The Services for Persons with Disabilities (SPD) Program of the Department of Community Services, together with the

Continuing Care Branch and the Mental Health, Childrens Services and Addictions Branches of the Department of Health & Wellness, are working together to design a more person-focused and community-based system of supports and programs for almost 40,000 Nova Scotians who rely on the services we provide. A key part of this initiative will be hearing from Nova Scotians who receive direct services through the government programs listed above. We want to hear from family members and most importantly first voices about your personal experiences as consumers of these services. Your input will help our team focus service design on consumers and their families. The Project Team has developed the attached discussion document, Putting People First: Working Together to Support Independence and Dignity, which describes this project - its vision, guiding principles, and considerations for change. Now, we want your feedback. As part of our outreach you are invited to participate in one of four regional meetings: Location Halifax Kentville Truro Date* Tuesday, March 19th Wednesday, March 20th Tuesday, March 26th Time 6:008:00 PM 6:008:00 PM 6:008:00 PM Venue NSCC Waterfront Campus 80 Mawiomi Pl., Dartmouth Room 4732 NSCC Kingstec Campus 236 Belcher St., Kentville Room 2102 NSCC Truro Campus 36 Arthur St., Truro LRC Room 111 Cambridge Suites 380 Esplanade, Sydney Celtic Room

Sydney

Wednesday, March 27th

6:00 8:00 PM

At this meeting, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts about your personal experiences as clients of these government services, and give feedback on the discussion document. We want you to share your thoughts, challenge assumptions and push the boundaries about how our services and supports can be strengthened and improved.

The feedback we receive from your input will be used to develop a proposed plan to improve services, and the ways in which we offer them. We really hope that you will be able to participate in this meeting. Thank you in advance for making this important work a priority. Please RSVP to Jeff Overmars at OVERMAJD@gov.ns.ca or 902-424-0796 by Tuesday, March 12th, 2013.

Lorna MacPherson Director, Services for Persons with Disabilities Program Department of Community Services *If poor weather conditions result in schools being closed on any of the meeting dates above, storm dates are as follows: Halifax (April 2nd), Kentville (April 3rd), Truro (April 9th), Sydney (April 10th).