Announcing the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPABC)’s Advocacy Services
Living with a disability often means that you have to deal with government ministries and other bureaucracies to have your basic needs met. If you have been having difficulty with applications, dealing with funding issues or need help wading through eligibility requirements, help is available at the CPABC office. Their volunteer, Jeanne Morton, has many years of experience advocating for persons with disabilities. She will be available on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3 pm to assist you to find your way through governmental systems. You can leave a message for Jeanne at the CPABC office at 604-408-9484, or call her there on Wednesday afternoons.
Comfort Keepers™ offer our services to seniors and people who need temporary support and help like new Moms, children, adolescents and adults with special health care needs including disabilities. They are a Registered Veterans’ Affairs provider and service insurance clients.
Services offered are:
Companionship; Bathing & Grooming; Meal Preparation; Mobility; Incidental Transportation; Transferring & Positioning; Light Housekeeping; Incontinence care; Grocery Shopping; Medication Reminders; 24-Hour Care; Feeding; Emergency Monitoring; Oral Hygiene.
For more information or to schedule a free in-home consultation, call 604-689-8609
email vancouverwest@comfortkeepers.ca
300-3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC. V5R 5W2
Tel: 604-689-8609. Fax: 866-573-8537
Email: vancouverwest@comfortkeepers.ca
Website: www.comfortkeepers.ca
On April 2nd 2012, the Provincial government is launching a new system of employment programs for British Columbians. Under this model, all employment services will be centralized and consolidated into WorkBC Employment Services Centres, which will be operated by various organizations.
People who want help finding employment through WorkBC will need to contact an Employment Services Centre. The model differs from the previous system in that the Centres will provide help to people from all communities including people with disabilities, immigrants, youth, women and people receiving basic social assistance.
Please note no changes have been made to the rules about seeking employment for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefit recipients or for people receiving the Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers to Employment benefit (PPMB).
About Accessing the Centres
After April 2nd job seekers should go to the WorkBC website http://www.workbc.ca/ or phone at 1-877-952-6914 between 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm for answers to job, career or labour market questions.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be able to open a door?
Watch BCITS new video “Opening Doors to Independence” to find out what it really means for people with disabilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYHYrSR-1aQ
BCITS, along with the Kinsmen Foundation of BC and the BC Rehab Foundation, are in partnership to help to provide people with disabilities in need with power door openers.
For more information, visit www.bcits.org or call 604-326-0175
HumanWare is pleased to announce a new partnership with Enabling Technologies. Beginning January 1st, 2016, Humanware will become the exclusive North American distributor for all Enabling Technologies products.
As Humanware’s Canadian distribution partner, Aroga Technologies will become the exclusive distributor for Canada, excluding Quebec.
Enabling Technologies is a recognized leader in Braille printers. They are best known for their incredibly robust Romeo and Juliet embossers as well as production embossers such as the BookMaker, Braille Express 150 and the Braille Place. Their product line has recently been updated with new models including the Cyclone a new single sided embosser, the Trident a new double sided (interpoint) embosser and the Phoenix, the world’s first multi-function Braille and Tactile Graphics System.
HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for people who are blind or have low vision. HumanWare offers a wide range of innovative products, including the BrailleNote® Apex, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; Victor Reader®, the world's leading family of digital audiobook players; the unique Prodigi® family of desktop and portable vision and reading systems, and Trekker® Breeze, the all-in-one handheld talking GPS.
For more information about the Enabling Technologies line of Braille printers, or any other Humanware products, please contact Aroga Technologies at 1-800-561-6222.
CanAssist at the University of Victoria has launched a free software app that helps people with disabilities in supported employment situations. CanWork is an app designed to promote independence and build confidence by helping people with cognitive challenges manage shifts, prepare for work and complete work-related tasks successfully.
Virtually any task can be broken into a sequence of easy-to-follow visual steps. The app can also prompt the user the day before a shift, the morning of, and shortly before a shift to complete the tasks necessary to effectively work. Contact information for important helpers – job coaches, co-workers or caregivers – can also be programmed into the app for easy reference.
Learn more about CanWork and DOWNLOAD it for free!
- for Apple iPhone or iPod Touch
- for Android devices
New Resource for Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) Employers
Spinal Cord Injury BC's Module 4 of the CSIL Online Workbook is now available for free download. This Module, How to be a Lawful CSIL Employer, looks at the key legal issues and responsibilities for CSIL employers as identified by the employers themselves. Understanding these issues will help CSIL users to prevent problems and to know the next steps if or when problems do develop in your workplace. The intention of the Workbook is to educate and empower Choice in Supports for Independent Living employers, so they can enjoy the control and independence CSIL can provide.
Download all the Workbook modules from: http://sci-bc.ca/resource-centre/choice-supports-independent-living/
If you think you have been unfairly treated by a provincial government ministry, public agency, or local government body – the Office of the Ombudsperson can help.
Have a complaint? Call: 1.800.567.3247. The Office of the Ombudsperson provides confidential telephone interpretation services in more than 150 languages.
All services are free of charge. You do not need to be a B.C. resident.
About the Ombudsperson
An independent statutory office of the provincial legislature, the Office of the Ombudsperson impartially investigates individual complaints about unfair administrative actions of more than 2800 B.C. public authorities.
For information direct from the Office of the Ombudsperson, please subscribe to e-news at https://www.bcombudsperson.ca/
Health Recovery Programs
Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism offers specialized Tai Chi programs for people with chronic illnesses or those recovering from injuries, with a purpose to be used as complementary therapy in aiding and speeding recovery. Movements can be adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Click here to view more info about the Health Recovery Programs.
Accessibility, Evacuation and Safety on BC Ferries
The BC Ferries has added the C-MIST form to its emergency information on the accessibility section of its website. Now the C-MIST information is in the safety brochures for each of the BC Ferries' vessels.
C-MIST stands for Communication needs, Medical needs, Functional Independence, Supervision needs and Transportation needs. Individuals can fill out the form and carry it with them when they travel on BC Ferries.
Click here to BC Ferries' website and click on any of the vessel names to see the safety brochure for that vessel.
Click here to download the C-MIST form of BC Ferries.