What is a Vela Microboard?

Who Can Sit on a Vela Microboard?

What do Vela Microboard  Members do?

Vela Microboard's Guiding Principles and Functions

What Supports does Vela offer Microboards?

Are you Interested in Forming a Vela Microboard?

Vela helps Microboards connect with each other to share ideas and problem solve. This is done in many ways.

Vela hosts a yearly provincial Microboard conference. This is a weekend conference held every fall in the Greater Vancouver area. The conference includes workshops, networking opportunities, and general information sharing sessions for all Vela Microboards in the province.

Vela also produces a newsletter three times per year that includes the latest information gathered by the Vela board, volunteers and staff. It is a forum for the Vela Microboards to share ideas and information with one another. You can download archived copies of our  newsletter information from this web site.

Vela created this web site www.microboard.org to help keep Vela Microboards informed and connected. This site continues to develop and expand since its debut in January 1998.

Summary of supports provided by Vela Microboard Association of B.C.

Vela's board volunteers and staff strive to provide comprehensive and customized supports to individuals and families interested in developing a Microboard.

These supports include but are not limited to:

• person centered planning

• information supports and referrals

• assistance with incorporation as a non-profit society

• assistance with determining if the Microboard would like to request service funding

• assistance with development of proposal, rationale, and budget for supports

• assistance with service development

• training to determine if you are to use contractors or employees

• training on how to become a responsible employer

• training to understand and adhere to relevant regulations, policies, and procedures (e.g. Workers Compensation Board, Canada Revenue Agency, Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Standards, Community Living B.C. contracts, Privacy laws, etc.)

• assistance with connecting to a variety of administrative supports (e.g. payroll, medical plans for employees, banking services, etc.)

• advocacy and advocacy training

• other training, as need indicates or as requested

• mediation support and training

• provide a website and newsletter

• annual conference for Vela Microboards

• regional networking to share information, staffing and resources

• provincial networking (web casts, notices, connecting to other organizations, etc.)

• national and international networking as above