A Chateauguay woman seeking a provincial handicapped supplement for her son has been left frustrated by red tape.
Jennifer Sioui, whose 12-year-old son, Zachary, has been diagnosed with motor coordination disorder dyspraxia, said she was twice denied a supplement from the Regie des rentes, the provincial organization that ensures the administration of social benefits.
The refusal came despite her son being recognized as disabled by other government organizations.
Sioui feels the situation is unfair, because her son's school board, using the information she provided, was able to obtain benefits.
"I am angry, because the school gets a lot more," said Sioui. "I had a neuropsychologist with the diagnosis. We've had occupational therapy assessments of where he's struggling in his life. We've had a whole psychologist work-up on him and where he is in his life."
The money administered by the Regie des rentes helps families receive care and education.
To qualify, the Regie requires that physical and mental handicaps must be serious and must significantly limit the child in carrying out daily activities for a period expected to last at least one year.
Using the same assessments, Sioui said she had no problem receiving benefits for Zachary from the federal government.
"The Canadian government accepted us right away, no questions asked. They even went back three years and paid us retroactively three years," said Sioui. "I'm really frustrated, I'm very angry. I don't understand how the government can have different ministries with different definitions of what a handicapped child is."
The Regie des rentes said it does not comment on specific cases, but said it but that each case is treated according a set of criteria. The organization said it has a team of specialists, including doctors, who study the documents parents send in to determine whether the child fits the criteria or not.
"They've mentioned that it's because he plays guitar, and that a child with dyspraxia shouldn't play guitar," said Sioui.
Zachary has trouble tying his shoelaces, and is also afflicted with a very rare vascular problem in his leg.
"(It) causes swelling, mild hearing loss and learning disabilities," explained Sioui.
She has applied to have the case heard at the arbitration level, but a date has not yet been set for a hearing.
Getting help from the government can be frustrating for parents, said Ronald Davidson, director of the Quebec Society for Disabled Children.
"Of course there are the re-assessments afterwards, where you have to demonstrate that your child still suffers from Down syndrome, for example. There's no cure," he said.
