Disability StrategyThe Ministry of Housing and Social Development is leading the development and implementation of the Provincial Disability Strategy, a key component of government’s third Great Goal: “Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors.” The Strategy’s objective is to provide for a flexible, comprehensive, and integrated system of support for all British Columbians with disabilities to allow them to participate more fully in the province’s social and economic life. Initiatives under the Disability Strategy are focused in five areas:
Disability Services
Assistance and SupplementsThe Government of British Columbia recognizes that persons with disabilities want to achieve greater independence. For those with disabilities who are not able to work, the ministry provides the security of income assistance along with additional supports such as medical coverage, PharmaCare and dental and optical coverage.
Bus Pass Program An annual pass for public transit systems is available to assist eligible individuals to participate more fully in their communities. Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) CLBC delivers a range of supports and services throughout British Columbia to individuals with developmental disabilities, children with special needs and their families. A list of programs offered through CLBC can be found on their Website at www.communityliving.bc.ca. Advocate for Service Quality
The Advocate for Service Quality can help ensure adults with developmental disabilities and their families receive high quality service from Community Living BC, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, from other ministries, or from service agencies in the community. Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) provides a range of specialized services to assist individuals with disabilities to participate in their communities, pursue their employment goals as they are able, increase their self-reliance, and build skills and experience leading to employment opportunities. Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities The Minister’s Council advises the Ministry of Housing and Social Development on solutions and strategies for increasing the employment, employability and independence of persons with disabilities, particularly through partnerships with business and industry throughout BC. Program Initiatives
10 by 10 Challenge Challenging businesses and communities in BC to increase the number of employed persons with disabilities by 10 percent by the year 2010. The challenge provides the focus, inspiration and tools to encourage employers and communities to explore ways they can increase employment for persons with disabilities. WorkAble Solutions WorkAble Solutions is an initiative to connect BC employers to persons with disabilities by providing valuable employment resources and support. One WorkAble Solutions tool is a job posting website which houses hundreds of job seeker profiles and a variety of employers who are posting new job opportunities everyday.
Disability Supports for Employment Fund (DSEF)
Personal Supports
 The DSEF is a $25 million fund that provides grants through the Vancouver Foundation to the charitable, non-profit sector in BC and augments the array of employment supports offered by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. It funds innovative projects that provide disability supports to enhance the capacity of agencies and communities to assist adults with disabilities secure and retain meaningful employment, self-employment and volunteer work. This site contains information about and links to programs that provide equipment and assistive devices or other personal supports to persons with disabilities in British Columbia. You can also obtain this information by calling the Toll-Free Personal Supports information line at 1-888-818-1211 (TTY 1 800 661-8773). Disability Strategy PartnersThe Disability Strategy recognizes that government alone cannot meet all of the needs of persons with disabilities. A key focus of the Strategy, therefore, is working collaboratively with our partners – other governments, community agencies, and private sector organizations – to provide persons with disabilities with the supports that will help them achieve their goals. Some of these partners are listed below. |
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