DEAFBC

BCCSD AGM
Saturday, November 23 @ 10 am
Deaf Hub, 530 Columbia Street in New Westminster

To purchase ticket(s):
www.fndc.ca/frozen2

Good afternoon,

I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Community Advisory Group for the provincial medical Sign language interpreting service. The establishment of this group is directly related to the feedback received through engagement session with the community in 2018 and 2019.

I look forward to working closely with this community advisory group to continually improve equitable access to health care services for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing patients across British Columbia. The ASL announcement can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXe5NKUWZBw.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to apply to become a member of the CAG. Sixteen applications from very qualified applicants representing diverse perspectives were received. After a comprehensive analysis of all the perspective presented by each candidate, the selection committee chose seven members based on the pre-set primary and secondary criteria. One spot is saved for Indigenous representation.

Primary criteria were:

• Geographic representation: ensuring we have representatives from Greater Vancouver, the Interior, Vancouver Island, and the North.
• Diversity in type of language support required: ensuring we have representatives who are deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing.

Secondary criteria were related to diversity of representatives related to the following categories:

• Age
• Indigenous ancestry
• Gender identity
• Urban/non-urban representation
• Immigrants/refugees
• Deaf-plus representation: ensuring that we have representatives for as many of the listed categories.

The seven selected members provide the most diverse representation of perspectives based on the selection criteria and those who applied. CAG members will serve a 2 year term.

Members selected are:

1. Craig MacLean (Deaf-blind/Lower Mainland)
2. Dan Braun (Deaf/Lower Mainland)
3. Gordon Rattray (Hard of hearing/Interior)
4. Leanor Vlug (Deaf/Lower Mainland)
5. Monika Lane (Deaf/Vancouver Island)
6. Nancy Zavaglia (Deaf/North – Prince George)
7. Sarah Taylor (Deaf/Lower Mainland)

Selection Committee

The members of the selection committee were recruited from within internal government resources based on their neutrality (had not applied to be on CAG) and their understanding of the health care system. Selection committee was made up of two deaf people and one hearing and signing person. The process was facilitated by a neutral, third-party stakeholder engagement firm, Delaney + Associates.

Again, I would like to thank you for your valuable input and I hope that you continue to provide feedback via the CAG members.

Kindest regards.

Kiran Malli
Director,  Provincial Language Service
Provincial Health Services Authority

Link to videos and flyer: http://deafwellbeing.vch.ca/event/medical-assistance-in-dying-knowing-your-options/

We still have some seats left!

When: Wednesday, November 20

Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Where:
Deaf Well Being Program
300 – 4211 Kingsway in Burnaby, BC

Presenter: Laurel Hughes

The Canadian government passed a law in 2016 allowing you to have options in your right to die.

Laurel has good information about the program.

Everyone is welcome to come. You can bring your family and friends too.

Please email/text to reserve a seat. We have limited seating.

Need More Information or Register?
Email: WellBeing.Staff@vch.ca
Text/FaceTime/Glide: 778-987-4174
TTY: 604-456-0901

107th Grey Cup
door prizes, socialize, lots of chances to win prizes
November 24, 2019 2PM-7PM AT
GVAD Hub – 530 Columbia St., New Westminster
Admission: Public Admission $10, GVAD members $5
Bring own money for alcohol and non alcohol beverages, food, and activities for a chance to win prize(s)
Pay at door, game starts at 3pm
Please RSVP at paoloreunion2020@gmail.com
BCSD Alumni Association

Our own Deaf Chef @ Deaf Hub tonight.

ASL interpreters can be provided for the talk. Please email klalji2020@gmail.com by Saturday 5pm to confirm if you will be attending and requiring ASL. Thank you.

We wish to inform you about our next Disabled Community Connection Network (DCCN) session. DCCN is a monthly communication and information group for people of all ages (16+) with any disability. This group is supported by the North Shore Disability Resource Centre.

The next group is  November 21st from 4:00PM – 6:00PM. The session will now be held at The North Shore Disability Resource Centre 3158 Mountain Highway. North Shore Disability Resource Centre is an accessible space, please let us know of any other accessibility requirements you might have in advance of the meeting.

The topic for the session will be on

“From Patient to Person: Navigating through life with a disability, and finding Hope!”

Our speaker is Erik Le Anderson  is an outdoor enthusiast and nature photographer, as well as a person with a disability who has found a path through life with aid from others. When Erik was younger, he lived overseas before moving to Vancouver. Erik  graduated from UBC with a BA in political science and history. Currently he is a student with the goal of becoming a Peer Support Worker.

ASL Interpretation and light refreshments provided! Please let us know of any accommodations and dietary needs you require.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The DCCN will now have a registration limit of 15. Email L.Stinson@nsdrc.org or call 604-985-5371 to register.

2019 VANCOUVER TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE MARCH & MEMORIAL

Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual event on November 20th which commemorates the hundreds of people murdered each year due to anti-trans bigotry and violence.

Our mission is to memorialize the hundreds of trans people who are murdered each year, the majority of whom are trans women of colour and sex workers, and bring attention to the violence and oppression they experience.

We envision a world where trans women, sex workers, and trans people as a whole have the support and resources to live out their full lives with dignity, respect, and safety.

Join us the march, the memorial, or both to observe this year’s Trans Day of Remembrance.

——————————————–
Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
4:30pm – 9:30pm
SFU Harbour Center (515 West Hastings Street) & Carnegie Community Centre (theatre room) (401 Main Street)
——————————————–

Itinerary:
4:30pm Sign-making party @ SFU Harbour Center
5:30pm March begins to Carnegie Community Centre
6:30pm Memorial @ Carnegie Community Centre
– Acknowledgement of Territory
– History & Context
– Guest Speakers
– Reading of Names
– Open Mic
9:30pm Closing

March Route Info:
– 900 metres along Hastings Street
– Slow and slight incline between Carrall Street and Main Street
– Meet at SFU Harbour Center and march to Carnegie Community Centre

Accessibility info:

==Carnegie Community Centre==
– The building entrance, theatre room, and washrooms are wheelchair accessible.
– There are two single-stall gendered washrooms just outside the theatre room with “trans people welcome” signs; there are multi-stall gendered washrooms with the same signs on all other floor levels
– The event is a scent-reduced environment; refrain from wearing scented products the day before and during the event. This includes perfumes, lotions, hair products, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc.
– If you require an EMF-free space, please let us know.
– ASL interpretation is secured for this event; please contact us to secure this service by Friday, November 15th at 3:00pm.

International info:
– https://tgeu.org/tdor/
– https://transrespect.org/en/research/trans-murder-monitoring/
– https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/
– https://tdor.info/about-2/
– https://www.tdor.co/about

This event is centered during Trans Week of Resilience: https://www.facebook.com/vantwor
Where we are exploring and networking ideas for events that celebrate our diverse and fabulous trans and gender diverse community. (poetry night / sign making / karaoke, and much more)
vantwor@gmail.com

If you have any questions or accessibility requests please contact us at vantdor@gmail . com

Join us on Saturday, December 07^th 2019 as we celebrate accessibility at the Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise Initiative.  We will open 9:00am-5:00pm, you may explore our galleries during the sensory friendly times 9am-10am.

Our goal at the Ocean Wise is to share the wonders of aquatic life with all of our visitors. Discover the accessible facilities at the Vancouver Aquarium enjoy additional services in celebration of accessibility and our oceans.

As part of our commitment to accessibility, guests with disabilities can take advantage of the following services and amenities everyday:

• Our accessibility rate is 50% off the general admission rate or a free attendant when paying full admission price. Guests 3 years old with an attendant can receive  50% off their cost of admission.
  • Our general admission prices excluding taxes are $38 for adults, $30 for seniors, youth and students, and $21, for children 4-12 years old.  Children under 3 years old and under come in free.
• Accredited Service dogs are welcomed in our galleries,
  • Please note: For the health and safety of the dogs as well as our animals, guide dogs are not allowed in our Amazon free flight Gallery,
• Wheelchairs, walkers and noise reducing headphones, autism comfort kits  are available for loan on a first-come, first-served basis with a piece of ID or credit card from the Guest Services desk,
• Adult change table located  in the underwater Arctic washroom,
• Nursing and quiet rooms available.

We will celebrate accessibility by offering these additional programs:

• Guided Tours offered for the Wet Lab experience at  1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm, so visitors can experience our aquatic world through touch.  Don’t forget to register for this tour at the Guest Services desk upon arrival as space is limited. Each tour is approximately 30 minutes in duration,
• Extra volunteers will be onsite to interact with guests and showcase a variety of tactile props in the galleries,
• Canuck Autism Network, hosting an interactive display that is engaging and fun for all ages.
• Meet the Pacific Assistance Dog Society (PADS) team who breeds, raises and trains fully certified dogs.  You may see a puppy in training!
• American Sign Language interpreters from Douglas College will be in galleries and at selected shows.
• In time for the holidays with a visit with Scuba Claus. Watch the jolly old man in the red suit (and black flippers) swim in the Wild Coast and with the fish in the Strait of Georgia exhibit,
• Our 4D Theatre offers a magical experience; it means you will not only watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. You will feel the snow against your face and a rumble in your chair as the scenes come to life.
  • 4D-Theatre includes wheelchair spaces, closed-captioning and assistive listening devices.

Getting to the Vancouver Aquarium

Taxi drop off – The Vancouver Aquarium taxi drop off is located right at our main admissions plaza, in front of the Bill Reid statue and water fountain.  Accessibility Volunteers will be posted at our admission plaza to assist visitors as needed.

Vehicle/Handydart drop off – There are two designated 10-minute drop off parking spots as well as handicap paid parking spots next to our admissions. Volunteers will be posted at our admission plaza to assist visitors as needed.

Public Transportation – For your convenience, the #19 Bus to Stanley Park will bring you within a five-minute distance to the Vancouver Aquarium. The most common routes are:

• Take the #19 Bus to Stanley Park, which runs along West Pender Street,
• Take the Skytrain to Burrard Station and connect to the #19 bus on West Pender at Burrard Street,
• Take the Canada Line or the Seabus to Waterfront and connect to the #19 bus on West Pender.

The Vancouver Aquarium bus stop is located close to the terminus stop of the #19-Stanley Park route. Volunteers will be posted at the bus loop ready to assist visitors as needed.

More Information

If you would like more information about Access Day at the Vancouver Aquarium, please contact us by phone at 604-659-3400 or by email at visitorexperience@ocean.org

We look forward to your visit.