DEAFBC

It’s time to register for a Queer ASL class if you would like to! First, please read below for more information about the classes.

Queer ASL is an anti-oppressive, transgender & queer centered environment with a focus on creating an accessible, affordable, and safer space for anyone who wants to learn ASL (allies are welcome). Our classes are taught by local Deaf Queer instructors and our homework features videos of folks from our local signing queer community. To learn more about what we do, please visit our website: http://www.queerasl.com/what-is-queer-asl/

Our classes are held at 3 locations this cycle. Please visit the link below to find out address & access information about each location:
http://www.queerasl.com/locationacckess/

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We are offering 101 & 102 & 103 classes for the Spring cycle starting in May. To learn a bit more about what each level focuses on, please look here: http://www.queerasl.com/queer-asl/

If you would like more information and to register, please fill out our registration form: http://goo.gl/forms/XyNYhTqiW53gcTCq1

Also, please do spread the word. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested and also share our event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1971266193106590/

Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture is proud to present a film screening event for “Love at Second Sight”.

Love At Second Sight is an educational film that transforms attitudes about appearance and encourages students to accept themselves and others. It’s about difference and belonging, judgment and inclusion.

Note: The PAL Studio is wheelchair accessible and this event will be ASL interpreted.

Facially different David Roche and his lovely wife Marlena Blavin share their stories with a spellbound middle-school audience. As they explore themes of self-acceptance (David finds his inner beauty) and accepting others (Marlena moves from revulsion to friendship), the students’ reactions move from discomfort and stunned silence to laughter, delight and engagement. From their faces and feedback, it is clear that their perceptions have quickly shifted as they are encouraged to take that vital second look.
www.loveatsecondsight.org

Aditionally, the evening will feature:
Guitarist: Lazar Halk
Poet: Jasmine Sanchez-Zeller
Poet: Jessica Leung
Tickets available through www.eventbrite.com or by clicking HERE.

This event is located on the traditional territory of the x?m??k??y??m, S?wx?wú7mesh and Tsleil-Waututh.

You’re invited to our weekend-long Core Training on June 24 and 25, 9:30am-5:00pm both days.

Make sure you RSVP to reserve your spot!

Core Training is mandatory for anyone who wants to be involved with YouthCO. (We promise, it’s lots of fun!) It’s also open to anyone (under 30) who wants to learn more about HIV and Hep C.

Learn all about YouthCO, our values and programs, and how you can get involved! Receive our nationally-recognized training on HIV and Hep C, with a focus on challenging stigma. Explore the intersections between HIV and other issues like colonization, oppression, and criminalization. Gain practical skills around safer sex and harm reduction. We are a community committed to working on anti-oppression in our day to day lives and are excited to meet other youth who are interested in doing the same!

YouthCO is committed to making our programs as inclusive and supportive as possible of all youth who are interested in attending. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make Core Training more accessible for you.

Our space is located on the second floor, accessible by elevator or stairs. Our washroom is gender inclusive, but unfortunately it is not wheelchair accessible.

YouthCO has booked confirmed need interpretation with AS.L. Interpretating Inc. for both days of Core Training. When registering please confirm whether you need ASL interpretation by June 12th at 9:30 AM. Additional interpreters can be secured on demand.

Breakfast, snacks, and lunch are provided, so let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Lindsay at lindsaym@youthco.org

The event posting is available at http://www.youthco.org/core_training_june_2017_20170624

See you bright and early on Saturday, June 24!

WHEN
June 24 & 25 2017 at 9:30am – 5pm
WHERE
YouthCO
568 Seymour St
205
Vancouver, BC V6B 3J5
Canada

view the website here: https://www.deafeducationconferences.com/

Cerebral Palsy Association of BC invites you to the fourth session of our Youth Without Limits Mental Health Series on Friday March 31st from 4-6 pm. Refreshments will be served at 3:45. Our next session will focus on Reducing Stress and Depression through Community Engagement while Building Resiliency. We will be joined by guest speaker Marco Pasqua.

Speaker Bio: Marco Pasqua, has cerebral palsy and throughout his life, Marco has been involved with a number of organizations as a spokesperson, helping to spread advocacy for persons with disabilities across Canada.
Ambassador Presenter for the Rick Hansen Foundation

Rick Hansen Foundation Webpage: http://bit.ly/2nbJuNj

Marco Pasqua Website: http://www.marcopasqua.com/
Date: Friday March 31st

Time: 3:45-6 pm

Location: 451-409 Granville st (Boardroom 4th floor)

To RSVP email youth @bccerebralpalsy.com or call (604) 408-9484

Flyer should be attached

Please promote this event in your newsletters and on your social media-feeds. If there are any events, you want the CPABC to promote on our social media feed. Please let me know.

Our Website: http://bccerebralpalsy.com/programs/youth-without-limits-support-group/

Out in Schools and the Britannia Branch of VPL are teaming up to host “All Our Stories” an event for LGBTQ & Allied Youth (under 30) to come together and celebrate by watching Queer Cinema and being introduced to a variety of LGBTQ+ books and literature.

There will be two ASL interpreters at the event and we would love for folks from within the Deaf Community to feel welcome. If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please do let us know.

I’ve attached a flyer for the event, as well as here is the facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/152991388555506/

Hello Deaf community,

**UPDATE**: I created a new link for the event because the other one couldn’t be accessed by everyone. Hopefully everyone else can get into the new page now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I’m inviting everyone out for an evening of fun and jumping in ASL at Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Surrey. This will happen on Saturday, April 22nd @ 6pm. For more information about prices, location, etc., the link to the event on Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/832559520226803/ . You can also check out the Sky Zone Surrey website here (https://www.skyzone.com/ca-surrey) for details.

For any questions, feel free to leave a message on the FB event page or email me. Hope to see you there. 🙂

Barry

Barrington L. Harrison
Douglas College Student Interpreter
AVLIC (WAVLI, MAVLI & OASLI)
Email: barrington_harrison@live.ca

March 2017

Community Update
Disability Assistance Rate Increase and New Child Benefit Exemptions

The monthly disability assistance rate for people receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (MSDSI) will increase by $50 beginning with the cheque that will be issued on March 22 (for April benefits). Families with two people designated as PWDs will receive a $100 increase. The new maximum rate for support, shelter, and transportation for a single person is $1033.42.

People receiving Room and Board benefits and the Comforts Allowance for people residing in a special care facility will also get the benefit of this increase. The Comforts Allowance for support and transportation for a single person will be $222.

Disability Alliance BC welcomes any increase to the disability assistance rates, and we particularly pleased that the Comforts Allowance has been increased significantly over the last year: up from $95 a month. At the same time, we are disappointed that the increase is not greater, and that there is no commitment to index the rates or to a timeline to introduce regular increases to the rates.

It is also disappointing that the Province’s budget contains no monthly increase for people receiving income assistance (IA) and Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMB) benefits. These rates remain frozen at $610 and $657.92 respectively for single persons. Many people with disabilities receive IA or PPMB benefits for months or years before transitioning to PWD.

New Exemptions for Certain Child Benefits

The Province has also announced that effective April 1 the Canada Pension Plan disabled contributor’s child benefit, foster-care payments, and Public Guardian and Trustee payments for children will all be exempt from calculations of income and disability assistance.
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If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact our Advocacy Access Program at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278 to talk to an advocate.

A total of four SILAS Community Conversation Events are scheduled at various locations around Vancouver. You are welcome to attend one or more events, or to pass this invitation along to others who you think may be interested.
Event times and locations are:

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Library Square Conference Centre 350 West Georgia (Alice McKay Room)
Thursday, April 06, 2017 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Library Square Conference Centre 350 West Georgia (Alma Van Dusen / Peter McKay Rooms
Monday, April 10, 2017 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm (TBC): Sunset Community Centre 6810 Main Street (The Hall)
Tuesday, April 25, 2017 9:30 am – 12:00 pm: Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre 1607 E. Hastings

These events are hosted by the City of Vancouver in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health and the Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Seniors (SILAS) Collaborative (a group comprised of members of the City of Vancouver’s Seniors’ Advisory Committee, City of Vancouver staff, Association of Neighborhood Houses, Community and Seniors Centres, health authorities, education and community establishments, etc.).

For further information and to register for an event please visit: http://bit.ly/2mEuQ18.

SPARC BC has been contracted by the City to facilitate this engagement process. Please contact Jim Sands, Project Coordinator (jsands@sparc.bc.ca / 604-718-8504).

Map to the hall