FSCD vs. PDD: Understanding the Difference Between Alberta's Two Main Disability Support Programs

Alberta has two primary government programs for people with disabilities: Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD). Both are administered by the Government of Alberta. Both fund support services for people with disabilities. But they serve different age groups, have different eligibility criteria, and work in meaningfully different ways.

For families currently receiving FSCD, understanding PDD is not optional — it is essential planning. FSCD eligibility ends at age 18. If your child will need ongoing support as an adult, PDD is the primary program to explore. And the time to start that exploration is not at 17. It is at 16, or earlier.

This post explains how FSCD and PDD differ, what the transition between them looks like, and what families need to know to navigate it well.

FSCD at a Glance

Family Support for Children with Disabilities is a program for children and youth up to age 18 who have a disability. The program is administered by Alberta's Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services.

FSCD is a family-centred program. It works with the whole family — not just the child — to identify needs, set goals, and arrange supports. Services are formalized in an FSCD agreement that can last up to three years, with an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) that outlines the specific supports the family will receive.

FSCD-funded supports include information and navigation, counselling, respite care, in-home aides providing personal care and developmental support, community access support, child care, medical appointment costs, clothing and footwear related to the disability, and specialized services for children with severe disabilities. The program explicitly aims to help children develop and participate at home, school, and in the community.

FSCD eligibility requires that the child be under 18, be an Alberta resident, and have a disability — defined as a severe and prolonged physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts the child's ability to perform normal daily activities. The disability must be confirmed by a physician or psychologist.

PDD at a Glance

Persons with Developmental Disabilities is a program for adults 18 and older with developmental disabilities. Like FSCD, it is administered by the Government of Alberta. PDD funds a range of supports to help adults with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible and participate in their communities.

PDD-funded supports can include community access, employment support, residential support (including supported independent living and group living arrangements), respite, and other services tailored to the individual's needs and goals. Supports are determined through an assessment process and formalized in a plan developed with the individual and their family or support network.

PDD eligibility requires that the person be 18 or older, be an Alberta resident, and have a developmental disability — defined as a significant limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour that originates before age 18. The eligibility criteria for PDD are more specific than FSCD: not every child who receives FSCD will qualify for PDD as an adult.

Key Differences Between FSCD and PDD

Age

FSCD serves children and youth under 18. PDD serves adults 18 and older. This is the most fundamental difference, and it creates the transition challenge that families need to plan for.

Who the Program Centres

FSCD is explicitly family-centred. The program works with the family as a unit, and supports are designed to help the family care for their child at home and in the community. Parents and caregivers are central to the FSCD process.

PDD shifts the focus to the individual adult. While families and support networks remain important, the program is built around the adult's own goals, preferences, and rights. This shift in orientation is significant — and it is one reason why building self-advocacy skills during the FSCD years matters so much.

Eligibility Criteria

FSCD uses a broad definition of disability: a severe and prolonged physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts the child's ability to perform normal daily activities. This includes physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other conditions.

PDD uses a narrower definition: a significant limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour originating before age 18. This means that some young people who received FSCD — including those with physical disabilities, some mental health conditions, or other non-developmental disabilities — may not qualify for PDD. Families in this situation need to explore other adult support options well before the transition.

Scope of Supports

Both programs fund a range of supports, but the specific services available differ. FSCD is oriented toward child development and family support — its services are designed to help children grow, learn, and participate. PDD is oriented toward adult independence and community participation — its services are designed to help adults live as independently as possible, access employment, and be part of their communities.

PDD also includes residential support options — supported independent living, host family arrangements, and group living — that are not part of FSCD. For young adults who will not be living with their family of origin, residential support planning is a critical part of the PDD transition.

How Supports Are Determined

Under FSCD, supports are determined through an assessment process and formalized in an FSCD agreement and IFSP developed with a Disability Services caseworker. The family plays a central role in this process.

Under PDD, supports are determined through a needs assessment and a planning process that centres the individual adult. The adult's own goals, preferences, and choices are the primary driver of the plan. Families and support networks participate, but the adult is the decision-maker — or, where capacity is limited, decisions are made in the adult's best interests with appropriate involvement of family and, where applicable, a guardian.

The Transition: What Families Need to Know

The transition from FSCD to PDD — or to adult life without disability services — is one of the most significant and potentially difficult transitions a family will face. FSCD ends at 18. PDD eligibility is not automatic. The application process takes time. And the gap between FSCD ending and PDD beginning can leave a young adult without support at a critical moment.

The Government of Alberta identifies the transition that happens when a child approaches age 16 and begins planning for adulthood as one of the key transition points that FSCD supports. This is the formal trigger for transition planning conversations within the FSCD program. Families should raise transition planning with their Disability Services caseworker no later than age 16 — and ideally earlier.

Step 1: Determine PDD Eligibility Early

The first question to answer is whether your child is likely to meet PDD's eligibility criteria. PDD requires a significant limitation in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. If your child has a developmental disability, autism spectrum disorder with significant intellectual impairment, or another condition that meets this definition, PDD is likely the right program to pursue.

If your child's disability does not meet PDD's eligibility criteria — for example, a physical disability without intellectual impairment — you will need to explore other adult support options. Your FSCD caseworker can help you understand what programs and services may be available.

Step 2: Apply to PDD Before Your Child Turns 18

PDD applications take time to process. Applying early — ideally at 16 or 17 — gives the system time to complete the eligibility determination and begin planning before FSCD ends. Waiting until your child is 17 or 18 risks a gap in services.

Your FSCD caseworker can help you initiate the PDD application process and connect you with the appropriate contacts within Disability Services. Do not wait for the caseworker to raise it — ask directly about the PDD application process and timeline.

Step 3: Plan for the Shift in Orientation

The shift from a family-centred program to an individual-centred program is not just administrative. It requires a genuine shift in how the family relates to the support system — and how the young adult relates to their own life.

Under PDD, the young adult is the primary decision-maker. Their goals, preferences, and choices drive the support plan. Families who have been the primary advocates and decision-makers throughout the FSCD years need to prepare for this shift — and so does the young person themselves.

This is why building self-advocacy skills during the FSCD years is so important. A young person who enters adulthood knowing how to communicate their needs, make choices, and speak up for themselves is far better positioned to navigate the PDD system than one who has always had others speak for them.

Step 4: Plan for Residential Support if Needed

If your child will not be living with family as an adult, residential support planning needs to begin well before age 18. PDD-funded residential options include supported independent living, host family arrangements, and group living. Availability varies by community and waitlists can be long. Starting this planning early is essential.

What If My Child Does Not Qualify for PDD?

Not every young person who receives FSCD will qualify for PDD. If your child has a physical disability, a mental health condition, or another disability that does not meet PDD's eligibility criteria, you will need to explore other adult support options.

Depending on your child's situation, relevant programs may include Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), which provides financial support for Albertans with severe disabilities; Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL), which funds equipment and supplies; the Alberta Adult Health Benefit, which provides health coverage for low-income Albertans with disabilities; and community-based programs and services that do not require government program eligibility.

Your FSCD caseworker can help you identify what programs may be relevant for your child and begin the planning process. The earlier you start, the more options you will have.

How BalaiCare Supports Families Through the Transition

BalaiCare works with families at every stage of the disability support journey — including the transition from FSCD to adult services. We are a registered FSCD provider, and we understand the transition process from the inside.

If your child is approaching their teenage years and you are beginning to think about what adult life will look like, we are glad to talk through what we know about the transition process and how to prepare. We are not a government program and we cannot make eligibility determinations — but we can share what we have seen work for families, and we can provide the in-home and community support that helps young people build the skills they need for adult independence.

The transition from FSCD to adulthood is one of the most important passages in a family's journey with disability. It deserves careful planning, early action, and the right support.

Talk to us about transition planning and disability support for your family. [Learn more about our disability support services](/services/disability-support?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=fscd-hub&utm_content=fscd-vs-pdd-alberta&utm_term=fscd-pdd-transition-alberta)