Disability Alliance BC
605 Robson St Vancouver, BC, Canada

DABC's Tax AID team is presenting at two upcoming online workshops on income tax filing in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library . Wednesday, February 10th: Tax Tips for People with Disabilities and Their Families Thursday, February 25th: Do It Yourself - Taxes for People with Disabilities... For more information and to register: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com//search/q=bc%20disability%20

From the Ministry of Finance: Attention! Effective 2021 - New Homeowner Grant Application Process... The home owner grant is available to eligible homeowners who pay property taxes. Effective 2021, homeowners in municipalities no longer apply for the home owner grant through their municipal office. Everyone now applies directly to the province using a new online system that’s easy to use. The system will be available in early 2021. Although the application process has changed, program details and eligibility requirements have not changed. The new system helps ensure homeowners receive their full grant entitlement, including the additional grant for seniors or persons with a disability. It also helps process applications faster and reduce fraudulent applications. Important: Early applications are not being accepted at this time. To be notified when the system goes live, subscribe to our What's New in BC Property Taxes page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//tax-chang/whats-new/property-taxes For more information about the home owner grant visit gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

Are you between the ages of 17 and 25 years old and have a diverse ability? We have a new 16 week course to help you become more prepared for school, work, inde...pendent living and your transition to adulthood. The Compass Program is based on curriculum developed by the Adoptive Families Association of BC for youth aging out of government care. Over the course of the program, participants will complete lessons In Education, Employment, Health & Wellness, Housing & Personal Life. All guided by specialized educators and guest speakers, and Easter Seals staff. Join us and learn the skills to live as independent, empowered adults. Winter session begins February 8th and will run virtually on the Zoom platform. For more information and to register go to: https://www.eastersealsbcy.ca/compass/ #compassprogram #lifeskills #eastersealsbcy

If you’re a person with disabilities, you may be eligible for Telus' Tech for Good and Internet for Good programs! Check the link below for eligibility requirements and how to apply! https://www.telus.com//people-with-disabilities/application

Registration is now open - please share widely!! It's free, awesome and action packed! Job Fair * Youth Panel * Live Entertainment * Employer Sessions * Post-secondary * Mentorships * & much more!

DABC has sent a letter on behalf of 15 organizations to Adrian Dix, BC’s Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, to advocate for priority of vulnerable people with disabilities within BC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy. Specifically, we wish to ensure that people living and working in the followig settings be included in the list of priorities to receive the first wave of COVID-19 vaccine distribution: -People living and working in group home...s and other home-based support service settings; and -People detained involuntarily under the Mental Health Act and health care providers working in psychiatric settings. Read the letter in the link below.

From all of us at Disability Alliance BC, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season and all the best in the new year! We know this has been a particularly challenging year and we thank you for your support over the year, and your patience as we temporarily navigate new ways of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that our office will be closed for the holidays from Monday, December 21st Friday, January 1st. It will reopen on Monday, January 4th. During this time, we will only be responding to very urgent messages. All other messages will receive a response as soon as possible after we reopen. We will not be updating or checking social media during the holiday closure. For more information: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/happy-holidays-and-dabc-o/ See you in 2021!

CALL FOR ARTISTS Calling all artists 30 & under who identify as living with disabilities! To kick off the beginning of our 23rd year, we are having a group exh...ibition of younger emerging artists with disabilities and calling it New Wave! We want to engage and work with the next generation of artists with disabilities and share what great talents are up and coming. We are looking for artists with disabilities that are age 30 and under only for this exhibition. We want to see your photography, painting, drawing, stitching, sculptures, whatever it is you make! This will be a juried exhibition, artists will be paid an honorarium. For all the details on how to apply visit: www.kickstartdisability.ca/call-for-artists

Our Accessible Communication Services team deeply values the signing ecosystem and would like to amplify sign language and community through partnerships with D...eaf experts like YOU. See a message from Accessible Communication Services, below. Letter in PDF: http://ow.ly/6Fx550D1Uj3 Letter in ASL: https://youtu.be/36Kq0RgQA30 https://youtu.be/dWDyfFg5vjw

Confused about mask exemptions? Our Office has created simple new guidance to ensure mask wearing regulations do not violate people’s rights. We can keep each o...ther safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring rights of people with disabilities are protected. Download our new poster clarifying mask-wearing exemptions permitted under law at: bchumanrights.ca/mask-poster/

We’re excited to announce that Access RDSP's new Disability Tax Credit (DTC) online app is now live! The app is a self-help tool designed to give your healthcare provider the information they need to fill out the DTC Certificate application form. To check out the app, visit our website: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/dtc-app/.... For more information: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/access-rdsp-launches-new-/ [Img text: "Need help applying for the DTC? Our new online app can help!"] [Image description: Blue background with black paintbrush strokes in the centre, with white text above overlaid.]

New Year, New Career?! Kickstart is seeking new Artistic Director! For all the details and how to apply, visit: www.kickstartdisability.ca/employment/

Have you heard of our free, online Pain Support and Wellness Groups? People in pain can meet regularly and build a community of support while learning about pai...n and pain management and sharing coping strategies. Groups meet next on Tuesday, November 24. Register now for an online group in your region! https://www.painbc.ca/supportgroups See more

Are you bored and lonely because of COVID? Do you want to stay connected with other people? Check out the new Calendar for Connection for activities, workshops and conversations that you can access now. Visit: familysupportbc.com/calendar-cfc

"American Sign Language is the most widely used sign language for those who are hearing impaired or deaf, but Indigenous people used sign languages long before the development of ASL."

Start off your new year with a Family Support Institute BC Zoom session! The conversations are a safe space for families and caregivers to come together for support, sharing, trouble-shooting and more. Take a look at their calendar for upcoming January sessions.

https://www.cbc.ca//british-/paramedics-app-deaf-1.5848563

Helaine Boyd, DABC's new Co-Executive Director, responsible for Programs and Policy, spoke with the Vancouver Sun regarding the drop in monthly supplement rate (from $300 crisis supplement to the new $150 Recovery Benefit supplement) for people on income assistance and disability assistace. Please read the article here: https://vancouversun.com//poverty-reduction-advocates-decr

DABC followed up with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction last week on a few questions related to the BC Recovery Benefit and we have clarified the following: Everyone, regardless of whether you are or not on provincial income or disability assistance, will need to apply separately to receive the BC Recovery Benefit. The application process will open online on December 18th, with telephone support available starting December 21st. Here is the website w...ith all the detailed information on it: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//content/economic-/recovery-benefit. Ministry clients who receive the BC Recovery Benefit will be able to keep it in addition to any income and disability amounts they are eligible for. In addition to the above BC Recovery Benefit, there is a $150 per adult per month BC Recovery Supplement for people on income assistance, hardship assistance, disability assistance, or comforts payments. Also, some eligible Senior’s Supplement recipients will receive the BC Recovery Supplement. People who are receiving federal benefits, including the Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB, CRSB, CRCB) or Employment Insurance (EI) will not receive this supplement. This BC Recovery Supplement will be automatically added to cheques issued January through March 2021 (February through April benefit months). There is no need to apply for it. It does indeed look like the $300 monthly Covid-19 Crisis Supplement is being replaced with the above BC Recovery Supplement. The last payment date of the $300 COVID-19 Crisis Supplement is December 16, 2020 (for January benefit month) and December 22, 2020 for seniors receiving senior’s supplement. While DABC acknowledges and appreciates the BC Government’s response to aiding our communities into economic recovery from Covid-19, we are saddened to see that this new BC Recovery Supplement in particular will ultimately result in a drop of Covid 19-related financial assistance (from $300 a month to $150 a month) for people on provincial income and disability assistance. DABC has been lobbying the BC Government to make permanent the $300 COVID-19 crisis supplement for income assistance and disability assistance recipients, further indexed for inflation, because we know that current income and disability assistance rates are below the poverty line and therefore inadequate to meet basic needs. DABC will continue to advocate on this issue despite the drop in Covd-19 financial assistance, as we understand this affects people on income and disability assistance beyond our current Covid-19 situation.

Exciting news: The Government of Canada has revised and accelerated the Canadian Pain Task Force mandate! The Task Force will now make recommendations for an im...proved system of care for Canadians with pain in a report to government in March 2021 (which was previously expected in December 2021). Stay tuned for additional details about the revised mandate in an upcoming blog post. https://www.canada.ca//canadian-pain-/terms-reference.html See more

Thank you all for joining us last Friday for the Richmond Centre For Disability online concert, here is the link to watch on #rcdyoutubechannel https://www.youtube.com/c/rcd2020 at your leisure!

In 2014, the government of BC declared October RDSP Awareness Month to help raise awareness about the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). The RDSP is the world’s first savings plan specifically designed for people with disabilities. Even with little to no personal contributions, there are significant government contributions available to help many Canadians with disabilities to save for their future. Everyone deserves a chance to save for the future, but prevailing hea...lth and social inequities pose barriers to accessing financial security. We know that health can significantly impact financial well-being, and that social circumstances deeply impact health outcomes. We recognize the RDSP as just one tool that gives more Canadians with disabilities a chance to plan for long-term financial security. Throughout the month of October, Access RDSP, a partnership between Plan Institute, British Columbia Aboriginal Network On Disability Society (BCANDS), and DABC will be sharing content, information and resources through our social media channels and on our website to improve the awareness of the RDSP. We will introduce you to the plan and its benefits, identify its barriers, and offer tips on how people can get started. We hope you join us by visiting our website for updates and sharing our posts to help us spread the word! For more information, go to rdsp.com/rdsp-awareness-month Text source: https://www.rdsp.com//01/october-is-rdsp-awareness-month-2/ #RDSP #rdspawareness

FREE online workshop - TOMORROW, November 18th - Are you a self-employed person with disabilities who would like to know more about tax tips, including the GST? - Are you using your home for your small business? - Do you want to claim your vehicle expenses?... - Do you have any trouble keeping a record of your sales/services? Let the liaison workers from Canada Revenue Agency answer your questions at our workshop "Tax Tips for the Self-Employed Person with Disabilities." Registration is required: https://tinyurl.com/yxz4sk7r

Government programs like the RRSP, RESP, RDSP and TFSA, all offer different ways to start saving for the future. Our Access RDSP team created a video about how the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) compares to other programs so you can choose a savings plan that is right for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch #RDSPAwareness #RDSP ... Plan Institute British Columbia Aboriginal Network On Disability Society (BCANDS)

Do you want to help make our beautiful city more accessible and inclusive for everyone? The Accessibility Advisory Committee is looking for new recruits! Follow the link below for more information and to apply! https://www.victoria.ca//accessibility-advisory-committee.

DABC is a member of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, and they have released a policy platform detailing the concrete actions the provincial government must take to ensure economic security, universal basic services, equity, and climate justice. Read and share the Blueprint for Justice: https://www.bcpovertyreduction.ca/full-blueprint

The goal of the BC Public Advisory Network (BC-PAN) is to encourage more comprehensive and meaningful public engagement on important issues related to health-care regulation in BC. BC-PAN is seeking public members, who are asked to provide their feedback on a variety of topics to help guide professional standards and policies, strategic priorities, and communications directed at the public. Compensation will be provided. For more information and to apply: https://www.bcpan.ca/

The annual Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing Symposium is hosting virtual sessions throughout the month of October. Come be a part of the discussion to und...erstand more about the various housing challenges womxn face in Canada and to learn about potential solutions. Tomorrow morning, we will host Session 7 to discuss housing challenges impacting women with disabilities. #PCVWH2020 #HousingforAll

DABC is seeking a Community Advocate to join our Advocacy Access Team. The Advocate will be responsible for individual and community advocacy relating to provincial disability benefits. For more info and to apply: https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob

The BC Green Party has responded to the questions DABC sent to party leaders in the 2020 BC Election to learn more about how each of the parties would address certain disability-related issues. Read their response here: http://disabilityalliancebc.org/dabc/

This is great news! The deadline for people to apply for the Disability Tax Credit in order to be considered for the one-time federal COVID-19 benefit of up to $600 has been extended to December 31, 2020. Those who have already been found eligible will still receive their one-time payment starting October 30, 2020. If you require one-on-one assistance to apply for the Disability Tax Credit, please email [email protected] or call 604-872-1278. https://www.canada.ca//government-of-canada-extends-deadli

A number of community groups and individuals have joined together to present a webinar series to help build momentum for the new proposed Canadian Disability Benefit. Here are the session descriptions and registration links: English: https://planinstitute.ca/learning-series-canadian-disabili/... French: https://planinstitute.ca/donner-un-elan-a-la-prestation-ca/ [IMG description: Cartoon depiction of a diverse group of people, some with mobility devices, all smiling]

TransLink is hosting a virtual focus group to discuss Tactile Walking Surface indicators (TWSI) at bus stops across Metro Vancouver. DABC will be attending a session on Wednesday October 28, 3:30pm-5pm. If you would like to participate, please email [email protected]. The virtual discussion will include a presentation on TWSI from Translink and the consultant team followed by a discussion with participants related to their experiences and thoughts on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (TWSI). Presentation materials will be distributed ahead of time so that you will be able to acquaint yourself with the information.

DABC sent a number of questions to party leaders in the 2020 BC Election to learn more about how each of the parties would address certain disability-related issues. We have just received a response from the BC NDP, which you can view here: http://disabilityalliancebc.org/dabc-response/ If we receive any further responses, we will post them here.

Interested in learning more about the work underway to provide improved care and treatment for Canadian veterans who live with chronic pain? Join the Chronic Pa...in Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans this Thursday, October 22 as they co-host a free symposium on this topic alongside the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research. All audiences with an interest are encouraged to attend! See more

From October 28 to 30, 2020, participate in this unique series of 12 free webinars in both English and French! Webinars will address many current issues related... to suicide prevention, such as: Impact of pandemics on suicides Postvention and supporting people bereaved by suicide Preventing suicidal contagion in small communities Preventing suicidal behaviors in police officers And much more. Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (AQPS) Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention - CASP See more

https://www.victoriabuzz.com//elections-bc-offers-assiste/

ICBC would like to invite you to participate in a research study to share your claims experience and thoughts on how the claims process can be improved. The research study will be anonymous and you will never be identified to ICBC by participating or by reaching out to participate. This research is being conducted by experienced third-party research firms, Canada Market Research and Upwords, and does not involve direct conversations with ICBC. If you are interested in partici...pating in this research, please reach out directly to Tessie Giannaris from Canada Market Research, [email protected], by Friday, October 23rd, 2020 with your full name and a phone number where you can be contacted to discuss this further. Your identity will not be disclosed to other participants or to ICBC through participation in this study. For more info: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/icbc-customer-research-st/

DABC sent questions to party leaders in the 2020 BC Election to learn more about how each of the parties would address certain disability-related issues: https://tinyurl.com/y3kwws4h. We have not received a response from any of the parties. John Horgan Sonia Furstenau Andrew Wilkinson