Sask. will now fund teen's 24/7 supports near his post-secondary school

An 18-year-old from Assiniboia, Sask., will be able to attend his post-secondary school and live independently after the provincial government agreed to provide him with funding.

Preston Ruzickahas Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. He's enrolled at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Moose Jaw, an hour away from his family.

For severalmonths, Preston and his mother,Geraldine Ruzicka, have attempted to convince the province to help cover the cost of an assisted living home that would provide him with 24/7 care.

The province had refused. After CBC News reported on the family's effortsthis week, an official with the Saskatchewan Health Authoritycalled the Ruzicka family Thursday morning.

"The [Ministry of Health]has decided to go ahead with the alternative specific client funding for Preston so that he can attend school," Geraldine said Thursday."So we're very excited and it's been a long fight to get here."

Preston welcomed the news as well.

"I'm kind of excited to be able to have some place to live and go to school," he said.

The decision brings a sustainedeffort by theRuzickafamilyan end.

Geraldine previously told CBCNews that the province had offered tohave Preston stay in Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina, but not the seniors' care home in Moose Jaw that the family hadfound.

She said mostlong-term care facilities are only for seniors, have long waitlists,or cater to people with cognitive, rather than physical, disabilities.The home in Moose Jaw was the only place that would accept him based on his care needs.

"We've been told by Saskatchewan health that we should find three or four of his friends to live with him so that they can shower him and and put him on and off the toilet, and I don't know too many 18-year-olds that would want to do that with another, let alone have that done for them," Geraldine previously told CBC.

Geraldine said that if she had assisted Preston financially, then he would lose his benefits under theSaskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program.

WATCH |This 18-year-old college student says his stay in aseniors' home will save province money:

This 18-year-old college student says his stay in an assisted living seniors' home will save the province money

3 months ago

Duration 2:06

Preston Ruzicka, 18, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The college freshman has found a private apartment inside an assisted living seniors' home in Moose Jaw, but the province has so far refused funding. He says the Saskatchewan government will only pay for care inside 'hospital-like' long-term care homes, which have waitlists, or if he finds a wheelchair-accessible apartment and hires more expensive private care that's not 24/7.

Preston even wrote a letter to Health Minister Everett Hindley requestinga face-to-face meeting after seven months of correspondence.

The teen said the government set a precedent when it previously provided funding to one family in a similar situation.

He's previously described the experience as "one of the most challenging" of his life.

"I feel profoundly dehumanized and discriminated against," Preston said.

LISTEN |Assiniboia mother fighting for funding so son canreceive care he needs while at school:

The Morning Edition - Sask9:16Assiniboia mother fighting for funding so her son can go to post-secondary school of his choice and receive the care he needs

A Saskatchewan graduate is facing roadblocks attending his post-secondary school of choice due to his disability his family has found a place that provides care but they are having trouble getting the government to pay for it.It's been a months long fight with fewer than 40 days until he begins school in Moose Jaw.His mom - Geraldine Ruzicka - joins us to explain.

On Thursday, Geraldine said that although her family's efforts have been successful, she is not going to stop advocating for others.

"[I'll] make sure that another mother doesn't have to look into their kid's eyes and hear their kid say how dehumanized they're feeling," she said.

But for now, Geraldine said her family will celebrate their success and help Preston prepare for the upcoming school year.