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What's New/General Information and ResourcesThis page was updated on: 03/08/2008 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. Unique Opportunity for accomodation and board while traveling in Australia - Family in South Perth are offering room and board to a younger male, in exchange for some support hours for their son, click here for more information. "Face the Facts" Fridays -November 2007 The BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) is running a campaign encouraging everyone to contact there MLA's and inform them of the lengthy and unacceptable waiting lists for community living supports in BC. Download the factsheets and more info here in PDF. " BCACL website - www.bcacl.org" PROVINCE FUNDS HIGH-TECH SPEECH AIDS FOR YOUNG ADULTS - posted Nov 4, 2007 The Province is funding a one-time $4.2-million grant to the BC Association for Individualized Technology and Supports for communication devices and services that help young adults with disabilities, announced Employment and Income Assistance Minister Claude Richmond. The BC Association for Individualized Technology and Supports is partnering with Communication Assistance for Young Adults (CAYA) to provide alternative and augmentative communication devices and related supports. The grant ensures adults between the ages of 19 and 27 will have continued access to the technology after they complete school. Currently, all students in the British Columbia public school system have access to specialized communication equipment. Through the services provided at CAYA, clients and their families can receive an assessment of their communication needs, equipment through a loan bank, training on how to use the equipment and follow-up services including technical support and maintenance. High-tech communication devices, which cost an average of $6,000 and as much as $12,000, provide many options including text-to-speech synthesis, dynamic visual displays and access through switch scanning and Morse code. Since CAYA began in 2005, it has provided services to approximately 150 people, of whom 90 have received communication devices and 60 are beginning or currently in the assessment process. The clients are predominantly in their late teens or early twenties and have a long-term disability. The provincial government has proclaimed Oct. 4, 2007 as International Awareness Day for Alternative and Augmentative Communication in British Columbia. Canada, along with a dozen other countries across five continents, will participate in events and activities to spread awareness of Alternative and Augmentative Communication during October 2007. To enhance access to the many programs, supports and devices available to British Columbians with disabilities, the B.C. government recently launched the toll-free Personal Supports Information Line. Callers can talk to call agents and have their specific questions answered by calling 1.888.818.1211. For people who use TTYs, the number is 1.800.661.8773 Link to CAYA BC website Home
and Community Care, Ministry of Health Announces New Guidelines for
Payments to Family Members - posted July
18, 2007 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. Families Helping Families Initiative - posted March 3, 2007 The Families Helping Families (FHF) is a partnership between Community Living BC's Surrey/Delta/Richmond quality service area, individually funded microboards, and the Vela Microboard Association. It is a family governed initiative intended to provide "one time only" funds to eligible individuals. Download the information guide in pdf format, and download an application form in pdf. Final version of the CSIL Employers Review - reposted December 12, 2006 - download in PDF format Report on Proposed Advance Care Legislation - posted October 14, 2006 - Charting the Course Ahead outlines the Representation Agreement Resource Centre's response to Bill 32--a proposal for new BC legislation that will strengthen advance care directives. The RARC, and its community supporters including BCCPD, believe there are many documented problems with these directives and that BC's Representation Agreements are superior tools to ensure that people's health care wishes are respected. Charting the Course Ahead proposes a path to enable a meaningful choice for British Columbians who want to plan for their future care and ensures Representation Agreements are truly accessible and fully effective. An executive summary and the full report are available below. You can also contact the RARC at www.rarc.ca for more information. Charting the Course Ahead: Full Report pdf. Charting the Course Ahead: Executive Summary pdf. Family
Independence Fund - Update October 3, 2006
- The Application Process/Letter of Inquiry for: The Family Independence
Fund and the Children and Youth with Special Needs Supports Fund are
now available at: News
Release posted June 12, 2006: B.C. families of children with special needs and individuals with developmental disabilities will benefit from $40 million in grants, Children and Family Development Minister Stan Hagen announced today. Download full story in pdf, Download backgrounder in pdf. CLBC News Releases - June 29, 2006 CREATION
OF PROVINCIAL CLBC ADVISORY COMMITTEE for full story in pdf. MCFD and CLBC announce that Children's services to stay with CLBC - April 10, 2006. For more information go to: http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/whatsnew.htm 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.EasyPark parking facilities and Drivers with Physical Disabilities Focus Groups(Vancouver, BC) - The purpose of the study is to evaluate a selection of EasyPark parking facilities to determine how accessible such facilities are for persons with disabilities. To the best of our knowledge, no such formal assessment has taken place of City of Vancouver (CV) Off-Street Parking facilities.As Vancouver prepares itself to be on significant world stages for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, there is a growing need to take steps to make Vancouver the most accessible city in North America, and the world. Participants will be required to come to BCIT's Downtown Campus in the Living Laboratory one time to participate in a focus group with 7 other individuals who are representative of persons with disabilities that are most likely to have a need to use parking facilities (e.g., persons with Spinal Cord injury, severe arthritis, or other conditions that affect mobility) but allow one to use personal automobiles. They must have a valid drivers license and are currently driving. The focus group phase of the research is absolutely critical because it will allow us to anchor the users expectations, which can then be compared to the actual state of accessibility of CV parking facilities. We will be asking them questions surrounding their experiences of parking in Vancouver parking lots - their challenges, their likes and dislikes, etc. The focus group will take between 60-90 minutes. The focus groups are planned for early April. Remuneration is $60. Contact Paul Tubbe for more information ptubbe@telus.net or phone 604-433-2799 (cell) 604-649-5319 (fax) 604-419-8965 Representation Agreement Resource Centre - The Representation Agreement Resource Centre offers free public information sessions on how you can make and register a Representation Agreement. It also covers power of attorney and living wills. The Centre also offers legal clinics to make and register your Representation Agreement. To find out more, visit their web site at www.rarc.ca/textual/home.htm and click on news and events.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. A New Transportation Option for People with Disabilities Living in the Lower Mainland - Effective January 2005, SN Transport Ltd. will provide a transportation alternative to Handidart and Taxi's for people with disabilities living in the Lower Mainland. This service can be booked directly by phone, fax, or through the internet, and they will cross regional boundaries. For more information please check out their web site at: www.SNTransport.ca
Are you a Vancity Member? Are you willing to help support Vela Microboard Association? - VanCity will pay Vela a percentage of total dollars under adminstration on an annual basis, from every VanCity member, or Microboard that identifies themselves as a supporter of Vela - at NO COST to the individual or Microboard. Microboard and Business accounts count too. Download Vancity form.pdf for more information and application. 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 ministryıs 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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