Following the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, we want to express gratitude for our strong partnership with self advocacy leaders across B.C. On October 24, we held our annual meeting with the BC People First (BCPF) and Community Living BC (CLBC) Executive teams. This meeting is an important time for us to come together, learn about our shared priorities, and identify ways we can continue to collaborate.
As part of CLBC’s strategic plan goal to invest in and support self advocate leadership, we’re proud to embed the voice of those we serve into policies that directly affect their lives. One way this happens is through the CLBC BCPF Policy Working Group, which started in January 2024.
This group includes BCPF members and CLBC staff from Policy and Community Engagement teams. They meet four times a year to help make CLBC policies stronger and easier to understand by including people with lived experience in the policy-making process.
Here are some examples of the policies this group has helped shape:
- Support and Planning Policy: Recommended clearer explanations about CLBC’s role compared to the health system when supporting aging adults. Also provided feedback to improve the Budget Graphic on the CLBC website here and used in Welcome Workshops.
- Respectful Engagement Policy: Reviewed the signage now displayed in all CLBC offices and highlighted the importance of staff taking time to answer questions and not rush meetings.
- Eligibility Videos: Suggested ways to make the videos easier to understand and written in plain language. Videos can be found on CLBC website here.
We’re excited to keep working together and are grateful to BCPF for their leadership and valuable contributions. Check out BC People First recently released report here.
