Disability advocates in Calgary say the Alberta government needs to become more culturally sensitive in disseminating information.

Calgary resident Choi Ho, whose 13-year-old son has autism, says it took a long time to get the help her son needs, like physiotherapy, because she didn't know English well enough to discover what was available.

Ho says her fight for help was confusing and frustrating.

"They ask me lots of professional questions sometimes they use those very professional terms," said Ho. "How can I understand?"

The province needs to improve the way it communicates with some of its new citizens, particularly about the social services available, said Ho.

Terry Wiens, an independent disability advocate, says he's had about 30 calls from non-English speaking parents asking for help in the last six weeks.

"Like one of the families we're dealing with, their eight-year-old child is not toilet trained," said Wiens. "That child, with the proper services, could have been toilet trained four years ago. How do you push for something if you don't know it's available?"

The province has a policy encouraging departments to produce material in languages other than English.

According to the province, support for ESL clients depends on the department and the program but it's common for departments to provide interpreters and translated materials when there's a need.

But Wiens says that policy does little to help people whose cultures discourage asking government questions.

"I ask myself [why] I did not push harder and that's why my son missed those chances to learn," said Ho.