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We Advocate

Gordon & Annie VanderLeek

Éducation

Fréquence : 1 épisode/3j. Total Éps: 14

We Advocate is a podcast about empowerment, advocacy, and understanding the systems that affect Albertans with disabilities. Hosted by Gordon VanderLeek, a Calgary wills and estates lawyer, and Annie VanderLeek, a disability advocate, the show explores the intersection of law, policy, and lived experience for people with disabilities and their families.

Each episode breaks down complex topics — from AISH and the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) to support programs both provincial and federal, guardianship & trusteeship for those with disabilities, issues on capacity, and general planning opportunities— in plain language that helps listeners make sense of their rights and options.

With insight, empathy, and a dash of candid conversation, Gordon and Annie share their experiences from both sides of the advocacy table — legal and personal — helping listeners stay informed, prepared, and empowered to navigate life with confidence.

If you care about disability rights, inclusion, legal issues and social policy reform in Alberta and beyond, We Advocate is your trusted voice for clarity and change.

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003. Money and Work Under ADAP

Saison 1 · Épisode 3

mercredi 29 octobre 2025 • Durée 27:24

In this episode of We Advocate, Gordon and Annie continue unpacking Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), this time focusing on income, benefits, and employment expectations under the new system.

The discussion dives into what the government’s discussion paper outlines for people with disabilities who have “some ability to work,” including how income exemptions will change and what the new employment supports might look like.

In This Episode

ADAP vs. AISH income differences:
ADAP’s monthly payment is set at $1,740, compared to $1,940 under AISH — a $200 reduction that assumes recipients can make up the difference through work.
Lower income exemptions:
The amount individuals can earn before clawbacks drops from $1,072 to $350 per month, significantly impacting those who can only work a few hours.
Government case studies:
- Jasmine: A fictional participant who moves from AISH to ADAP, receives employment supports, and supposedly finds 24 hours of work per week — a scenario Gordon and Annie argue is unrealistic for most.
- Joe: Another case claiming increased earnings through more work hours, despite unrealistic assumptions about wages, supports, and employer availability.
Employment supports and realism:
The hosts question whether meaningful, sustained employment opportunities — and qualified job coaching — truly exist at the scale ADAP assumes.
Systemic concerns:
- Many individuals on AISH already struggle to find stable, accessible employment.
- Alberta’s minimum wage hasn’t increased while costs of living continue to rise.
- The government’s assumption that jobs and supports will materialize may not reflect real conditions.
The bigger question:
Why couldn’t these employment initiatives simply be added to AISH, rather than introducing a new system that reduces benefits and adds uncertainty?

Key Takeaways

ADAP introduces less money and lower income exemptions — even before clawbacks.
Government case studies paint an overly optimistic picture that doesn’t match the lived experience of most AISH recipients.
Employment supports sound good in theory, but questions remain: who’s providing them, are they disability-informed, and are they ongoing?
Hosts stress the importance of holding the government accountable for ensuring supports are real, continuous, and accessible.
The next episode will explore how transitions from AISH to ADAP will occur — and what risks recipients may face during the shift.

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002. Who Actually Qualifies for ADAP?

Saison 1 · Épisode 2

mercredi 29 octobre 2025 • Durée 21:40

In this episode, Gordon and Annie unpack eligibility for Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and how it may differ from AISH. They walk through age, residency, income and asset tests, the medical criteria, and the new adjudication flow. Plus why episodic and complex disabilities may be hardest hit if the rules aren’t nuanced.

In This Episode

ADAP at a glance: Proposed to run alongside AISH starting July 1, 2026; placement appears to hinge on “ability to work.”
Baseline eligibility (what we know from the discussion paper):
- Age: 18–64 (not eligible for federal seniors’ benefits)
- Residency/citizenship: Alberta resident; Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Financial tests: Income limits and asset tests (exempt vs. non-exempt)
- Medical: Severe, long-term disability not expected to resolve with treatment
Assets — key exemptions (mirroring AISH today):
Principal residence, one vehicle (incl. mobility-adapted), RDSP balances, and certain trusts where the recipient is a beneficiary.
Application & placement: Single application with the government deciding ADAP vs AISH; requires a medical report (physician).
Adjudication & reviews: Use of adjudicators and a medical review panel is contemplated; concerns raised about no external appeal route and what “re-apply with new info” will look like.
Episodic conditions & equity: How bipolar, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and other fluctuating conditions fit when eligibility is judged at a single point in time.
Practical worry: Families who fought to secure AISH may have to re-prove medical status, straining access to doctors and documentation.

Key Takeaways

Two-track system: AISH (cannot work) vs. ADAP (some ability to work) sounds simple, but real-life disability is complex and episodic.
Proof burden rises: Expect fresh medical evidence and more adjudication steps; capacity to work may be interpreted broadly.
Fairness gap risk: If decisions are final (no appeal), applicants with fluctuating conditions could be locked into the wrong stream.
Assets still matter: Exemptions like home, one vehicle, RDSP, and some trusts are expected to remain similar—details pending.

001. Understanding Alberta’s New Disability Assistance Program (ADAP)

Saison 1 · Épisode 1

jeudi 23 octobre 2025 • Durée 28:49

Welcome to the relaunch of We Advocate , a podcast where lawyer Gordon VanderLeek and disability advocate Annie VanderLeek break down the Alberta government’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and what it means for Albertans living with disabilities.

In this first episode, they explore the government’s goals for ADAP, how it compares to the long-standing AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) program, and why the change has many people worried.

In This Episode

What is ADAP?
The Alberta government plans to launch ADAP in July 2026 as a “modernized” program that runs alongside AISH, focusing on those who have some ability to work.
A Two-Track System:
ADAP will apply to people who can work in some capacity, while AISH will remain for those who cannot work due to permanent disabilities.
The Financial Impact:
- Current AISH benefit: $1,901/month, rising to $1,940 in 2026.
- ADAP benefit: $1,740/month — a $200 reduction for those deemed able to work.
  The government says this can be offset by increased earnings — but many question how realistic that is given Alberta’s job market and support limitations.
Health Benefits & Positives:
ADAP promises continued access to health and prescription benefits even for those working, which Gordon and Annie agree would be a positive — if it’s implemented as promised.
Concerns About Stigma & Reality:
Annie points out that the new program risks reinforcing stigma — implying people on AISH aren’t working by choice, when most already face barriers that prevent full employment.
Bigger Picture:
Rather than scrap and rebuild, the hosts question: Why not improve AISH instead? They argue the system already allows people to work within set income limits and simply needs refinement, not replacement.

Key Takeaways

ADAP introduces a two-tier system that separates people with disabilities based on perceived ability to work.
The $200 monthly reduction creates additional financial strain in an already tight cost-of-living environment.

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We Advocate – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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