New online portal makes Individualized Funding (IF) reporting easier
On November 4, CLBC launched the Direct Funding Financial Reporting System at if.communitylivingbc.ca. This new, easy-to-use online reporting system is available to people with Direct Funding Standard Agreements and with Direct Funding Simplified Agreements. The system replaces the old online system for people with Direct Funding Standard Agreements and gives those with Simplified Agreements a new electronic option for submitting their reports. It will increase accuracy of reporting, improve security of personal information and make it easier to submit reports.
VELA Canada and CLBC have developed two videos and other informational materials to help people learn the easy steps to submit reports through the Direct Funding Financial Reporting System. The videos and materials can be found at www.communitylivingbc.ca/IF. VELA is also providing support to help with the new online reporting system and can be reached at 604-539-2488, extension 3. People can also contact their local CLBC office for assistance using the contact information found here.
myCommunity BC website lets you map inclusive places in your community
In partnership with the Family Support Institute (FSI), CLBC is pleased to announce the launch of the myCommunity BC mapping website. This online tool engages people to share about the places in their community that are inclusive, value diversity, and welcome everyone.
The site was developed by the BC Community Asset Mapping Network, FSI and CLBC, to support the inclusion of people who live with disabilities in everyday places beyond the disability world.
You can visit www.mycommunitybc.com to find places and spaces that others have recommended as inclusive and welcoming. Anyone can create an account to save their own map of places, and to submit location suggestions on the public map. The more people add and recommend places, the more places there will be for others to explore.
CLBC staff, Welcome Workshop Presenters, Community Councils and others are already using the website to share stories and connect people and families to inclusive opportunities in their communities. You can read the full launch announcement here.
New translated CLBC Information for Families sheets now available
To help provide information for individuals and families in multiple languages, CLBC has now posted translated versions of the following Information for Families sheets on our website:
- Getting CLBC Services
- Planning
- Youth in Transition
These information sheets are now available here in Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Arabic and Vietnamese. The information sheets can be downloaded or printed in colour or black and white. Languages were identified by facilitators who work in areas with the highest populations of people for whom English is a second language. CLBC is continuing to work on translating its Information for Families sheets and will share information about new translated versions once they are available.
2019 WOW Award winners recognized for championing inclusion
During Community Inclusion Month in October, CLBC presented five Widening Our World (WOW) Awards to recognize inclusion champions in British Columbia who are creating opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to lead full lives, have rich relationships and choices in how they live and work. The 2019 WOW Award winners are:
- Gloria Gagnon of Princeton, for her contributions as an employment development and self-help supervisor for the past 16 years.
- Katie Moore of Vernon, for her work to make communities in her area more accessible through the creation of the Okanagan Accessibility Group.
- Krystian Shaw of Kamloops, for raising awareness about diverse abilities, accessibility, mental health and self advocate leadership through many different platforms, including the monthly Kamloops Self Advocate newsletter which he founded six years ago.
- Tara Roberts of Surrey, for her work on projects for the City of Surrey that go above and beyond to support community members with disabilities.
- Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue, for being role-models of inclusion through welcoming CJ into their “fire hall family” for over 16 years.
Congratulations to the winners, whom you can read all about here, and to the more than 60 people across B.C. who were nominated this year.
CLBC Board visits Nanaimo, Abbotsford and Langley – Open Board meeting January 21, 2020
CLBC’s Board of Directors continues to visit different communities across the province to see programs and services firsthand, and to connect with and learn from the people CLBC serves, their families, community council members and service providers. Learn more about recent visits to services and programs in Nanaimo here and in Abbotsford and Langley here.
Members of the public and individuals and families are also welcome to attend CLBC’s open board meetings which takes place throughout the year in Vancouver. See the full list of open board meetings for 2020 here. You can listen to stakeholder presentations made to the board and also have the opportunity to present questions to the board at open board meetings. You can learn about how to do that here, including information for those who live outside of the Lower Mainland and are unable to attend in person. The next CLBC Board meeting will be held in Vancouver on Tuesday, January 21.
