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What's New/General Information and ResourcesThis page was updated on: 06/28/2010 What Works? Notes from the Vela Microboard Assn of BC Workshop - (07/07/10) Summation document of the session is available, Download document in pdf format. ADVOCATE FOR SERVICE QUALITY - (06/28/10) The role of the Advocate for Service Quality has been expanded to include youth with special needs and their families transitioning into adulthood. Jane Holland is the Advocate for Service Quality and the expansion of her role is part of the implementation of the Cross-Ministry Transition Planning Protocol for Youth with Special Needs. To find information about theAdvocate for Service Quality, please visit: http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/advocate/docs/brochure.pdf. BC Family Residence Program - new BC provincial program that covers expenses related to travel and accommodation for families who attend BC Children’s Hospital. This program is for “British Columbians with children needing medical care or treatment at BC Children’s Hospital…” These families “now have increased access to travel and accommodation support”. Please see this link for the News Release. For more information on the BC Family Residence Program and a complete listing of eligibility criteria, please contact the Health and Seniors Information Line at 1-800-465-4911 or visit www.bcfamilyresidence.gov.bc.ca (05/30/10) The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry - (04/20/10) Important information about this new registry is available, click here to download information in pdf format. Survey for Those Interested in Supporting People with Disabilities in the Workplace - (03/09/10) The Classroom and Community Supports Department, Douglas College is preparing a feasibility study for a new program (Employment Support Specialist). It is vitally important that we hear from as many folks who are interested and concerned with supporting people with disabilities in workforce. To complete the survey follow the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Employment_Supports_Specialist Contact Wendy Parry, Coordiantor Classroom and Community Support at Douglas College for more information e. parryw@douglas.bc.ca t. 604.527.5813 Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP - Disabilities) (02/24/10) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers financial assistance to allow homeowners and landlords to pay for modifications to make their property more accessible to persons with disabilities. These modifications are intended to eliminate physical barriers, imminent safety risks and improve the ability to meet the demands of daily living within the home. Assistance is in the form of a fully forgivable loan and does not have to be repaid if you adhere to the terms and conditions of the program. Click here for more info. Call for projects - Self Advocates Seeding Innovation (SASI) - (12/27/09) What is SASI? The purpose of the SASI project is to support self advocates to do projects in their communities. BCACL is offering grants of up to $5000 and hopes to support 15 to 20 self advocacy projects across BC. What are the goals of SASI? We hope to bring people together for support and to share ideas, strengthen self advocacy networks, organize training and make positive change in community. What kinds of projects will get funded? We’re encouraging self advocates and self advocacy groups to look at the gifts and abilities of people and groups around them. This could mean working with existing community groups or coming up with a project that self advocates feel will make a positive change in their community. When will the projects start? Applications will be accepted until January 29, 2010. Projects will be chosen by February 15, 2010. Click on the links below to read the documents: * application form - deadline January 29, 2010 * project agreement form - deadline January 29, 2010 * project completion form - deadline September 15, 2010 * guideline for getting started - a video version is coming soon * graphic illustration (a picture) of what self advocacy looks like now in BC with a few project ideas Questions: If you would like help filling out any of the forms or would like to ask questions, please contact Karla Verschoor, BCACL Coordinator of Self Advocacy Development. Here is Karla’s contact information: t: 604.777.9100 ext. 519 e:kverschoor@bcacl.org CLAN BC Update - Costing your wages and benefits (12/09/09) Please download the following documents starting with a summary report from Ernie Baatz on ongoing negotiations with CLBC on behalf of CLAN members summary document in pdf. CLAN wage equity template (spreadsheet), Service provider template manual in pdf, sample wage equity template in pdf Federal Goverment Announces the Creation of Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) with Matching Grants/Bonds - (05/02/09) the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), and its matching Grant and income-tested Bond are now available to Canadians across the country. For more information on RDSPs, the Grant and Bond, please visit our website at: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/disability, or call 1 800 O-Canada 1.800.622.6232 TTY 1.800.926.9105. Download fact sheets in english or en francais BCACL has an ongoing scholarship fund to support people to attend public dialogues/conferences/seminars – essentially to support their personal and professional development. There is no deadline for the scholarship as they have an ongoing, continuous intake as events occur. Applicants are to complete a scholarship application form download form in PDF here – indicating the event, why they would like to attend, and a break down of the costs for registration, travel, accommodation, meals and/or respite. It is always good to have applicants demonstrate how much and sources of funds they are contributing. The application should be returned to me. In the past we have supported people to attend the Family Conference in Alberta, the Family Focus Conference in BC, the Autism conference, summer camps for kids, and a host of day long workshops, to name only a few. Information on Equipment and Assistive Devices (Province of BC) - July 17, 2007 A new 1-800 service has been created to direct callers to BC Government programs that may provide equipment and assistive devices call 1.888.818.1211 or TTY 1.800.661.8773 or email PersonalSupportsInformation@gov.bc.ca Download update letter in pdf format for feedback on this service. Download flyer in pdf for distribution. Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians - July 17, 2007 The B.C. government has provided the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians with a $355,000 one-time grant to help visually impaired British Columbians cover the cost of moderate, low-technology visual aids. The program is expected to start mid-July. To be eligible for the program, people must be residents of British Columbia, over 18 years of age and have severe vision loss that eyeglasses cannot correct. Click here AFFORDABLE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VANS - July 17, 2007 World Accessibility has entered into a partnership with Accessible Transportation Sales and Services (ATSS), to sell good quality, used, wheelchair accessible vans from their Burnaby location. These vehicles will provide a reasonable alternative to expensive new van purchases. For details visit http://www.atsscanada.com t. 604.439.7742. Click here for the news release. President's Choice Children's Charity -The President's Choice Children's Charity is dedicated to helping children and young adults who are physically or developmentally challenged. They do their own charity work by dealing directly with the families that contact them. They provide direct financial assistance in the purchase of expensive mobility equipment, environmental modifications, physical therapy and more. They want to try and remove some of the obstacles that make everyday living extremely difficult for these children. The need is endless. Thousands of families need help. HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDS: Do you have a child with a physical or developmental disability? Are they 18 years of age or under? Do they need help with mobility equipment, an environmental modification or therapy? Visit the link below for more information: http://www.presidentschoice.ca/ChildrensCharity/Default.aspx WANT TO LEARN MORE? Contact us by mail: President's Choice Children's Charity For B.C., Alta., Sask., Man., Yukon, N.W.T. & Nunavut: 3225 - 12th St. N., Calgary, AB T2E 7S9 Phone: 1-866-996-9918 By Email: pccharity@loblaw.ca BC HealthGuide Programs - reliable health information and advise 24 hours per day. You can: Access the BC HealthGuide book, online or order your copy free of charge, Review over 180 health and safety tips in the BC HealthFiles, or Find information on the BC NurseLine a 24 hour confidential health advise line. A Registered Nurse will answer your questions and help identify health concerns, discuss treatment options, and advise you when to see a health professional. You can also get information on medical conditions, tests and procedures, and resources in your community as well as talk to a pharmacist. Link to lots of other Canadian health web sites. Web site: http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbaltindex.asp Travel Power - Travel Power is a new web-based travel agency fully licensed and insured offering travel information and support to travellers with special needs. "Travel Power offers its long-term expertise in arranging travel, skilled support and assistance as needed, and effective cost cutting methods for those who seek travel and adventure.They provide carefully selected and qualified Volunteer Support Workers, based on the needs of the participants, to accompany individuals who have difficulty traveling on their own and also investigates travel opportunities that may include sharing of various costs such as lodging, food and ground transportation. This cost sharing may provide opportunities to those who might otherwise be unable to enjoy travel due to financial constraints. website www.travelpower.ca contact Mike McMullen at: mike@travelpower.ca phone 519.671.3653 People with Disabilities Welcome Changes to Home Support User Fee Rates - April 27, 2005-The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities and the North Shore Disability Resource Centre welcome the March 18, 2005 Cabinet decision to amend the Continuing Care Fees Regulation to reduce home support user fees for working people with disabilities who are between the ages of 19 and 64. This change will immediately benefit many working people who have been heavily burdened by daily user fees that can range from $800 to $2,000/month. It will also remove a major disincentive to employment that has discouraged people with disabilities from seeking employment or promotion. Download bulletin in pdf.Companion Access to Some Movie Theatres - The Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada and the National Advisory Council of Disability Organizations have developed a program called Access 2 Entertainment. Effective March 1, 2005 the Access 2 Entertainment card will provide free or discounted admission (maximum $3.00) to the support person accompanying a person with a disability to participating movie theatres. The following is a summary of what is needed to apply for the Access 2 Entertainment card:
To apply for the Access 2 Entertainment card and for more information, go to click here.
Human Rights Tribunal decision on the issue of payment to family members - In a June 28, 2004 ruling, the BC Human Rights Tribunal upheld the complaint by Cheryl and Phillip Hutchinson that the Ministry of Health was discriminating against them in its policy prohibiting the hiring of direct family members through the Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) program.Cheryl Hutchinson had requested that she be permitted to employ her father Phillip on the grounds that he had the best ability to assist her with her complex care needs. Ms Hutchinson had tried unsuccessfully to recruit and retain other support workers and argued that the Ministry of Health policy unfairly limited her choices. The Tribunal agreed with the Hutchinsons that a general prohibition on hiring family members was "a prima facie case of discrimination on the basis of disability". The Tribunal's ruling includes the following remedies: * An order that requires the Ministry of Health to cease and desist discriminating against the Hutchinsons and to refrain from committing the same or a similar contravention; * An order that requires the Ministry of Health to permit exceptions to its payment to family members policy. This order gives the Ministry nine months to develop a set of criteria that allows for the hire of family members on a case by case basis, under CSIL. It also requires that the criteria that are developed be made known to CSIL users and potential users. The Hutchinson's began their case in 2001. In the meantime, the government responded to the decision of the Deputy Chief Commissioner of Human Rights to intervene in the Hutchinson case (and two other cases that were going forward at the time) and amended its payment to family members policy in June 2002. However, while the amended policy allows for the hiring of distant relatives, it still prohibits the hiring of direct family members. CSIL users and community organizations have persistently requested that the policy on payment to family members be a flexible one that is determined by the unique circumstances of the individual. The BC Human Rights Tribunal has confirmed their belief that an individualized approach is the right way to go. You can find the Human Rights decision in its entirety at: www.bchrt.bc.ca. NEW EXEMPTIONS FOR CAREGIVERS OF DISABLED CHILDREN - June 30, 2003 Ministry of Human Resources Children with disabilities in British Columbia will benefit from changes to vehicle and earnings exemptions being provided to their caregivers.Persons with disabilities particularly children with disabilities are one of the highest priorities of the government of British Columbia. That is why the Ministry of Human Resources is making it easier for primary caregivers to look after children with disabilities. Effective July 1, 2003, the Ministry of Human Resources is extending exemptions to primary caregivers of children with disabilities to include:
These changes will assist with the extra costs and special needs involved in caring for children with disabilities. The government also recognizes that although caregivers for children with disabilities are often unable to seek employment outside the home, some are able to work in their homes or earn income, for example by providing room and board. These new exemptions are available to an income assistance client who is the primary caregiver of a child with disabilities. A child with disabilities may be a dependent child of the caregiver, a child in the home of a relative (caregiver receives funds under the ministry¹s Child in the Home of a Relative program), or a foster child. Single parents on income assistance who look after a child with disabilities are also exempt from time limits and the requirement to seek employment. Contact Richard Chambers Director of Communications 250.387.6489, for more information The B. C. Coalition for People with Disabilities - Has prepared a series of Help Sheets on the changes to Disability Benefits in BC. You are able to view these sheets online and/or download and print them. The Advocacy Access program have updated these sheets in 2005.www.bccpd.bc.ca/s/AdvocacyAccess.aspHelp Sheets online include:
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