Related links

Living in the community

The Abilities Foundation
The Abilities Foundation is the home of Access Guide Canada (a guide to accessible places in Canada), and to Abilities Magazine, a national publication covering a wide variety of topics for persons with disabilities.

Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability (ALACD)
ALACD promotes, supports, and enables Canadians with disabilities to lead active, healthy lives by providing leadership, support, encouragement, promotion, and information that facilitates healthy, active living opportunities across all settings and environments.

Alliance for Community Living
The alliance is an open gathering of people and organizations dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities and their families to make decisions about how they lead their lives in the community.

ARA Mental Health
The ARA Mental Health Action, Research, & Advocacy Association of Greater Vancouver works cooperatively with existing services to enhance the quality of life for persons with mental health disabilities living in the community.

The Arthritis Society of Canada
The Arthritis Society is Canada's only not-for-profit organization devoted solely to funding and promoting arthritis research, programs, and patient care.

The BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
The BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) provides a variety of support services and resources to help aboriginal people with disabilities as well as their friends and family.

BC Association for Community Living (BCACL)
The BC Association for Community Living is a provincial association dedicated to promoting the participation of persons with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life.

The BC Association of Individualized Technology and Supports (BCITS)
BCITS operates the Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program (PROP), which is dedicated to enabling people who need assisted ventilation to meet their respiratory needs while living in the community and; the Technology for Independent Living (TIL) program which delivers and services electromechanical assistive devices to individuals with severe physical disabilities to support independent living.

BC Brain Injury Association
The BC Brain Injury Association provides information and support for British Columbians and their families living with brain injuries.

BC Building Code – The Building Access Handbook
This guide, prepared by BC Building Code, provides guidelines for accessible building requirements that ensure the presence and participation of persons with disabilities.

BC Centre for Ability
The BC Centre for Ability delivers community-based services using a family-centered approach to promote the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate as valued members of their communities.

The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is a provincial, cross-disability advocacy organization with a mandate to raise public and political awareness of issues that concern persons with disabilities.

The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities
The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities provides programs and services to support children with disabilities throughout British Columbia.

The BC Paraplegic Association (BCPA)
The BCPA assists people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.

Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of volunteers that provides financial support for cancer research as well as delivering support programs and prevention information for all types of cancer.

Canadian Disabled Individuals Association (CDIA)
CDIA is a non-partisan organization that represents all disabilities by providing education and information to the disability community and the public.

Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian Mental Health Association promotes good mental health and advocates for social change.

Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
CNIB is the primary source of support and for Canadians affected by vision loss.

The Center for Universal Design (CUD)
CUD is an information, technical assistance, and research center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, commercial and public facilities, outdoor environments, and products.

Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia (CPABC)
CPABC supports individuals, families, caregivers, professionals, students and others whose lives are touched by cerebral palsy.

Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL)
CSIL is an alternative for eligible home support clients. CSIL was developed to give British Columbians with daily personal care needs more flexibility in managing their home support services.

Community Living BC (CLBC)
CLBC is a provincial crown corporation which delivers support services to persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in British Columbia.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD)
CCD advocates at the federal level to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Canada, by eliminating inequality and discrimination.

Developmental Disabilities Association
The Developmental Disabilities Association provides community-based programs and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

The Disability Foundation
The Disability Foundation exists to help people with significant disabilities achieve full citizenship in the community. The Disability Foundation’s six affiliated societies are; BC Mobility Opportunities Society, ConnecTra Society, Disabled Independent Gardeners Association, Disabled Sailing Association, Tetra Society of North America, and the Vancouver Adapted Music Society.

Disabled Women’s Network (DAWN)
DAWN is a progressive, volunteer-driven organization whose mission is to generate knowledge, information, and skills to secure the inclusion, citizenship, human-rights and equality of women and girls with disabilities.

DRS Earthwise Society
Earthwise Society is a multifunctional non-profit society who cultivates sustainable communities by working to engage marginalized sectors of the community, including people with disabilities, in environment-based programs.

Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities (Ontario)
This guide, prepared by the Government of Ontario, provides practical information to help persons with disabilities and their families prepare to be self-reliant for at least three days immediately after or during an emergency.

The Learning Disabilities Association of BC (LDA)
The LDA, which serves the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond, is a non-profit organization committed to fostering the full potential of persons with learning disabilities.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – British Columbia
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in British Columbia supports MS research and provides services and programs to enhance the quality of the lives of people living with MS and their families.

Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC)
MDC supports Canadians with neuromuscular disorders and provides funding for research to discover therapies and cures for neuromuscular disorders.

The Neil Squire Society
The Neil Squire Society uses technology and knowledge to empower Canadians with physical disabilities so that they can live independent lives and become active members of society.

Office for Disability Issues (ODI)
The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is the focal point within the Government of Canada for key partners working to promote the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in learning, work, and community life.

People in Motion
People in Motion is a regional (Kamloops/Kelowna) disability service group who provides support and assistance to people with physical disabilities.

Personal Support Information Line
The province of British Columbia has introduced a toll-free Personal Supports Information Line as a single access point for information about government programs providing equipment and assistive aids.

Philia
The Philia Dialogue is a global conversation on citizenship. More specifically, it's a conversation on caring citizenship - a notion of citizenship based on contribution, participation, relationship, and a commitment to the common good.

Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN)
PLAN provides advice and support to persons with disabilities and their families on securing a good life and creating a plan for the future safety and well-being of people with disabilities after their parents are no longer able to care for them.

Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation works to accelerate improvements in the quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries.

SAFERhome Society
The SAFERhome Society is a non-profit, public interest organization, advocating a safer home environment and a better standard of living for all people through its certified building standards.

SET-BC
SET-BC (Special Education Technology) is a Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program, assisting school districts in British Columbia in meeting the technology needs of students with disabilities.

Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC)
SPARC BC works with communities in building a just and healthy society for all by offering services and publications on community planning, citizen participation, community indicators, accessibility, and much more.

Social Planning Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
The Accessible Community Bylaws Guide is a comprehensive looks at what community-wide accessibility is and provides the guiding tools to create municipal accessibility bylaws.

Getting around in the community

Access Transit Project (Translink)
The Access Transit Project, facilitated by the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority or Translink, was founded to ensure that the area transit system is accessible for as many people as possible including persons with disabilities.

Canadian Transportation Agency
The Agency is responsible for ensuring the mobility of persons with disabilities within federally regulated transportation services and facilities.

SPARC BC Parking Permit Program
SPARC BC issues and administers parking permits for people with disabilities in many municipalities across British Columbia including Vancouver and Metro Vancouver, Victoria, and others centres across the province.

Statistics Canada
The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) is Canada's national survey that gathers information about adults and children living with disabilities.

Vela Microboard Association
A Vela Microboard is formed when a small group of committed family and friends join together with a person with disabilities to create a non-profit society. Together this small group of people addresses the person’s planning and support needs in an empowering and customized fashion.

Voice of the Cerebral Palsied (VCP)
VCP was formed to provide the continuum of services and programs necessary to assist individuals with cerebral palsy in developing the skills and confidence to assume a productive and meaningful role in society.

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH)
WIDHH provides information, services, and support for British Columbians who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Working in the community

A Way with Words and Images
This guide, prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), provides a guideline of proper word and image usage regarding persons with disabilities.

Access Works
Access Works provides a single point of contact between persons with disabilities and opportunities in the area of procurement, employment and volunteering in connection with the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Accessible Procurement Toolkit
The Accessible Procurement Toolkit is a web-based application that delivers accessibility requirements and standards to apply to the purchase of mainstream products and services. Applying these standards will ensure that products meet "Universal Design" principles.

Bridges to the Future
Bridges to the Future is a joint project of the British Columbia Paraplegic Association, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, Cerebral Palsy Association of BC and the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalis Association of BC. It is aimed at helping youth with mobility disabilities explore the possibilities of employment.

British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
A report entitled Closing the Skills Gap provides recommendations for action and provides tools and resources for businesses to use to recruit, develop and retain skilled workers, including persons with disabilities.

British Columbia Statistics
The publication entitled Earnings and Employment Trends provides information about persons with disabilities and their participation in the British Columbian workforce.

Conference Board of Canada
This resource guide, developed to assist employers in hiring persons with disabilities and integrating them into their workplace, contains practical advice on everything from pre-employment considerations through recruitment and selection, appropriate modifications to accommodations, and workforce education.

Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (BC)
The provincial Ministry of Housing and Social Development introduced the Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities that focuses on developing a broad range of training services and employment-related programs to assist persons with disabilities enter the labour market and to improve their employment outcomes.

Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs Program (IBDE)
The IBDE Program, run by the Canadian Society for Social Development, teaches new marketable skills to Canadians with disabilities in a supported, self-paced learning environment.

Plain Language Association
The Plain Language Association website is a comprehensive site providing information regarding plain language and clear communication techniques.

The 10 by 10 Challenge
The Minister's Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities is inviting communities and industry sectors to join the 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment for persons with disabilities in British Columbia by 10% by the year 2010.

THEO BC
THEO BC provides training, education, and job placement services to British Columbians so that they may achieve employment and independence.

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
WAI provides information and resources about building and maintaining accessible websites.

Workable Solutions
Workable Solutions is a provincial initiative that connects BC employers to persons with disabilities by providing valuable employment resources and support. The goal of the initiative is to help employers turn potential challenges into workable solutions and increase the recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities.

Playing in the community

BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association (BCBSRA)
The BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association is a not for profit association of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, or who are blind and have additional disabilities; and their families and other supporters.

BC Deaf Sports Federation (BCDSF)
The BCDSF is a non-profit organization functioning as the umbrella for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes in British Columbia.

BC Disability Sports
BC Disability Sports is a leading non-profit organization promoting awareness of sport and recreation for British Columbians with disabilities. BC Disability Sports also co-manages the BC Disability Games, in partnership with the BC Games Society.

BC Wheelchair Sports
BC Wheelchair Sports is a not-for-profit organization devoted to providing opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities.

Disabled Skiers Association of British Columbia (DSABC)
The DSABC provides learn-to-ski programs for students of all ages with a variety of disabilities in Alpine, Nordic and Snowboarding disciplines. The DSABC also provides clinics for instructors, pre-conditioning sessions and opportunities for competitive racing.

Gardengate: Healthy Living Through Gardening
In partnership with THEO BC the Gardengate Centre (located in Kamloops BC) offers workshops on how to develop your own garden, preserve vegetables and prepare a balanced, nutritious meal on a budget. Programs are available to the full community, including persons with disabilities.

Recreation Integration Victoria
Recreation Integration Victoria is dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities to pursue active lifestyles and full community participation.

Society of Disability Arts and Culture (S4DAC)
The S4DAC presents and produces works by artists with disabilities and promotes artistic excellence among artists with disabilities working in a variety of disciplines.

Special Olympics BC
Special Olympics BC provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to enrich their lives and celebrate personal achievement through positive sport experiences.

SportAbility – Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of BC
SportAbility is committed to providing recreation and sport opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

Theatre Terrific Society
The Theatre Terrific Society provide opportunities to transform lives through the power of theatre, and to create a world where the artistic voice of disabled artists is seen, heard, challenged and respected.

Whistler Adaptive Sports Program
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program works to make alpine sports accessible

Visiting the community

Accessible Tourism
2010 Legacies Now, the Province of BC, Tourism BC, and numerous partners are working to help make BC a premier travel destination for people with disabilities.

Institute on Disability Culture
This international organization promotes pride in the history, activities, and cultural identity of individuals with disabilities throughout the world.

Religion and Disability Program (United States)
The Religion and Disability Program, run by the National Organization on Disability in the United States is an interfaith effort urging national faith groups, denominations, local congregations and seminaries to identify and remove barriers of architecture, communications, and attitudes.