Adult Respite Program
This program coordinates and arranges for qualified caregivers to provide respite services for families who have an adult family member with a disability in the Victoria area. For more information, please contact Deb Senger at debsenger@communityoptions.bc.ca or Georgia Toevs at gtoevs@communityoptions.bc.ca or call 250-380-6363.
Advocate for Service Quality
The Advocate for Service Quality is Jane Holland. Jane helps adults with developmental disabilities and their families receive high quality services. She can help with services from Community Living BC, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, from other ministries, or from service agencies in the community. She was appointed by, and reports to, the minister. She does not work directly for the government.
If you have a problem with services, you can contact Jane to talk it over. She will try to do something about it. She also encourages and helps adults to advocate for themselves.
For example, Jane will try to help:
- If you do not like the services you are getting
- If you think you are not treated fairly or with respect
- If you have problems with your social worker, financial aid worker, or support worker, or
- If you have problems with where you live
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| Contact Jane |
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| Phone: |
604-775-1238 (Vancouver) |
| Fax: |
604-660-1505 |
| Victoria residents: |
call Enquiry BC at (250) 387-6121 |
| Elsewhere in BC: |
call Enquiry BC toll free at 1-800-663-7867 and ask to be transferred to Jane Holland's office at 604-775-1238 |
Mailing Address:
Office of the Advocate for Service Quality
530-1285 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8
Alliance for Community Living
The Alliance for Community Living is an open and inclusive gathering of people and organizations dedicated to empowering individuals and families to make decisions about how they lead their lives in the community.
BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
BCANDS provides a variety of support services and resources to help BC's aboriginal people with disabilities, and others associated with the disabled.
1179 Kosapsum Crescent
Victoria, BC V9A 7K7
BC Association for Community Living
The BC Association for Community Living is a federation that advocates for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and their families to ensure justice, rights and opportunities in all areas of their lives.
227 6th Street
New Westminster, BC V3L 3A5
BC Care Providers Association
The BC Care Providers Association is an association of independently owned organizations that provide quality community care and services to seniors in British Columbia.
This association is a membership-driven non-profit society representing independently owned health care providers since 1977. The mandate of the association is to represent all community care providers, both private and non-profit.
205-1682 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 4S6
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is a provincial, cross-disability advocacy organization. Their mandate is to raise public and political awareness of issues that concern them. They hope, through their work, to facilitate the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society and to promote independence.
204-456 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1R3
BC Family Net
Family Net is an independent provincial network that provides a provincial voice for children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
954 Wentworth Avenue
North Vancouver, BC V7R 1R7
Canada Pension Plan Disability Help Series
Children’s Respite Program
This program coordinates and arranges for qualified caregivers to provide respite services for families who have a child with a disability in the Victoria area. For more information, please contact Sharie Young at syoung@communityoptions.bc.ca or Carol Nelson at cnelson@communityoptions.bc.ca or call 250-380-6363.
Cinderella-Grace, Vancouver Princess
Cinderella-Grace, Vancouver Princess is an original take on the well-known story. Authour Grace Chen has created a Cinderella who not only finds and marries her prince, but goes on to take her honeymoon on the Titanic. This book was presented at the World Down Syndrome Congress in August 2006 and the Family Focus Conference in October 2006.
 Download the Flyer (2.51MB pdf)
Community Living Research Project
The Community Living Research Project, based out of the School of Social Work and Family Studies at the University of British Columbia, is exploring the supports and services adults with developmental disabilities and their families receive. Specific topic areas for exploration include young adults in transition, residential alternatives/options, non-residential supports, and services for seniors.
The project is comprised of three main phases:
- a review of literature in each of the 4 topic areas (complete)
- focus groups and individual interviews with self-advocates and family members in BC (complete)
- a province-wide survey of self-advocates and family members (in progress)
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Please visit the Innovations Project page to read the phase one project reports.
For more information about the project and to access reports and presentations, please visit the Community Living Research website at or contact:
Leah Wilson, M.A.
Project Coordinator
Community Living Research Project
clrs@interchange.ubc.ca
Courtenay Self-Advocacy Resource Centre
The SARC is primarily of use to people with developmental disabilities, people with other disabilities in general, and family members or people seeking information on services relate to people with disabilities in the Comox Valley.
Services include: an on-site library containing useful information for participants to browse, such as your rights as a person with a disability; a computer lab connected to the internet; computer training for those less familiar with computers and the internet; a computer equipped with the latest screen reading technology; and a rack of brochures on other services in the Comox Valley that provide services to people with disabilities.
536C – 5th Street
Courtenay, BC V9N 1K3
The regular hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no fee to visit the centre or use any of the services. However, the volunteers ask that you call ahead to make an appointment as they are not at the centre full time.
Family Support Institute
The Family Support Institute's mission is: "To strengthen and support families faced with the extraordinary circumstances that come with having a family member who has a disability".
#300 - 30 East 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 4P4
Get Into Community Living
Established in 1956, Community Living Wallaceburg has a rich history of community building activities.
As a member of the Community Living Ontario association, we join with some 12,000 members across Ontario in supporting individuals with a developmental disability and their families to achieve a common goal - "that all persons live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living within the community and have every opportunity to participate effectively."
For more information on Community Living Wallaceburg's Get Into Community Living Gear clothing line, please visit their website.
Hope Air
Hope Air is a national charity that helps Canadians get to medical treatment when they cannot afford the flight costs. Since 1986, they have arranged more than 53,000 flights.
Hope Air is supported by many of Canada's national and regional airlines who donate seats, plus hundreds of Volunteer Pilots who contribute their time and aircrafts.
InYourGrasp.bc.ca
The development of the inyourgrasp database arose out of the recognized need for caregivers to have direct and immediate access to information regarding support services available through British Columbia.
Organized by region and service type, inyourgrasp provides caregivers with the information they need within minutes.
Please visit www.inyourgrasp.bc.ca for more information.
Jewish Family Service Agency – Special Needs Department
The Special Needs Department of the Jewish Family Service Agency (JFSA) provides a variety of programs for people with a disability or special need. The programs are designed to promote inclusion and to raise awareness, and to value the contributions of people who have special needs.
Canes Enable is a program where participants design and paint canes. The canes are sold at craft fairs, online and at pharmacies and gift shops. The program is currently looking for volunteers to help run and set up the program. There is limited enrolment for participation in the program. Candidates will be selected based on their passion for art. Please visit www.jfsa.ca/canes.html for further information.
#305 - 1985 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6J 4Y3
Just for Fathers Group
A monthly support group for fathers in the Victoria area who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition. This informal group provides opportunities for networking and information sharing in a relaxed atmosphere. For more information, please contact James at James.Vitti@viha.ca or call James at 250-721-6709.
Kootenay Boundary Autism Society
The Kootenay Boundary Autism Society is a non-profit registered charity. All donations received by the society are utilized in the Kootenay Boundary region to support workshops and educational opportunities.
Box 152
Trail, British Columbia
V1R 4L3
Ministry of Children and Family Development
The Ministry is committed to having healthy children and families living in safe, caring and inclusive communities.
PO Box 9770 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9S5
Victoria, Client Relations
Outside Greater Victoria
Moms’ Coffee Group
A monthly support group for mothers in the Victoria area who have a child with a disability or chronic health condition. This informal group provides opportunities for networking, information sharing and support through mutual understanding and shared experience. For more information, please contact Kim at kbanfield@communityoptions.bc.ca or call Kim at 250-380-6363.
Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia operates under provincial law to protect the legal rights and financial interests of children, to provide assistance to adults who need support for financial and personal decision making, and to administer the estates of deceased and missing persons where there is no one else able to do so.
700-808 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network
PLAN assists families to develop a personal future plan for their relative and facilitates the establishment of a loving and caring personal network in the lives of the person with a disability.
260-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5R 5W2
Representative for Children & Youth
The Representative for Children and Youth supports children, youth and families who need help in dealing with the child welfare system, and advocates for changes to the system itself.
Fourth floor, 1019 Wharf Street
P.O. Box 9207 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9J1
SelfAdvocateNet.com
SelfAdvocate Net assists people with intellectual disabilities to speak up and have their voices heard by connecting with family, friends and community members to advocate for an inclusive and caring community.
#505-1380 Jervis Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2E5
Sibteen Group
This in an informal group for teens aged 13-18 who have a brother or sister with a disability or chronic health condition in the Victoria area. The monthly group provides youth with an opportunity to talk about the challenges and issues that arise when a sibling has high needs and challenges. For more information, please contact Kim at kbanfield@communityoptions.bc.ca or call Kim at 250-380-6363.
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