Community Living BC is pleased to support an important resource offered by the Family Support Institute (FSI). FSI has created an online resource database called www.findsupportBC.com that connects families and individuals living with diverse abilities  to more than 4,000 governmental and non-governmental resources in almost every region of British Columbia.

Find Support BC was launched in 2015, with a small grant from CLBC, and every effort was taken to make sure the database would be an easy to use trusted online resource for families. When developing the site, FSI brought focus groups together at every stage of site development. Because of these efforts, CLBC has heard from many individuals and families that the data base has been a successful tool and central access point for locating programs and activities that range from assistive technology, recreation, and housing options to funding, financial security, and government programs and services.

In addition to the multiple resources found on the site, users will be able to access the recently added Transitions Timeline that provides checklists, priority areas and steps families should take and what services and supports may be available to them specific to transitioning youth.

For more information please click here

At LifeLabs they understand that having blood drawn can sometimes be a source of anxiety for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. This is why LifeLabs developed specific blood collection practices as part of their Serving Customers with Autism program to deliver a safe and positive experience that increases the likelihood of a successful procedure.

The program is now available at all LifeLabs Patient Service Centres in British Columbia and Ontario.  Click here to access the LifeLabs website for more information and to find a location near you.

Do you self-identify as someone who falls under the queer umbrella living with a disability?  If so, join the Queer Abilities group that meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 5-6:30pm at the Greater Victoria Public Library, 735 Broughton Street.

Click here for more information. 

Community Living BC’s Widening Our World (WOW) Awards celebrate people who are building welcoming communities for people with diverse abilities.  No matter who they are or where they live in BC, tell us about your inclusion champion!

Nominate someone today at: http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/WOW  Nominations will be accepted October 18 to November 30, 2017.

Click here to access the CLBC website for more information.

October 2017 marks the 19th Community Living Month in British Columbia, an annual celebration of inclusion and a time to raise awareness of people with developmental disabilities as fully participating members of our society.

During October, CLBC will be sharing Community Living Month posts on their Facebook and Twitter pages using the hashtag #clmonth2017 and asking others to do the same.

CLBC will be sharing information and stories on their website about the many Community Living Month events and celebrations taking place around BC during October.

Effective January 1^st 2018 PWD recipients will receive a $52 increase to their monthly benefits.  This increase comes in the form of a new transportation supplement. People with the PWD designation who receive a monthly bus pass and those without a monthly bus pass will both get this $52 increase.

The change in the maximum rate for shelter, support, and transportation for a single person will be:

DABC is extremely pleased with this change and congratulates the Honourable Shane Simpson, Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction, for his leadership. The new transportation supplement will help improve the financial security and independence of many British Columbians with disabilities.

Additional Information

• The BC Bus Pass can be used in both BC Transit and TransLink areas.
• People receiving PWD can continue to switch between a bus pass and cash transportation supplement on a monthly basis.
• People receiving the Comforts Allowance and Room and Board benefits will also receive this increase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Advocacy Access Program at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278.

Best regards,

Sam Turcott, Advocacy Access Program Director

Lifetime Networks works hard to achieve their goal;  to increase the number of relationships in the lives of people with disabilities.  Throughout the year they offer many programs for adults with disabilities; cooking, music, photography, art, and social events.  For fall 2017, they’ve introduced three new programs:

• Theatre Skills Class that will focus on general acting, dramatic storytelling, scene work, stage presence, and character development
• Table Talk Group that encourages social connection and networking
• Westshore Being a Citizen Cooking Program to learn how to cook foods from around the world

If you’d like to learn more about the programs at Lifetime Networks, click here to access their website.

Effective October 1, 2017, the Annual Earnings Exemption (AEE) limit will increase by $2,400 for each person receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits. This earnings exemption allows people receiving PWD benefits to make money from employment over the calendar year without a reduction of their benefits. The AEE does not apply to money received from most other sources such as Canada Pension Plan benefits or Old Age Security benefits. The new AEE limits will be:

1. Single person with a disability: $12,000
2. Couple, one person with a disability: $14,400
3. Couple, both people with a disability: $24,000

The increase in the AEE rate means that some people who previously exceeded their AEE limit earlier in 2017 may be eligible for a top-up of benefits. They are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction for further information.

Disability Alliance BC applauds these changes and the leadership taken by the Hon. Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in recognizing the social and economic value of supporting people with disabilities in the workforce.

Additional Information

For further information, please contact Sam Turcott, Director of Advocacy Access at 604-872-1278 or toll free 1-800-663-1278.

Premier John Horgan has announced a monthly increase of $100 to BC disability and income assistance rates. This change begins September 20^th 2017 (October benefits). The maximum rate for support and shelter for a single person will be:

–           $710 (Income Assistance)

–           $757 (Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment – PPMB)

–           $1081 (Persons with Disabilities with a bus pass – PWD)

–           $1133 (Persons with Disabilities without a bus pass – PWD)

Families with two adults who both have the PWD designation will receive a $200 monthly increase. This is the first increase to income assistance rates in a decade despite the rapidly rising cost of living across the province.

Disability Alliance BC applauds the new government’s fast implementation of these much needed increases.

Additional Information

The new Minister responsible for disability benefits and income assistance (Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction) is the Honourable Shane Simpson.

While there has been no formal announcement, Minister Simpson’s mandate letter from the Premier directs him to implement a $200 monthly increase to the earnings exemption for assistance recipients and restore the BC Bus Pass program.

There has also been no announcement about an increase for people receiving Room and Board benefits, or the Comforts Allowance.

We have no further information about these changes at this time.

If you have any questions about this announcement please feel free to contact Sam Turcott, Advocacy Access Program Director at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278.

AccessNow is all about sharing accessibility information around the world. Our goal is to map as many places as we possibly can, and we invite you to help us! A worldwide community, passionate about change, together we can empower each other to have access now.

As we pin-point the accessibility status of locations, we can start looking at how to turn all the red pins, not accessible, to green pins, accessible. We want to find ways to create access where there currently is none. If you are someone working to remove barriers…we want to hear from you!

We use crowdsourcing to pin-point the accessibility status of locations on an interactive map. Search for specific places or browse to see what is nearby with the accessibility features you need. If info isn’t already on our map, you can add it yourself and contribute to our worldwide community.

Click here for the AccessNow website