in 2026?
Smith: To respond to these realities, we have reduced our overhead costs by giving up office space so that more of our limited resources can go directly to supporting families. This leaner model allows us to prioritize front-line advocacy, one‑to‑one support, and system navigation with families, helping them cope with funding cuts, long waitlists, and school‑based challenges while maintaining as much stability and choice as possible.
Jan. 15 – Inclusive Education Information Session
Inclusion Lloydminster will host a virtual Inclusive Education Information Session on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Registration is required so participants can receive the Zoom link the day before the event. The session will explain what inclusive education is, why it matters, and how families can work with schools to support meaningful learning for every child. It will highlight the different ways schools can create inclusive learning environments and offer practical strategies for families to collaborate and advocate effectively.
The presenters are Dr. Donna Barrett from Concordia University and Marie Tran, who brings a wealth of expertise as a teacher in early childhood and elementary classrooms.
The workshop is designed for parents but is open to anyone interested in strengthening inclusive practices. It runs from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Registration details are online.
