Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) & Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD)
This guide summarizes information and resources shared by the Government of Alberta Disability Services to support service providers assisting newcomer families who are applying for the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) programs. It provides an overview of eligibility, application processes, available supports while families are waiting for services, and additional community and government resources that may be helpful throughout the process. This toolkit is intended to serve as a practical reference for service providers supporting newcomer families in navigating Alberta’s disability services system.
Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)
Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD)
Community Supports Available While Applications Are Being Processed
- Family Resource Centres, provides:
- Information, navigation support, and referrals for disability-related services.
- Helps families understand and access FSCD, PDD, and other community supports.
- Supports individuals with disabilities and their families in navigating available services across Alberta
- Disability Supports
- Child Care Connect, provides:
- Information on licensed childcare options in Alberta.
- Helps families find childcare programs and services.
- Connects families with childcare information and support resources.
- Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL), provides:
- Helps eligible Albertans access funding for basic medical equipment and supplies.
- Supports individuals with long-term disabilities, chronic illnesses, or terminal illnesses.
- Covers items such as wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids, respiratory equipment, and other assistive devices to support independent living
- Program Unit Funding (PUF), provides:
- Information on Alberta’s early childhood education programs and supports.
- Includes resources for children with diverse learning and developmental needs.
- Child Care Connect, provides:
- Health Supports
- Pediatric Community Rehabilitation, provides:
- Rehabilitation services for children and youth (0–18 years) with developmental, neurodevelopmental, or medical conditions.
- Offers services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, and other rehabilitation supports.
- Helps children develop skills and participate in everyday activities at home, school, and in the community.
- Children’s Allied Health Network, provides:
- Assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children and youth with developmental delays, disabilities, or rehabilitation needs.
- Offers access to services such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and other allied health supports.
- Helps children develop skills to participate in daily activities at home, school, and in the community.
- Recovery Alberta Mental Health, provides:
- Mental health, addiction, and recovery-oriented services for Albertans of all ages.
- Connects individuals and families to treatment, counselling, crisis support, and community-based services.
- Offers information, resources, and access to mental health and addiction programs across Alberta.
- Pediatric Community Rehabilitation, provides:
Application Support and Processing Timelines: FSCD and PDD
- Need Help Applying? Alberta Supports Contact Centre phone number at 1-877-644-9992 or check the website for more information, supports available:
- Application assistance
- General program information
- Assistance in 100+ language
- Processing Timelines: What families should know
- Applications are processed in the order they are received.
- Processing times vary depending on:
- application volumes
- each family’s individual circumstances
- Alberta Disability Services cannot provide estimated timelines for file assignment.
- While Families Wait: Encourage families to create a verified Alberta.ca account, a verified account will be required to:
- sign FSCD/PDD agreements
- access reimbursement portals
- manage online services
- If Circumstances Change: Families should email Disability Services at ALSS.ds-south@gov.ab.ca if they:
- have additional questions
- need to submit documents
- experience changes in their circumstances