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Accessibility Updates – November 2018

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B.C. Poverty Reduction Strategy Act Passed
On November 8, 2018 the provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy Act – also known as Bill 39 – was passed into law. This legislation was shaped by the experiences, voices, and hopes of more than 8,500 people who took part in a broad public engagement on poverty between November 2017 and March 2018.
Province Tables Human Rights Commission Legislation
After an eight-week public engagement in the fall of 2017, the provincial government has introduced amendments to the Human Rights Code which aims to re-establish a human rights commission for B.C. This proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act will create an independent human rights commissioner reporting to the legislative assembly.
Indigenous Disability Awareness Month
November 2018 marks the fourth annual Indigenous Disability Awareness Month, the first and only recognition specific to Indigenous peoples living with disabilities anywhere in the world. It is known that Indigenous peoples in Canada experience a rate of disability twice as high as that for the non-Indigenous population.
Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Grant
B.C. organizations that have been rated through the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ program may be eligible to apply for up to $20,000 in funding to complete an accessibility improvement project. The application deadline is November 30, 2018.
Details on eligibility and what constitutes an accessibility improvement project can be found here: rickhansen.com/become-accessible/bc-accessibility-grants-program
Learn more about the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ here: rickhansen.com/become-accessible/rating-certification
Plan Institute to Host Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Information Session
If you have a disability and are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you should know about the RDSP. Free information sessions about RDSPs are being offered by Plan Institute. There will be a tele-seminar, which can be attended via phone or computer, on the evening of November 27 as well as an in-house session on the morning of December 4 (located in Vancouver).
More information and registration instructions found here: planinstitute.ca/registered-disability-savings-plan/
Government Funds Library Network Service Expansion
National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) is expanding to make more published works available in formats accessible to Canadians who read using alternative formats, such as braille, e-books, or audiobooks. This expansion is scheduled for completion by March 2019.
 
 

GVAD AGM on Nov 30th at WIDHH basement

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flyer in Doc:

GVAD AGM 2018 flyer

flyer in PDF:GVAD AGM 2018 flyer

OVAD’s Human Rights Claim against the St. John’s Ambulance

Deaf BC
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UPDATE: A mediation hearing between St. John Ambulance and the OVAD is scheduled  for January 24, 2019.

 

 

The Okanagan Valley Association of the Deaf, for all Deaf in B.C., has launched a human rights complaint against St. John’s Ambulance for not funding Sign language interpreters for their first aid courses. We believe this is discrimination and a violation of the BC Human Rights Code.  

 

We are pleased to announce that our complaint on behalf of the Deaf community of BC has been accepted for filing by the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

 

This is a “Class Complaint”. The complaint is brought on behalf of all people in BC who:

  • are Deaf and/or hard of hearing
  • use Sign language and
  • have been impacted by St. John Ambulance’s refusal to provide Sign language interpretation for one or more of their courses.

 

We are asking any Deaf people from across BC that have been turned down for interpreter funding by St. John’s Ambulance when applying for or taking a first aid course to come forward.

To share your story or for more information about the case, please email our lawyers from the BC Human Rights Clinic, part of the Community Legal Assistance Society:

 

Laura Track: ltrack@clasbc.net

Isaac Won: iwon@clasbc.net

 

You can also contact Gordon J. Rattray of the Okanagan Valley Association of the Deaf at gords@shaw.ca or text 250-491-2532

 

Access documents related to the case: http://www.bchrc.net/first-aid-asl

 

An Early Settlement Meeting has been scheduled for January 24, 2019. This is an opportunity for us to meet with the respondents and a Tribunal mediator to see if the complaint can be resolved without the need for a hearing.

 

OPTING OUT OF THE PROCEEDINGS

Class Members have the right to exclude themselves from the Class Complaint (“opt-out”).

If you opt-out, you will not be eligible to participate in, or receive money from, the ongoing Class Complaint, but you will be able to start or continue your own complaint regarding the claims at issue.

If you do nothing, you will be eligible to participate in, and may receive money from, the ongoing Class Complaint, but you will not be able to start or continue your own complaint regarding the claims at issue.

 

If you do not want to be a class member in the Class Complaint, your opt-out must be received by December 31, 2018. To opt out, please make a request in writing including your full name and contact information to ltrack@clasbc.net or by mail at

 

Attention: Laura Track

Community Legal Assistance Society

Suite 300 – 1140 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC  V6E 4G1

 

DEAF COMMUNITY CONTACT:

Gordon J. Rattray – Representative for the Class

OVAD Treasurer

123 Franklyn Rd, Kelowna, BC,

email: gords@shaw.ca

txt: 250-491-2532

FAX: 778-753-3099

 

BCSDAA Newsletter

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Newsletter in PDF:

BCSDAA newsletter vol. 1

Newsletter in DOC:

BCSDAA newsletter vol. 1_

Disability and Working in the Media

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Disabled Community Connection Network (DCCN) is a monthly communication and information group for people of all ages (16+) with any disability. This group is hosted by the North Shore Disability Resource Centre. This group is facilitated by and for people with disabilities.

The next group is November 15th, 4:00PM – 6:00PM. To facilitate accessible transit requirements the meeting will be held at PeerNet BC, #408-602 West Hastings, Vancouver. PeerNetBC is an accessible space, please let us know of any other accessibility requirements you might have in advance of the meeting.

The session will focus on the topic of, “working in media as a person with a disability.” This session will feature Grant Hardy. Grant has been blind since birth and is passionate about broadcasting, accessibility, and all things technology. He currently works for Accessible Media as the Bureau Reporter for Vancouver, presenting on a weekly TV show that talks about accessibility, inclusion, and empowering portrayals of people with disabilities. One week the show might tell a story about an entrepreneur with a disability; the next week, an inclusive art show; and the next, a review of a smart speaker. Grant loves the variety of content AMI is able to cover, as well as getting the chance to tell stories that might not otherwise be told.

Space is limited, so REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Please contact Lauren: L.Stinson@nsdrc.org or call 604-904-4088 to register.

Snacks and ASL are provided. The space is wheelchair accessible; if you require other accommodations please let us know by contacting Lauren.

Deaf Acting Role for an screenplay

Deaf BC
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I’m currently producing a screenplay I wrote called “The Happiness We Can’t See.”
The young girl in my story is non-verbal and communicates using American Sign-Language.  I have been working closely with friends like myself on the spectrum, and from within the Deaf community, and we have created a synopsis and character breakdown, which I have attached, and it’s of the utmost importance to me that we cast native Sign-Language users in the roles of our lead.
If you have a look and feel it suits your needs, could you please feel free to share this synopsis and breakdown with your network?  We are taking applications for auditions until the end of December.  The casting call is also posted on Vancouver Actors Guide and will be on Actors Access shortly as well.
The link to the post on Vancouver Actors Guide is here:

DeafBlind Christmas Crafts Fair on Nov 24 th

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Flyer in PDF:

CCF 2018 Flyer for public – B+W-new

WIDHH Information Session about the upcoming new building

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The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH) has waited a long time for a new place to call home.

For almost five decades, WIDHH’s Head Office has operated out of a renovated convent building on West 7th Avenue in Vancouver. This aging building is deteriorating and we are no longer able to accommodate the safety, accessibility, clinical or technological needs of our rapidly increasing client base.

WIDHH is now on the verge of realizing its dream for an expanded, accessible, innovative and centrally located space. Our vision of a state-of-the-art facility with expanded space will be able to serve Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, their families and the community for years to come.

We know many of you are interested in learning more about our new facility and we would like to invite you to an Information Session in the morning on Saturday, November 24th at the Metrotown Hilton.

 

Come out and learn more about our Centre of Excellence!

To attend, you must RSVP before November 18th, 2018:

Phone: 604-736-7391 or TTY: 604-736-2527

Email: info@widhh.com

Please let us know if you require specific communication accommodations such as Deaf-Blind Interpreting.

ASL Interpreters and Captioning will be provided along with light refreshments.

 

 

THANK YOU!!!

Ruth Gessner

Executive Assistant/Manager of Annual Giving

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH)

2125 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6K 1X9

T: 604-736-7391 ext. 224  |  TTY: 604-736-2527  |  F: 604-736-4381

www.widhh.com  |  @WIDHH  |  facebook.com/WIDHHBC

 

WBP Drop in Counselling

Deaf BC
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You can walk-in at WBP to meet with a staff during this time. 

A clinician will be available to meet you for a drop-in appointment to:

Discuss WBP services

Offer support for a specific problem

Discuss counselling services and do an intake meeting

When:

Every Wednesday

Time:

5:30—7:30pm

Where:

WBP Office                         

#300-4211 Kingsway         

Burnaby, V5H 1Z6

The WBP office is open on Wednesday evenings until 8pm.

Need More Information? Have A Question?

Email:  WellBeing.Staff@vch.ca

Voice: 604-456-0900

Text: 778-987-4174

TTY: 604-456-0901

FAX: 604-456-0904

Website: deafwellbeing.vch.ca\

Drop in Counselling 2018

Parent Workshop Series

Deaf BC
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Deaf Children’s Society and the Deaf Well Being Program are providing monthly “Parent Connect” workshop series.

 

Topics  include:

Discussing support networks

Advocacy

Healthy Family Connections

Raising Emotionally Healthy Children

Behaviour Topics

 

When:

October 11th                                        

November 8th                                     

December 13th

 

Time:

7-8:30 PM

 

Where:

Edmonds Community Resource Center                                                      

Room 208                                               

7355 Canada Way, Burnaby

 

For Who:

Deaf Parents with children age 0-7

Hearing parents who have deaf or hard of hearing children age 0-7

 

Need More Information or Register?

Email:  WellBeing.Staff@vch.ca

Voice: 604-456-0900  • Text: 778-987-4174

TTY: 604-456-0901 • FAX: 604-456-0904

Toll-free TTY: 1-800-949-1155

Website: deafwellbeing.vch.ca  

CIS and MIS workshop in Aldergrove

Deaf BC
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Flyer in PDF and DOC:

Workshop Flyer – Aldergrove (2)

Workshop Flyer – Aldergrove (2)

CIS and MIS workshops on the Island

Deaf BC
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Flyer in PDF and DOC

Workshop Flyer – Island (2)

Workshop Flyer – Island (2)

Douglas College Course INTR1285 Global Diversity in Deaf Culture being offered at the David Lam Campus in Winter 2019

Deaf BC
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Flyer in PDF:

INTR 1285 Global Diversity in Deaf Culture 2019

class action settlement on behalf of students of the Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf (“Drury”), the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf (“Whitney”), and the Robarts School for the Deaf (“Robarts”) and their predecessors (collectively, the “Schools for the Deaf Class Action”).

Deaf BC
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On Friday, October 19th, 2018, the Court approved a three month extension of the claims deadline in relation to the class action settlement on behalf of students of the Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf (“Drury”), the Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf (“Whitney”), and the Robarts School for the Deaf (“Robarts”) and their predecessors (collectively, the “Schools for the Deaf Class Action”).  The claims deadline has been extended to January 24, 2019.   We kindly ask that you please post the attached Notice-Claims Deadline Extensionabout the settlement on your website, distribute it on any listservs your agency maintains and/or otherwise re-distribute it in a manner that will likely come to the attention of class members, such as via a text message blast.

 

If a Class Member wishes to make a claim for money from the settlement, their completed claim form needs to be sent to (postmarked to) the Administrator on or before January 24, 2019. 

 

Also, attached is a blank Claim Form that can be used by Class Members to make a claim.  ASL video of the claim form is available here: http://www.schoolsforthedeafclassaction.ca/make-a-claim.html.

 

In addition, attached are the Long Form and Short Form Notices which provide details about the class action and how class members can make a claim under the settlement.  Links to the ASL videos of these notices are available here: http://www.schoolsforthedeafclassaction.ca/documents.html.

 

Additional information regarding this class action is available on the administration website www.schoolsforthedeafclassaction.ca.

Schools for the Deaf Class Action Administrator

3-505, 133 Weber St N

Waterloo, ON   N2J 3G9

Toll Free: 1-855-823-0656

TTY: 1-877-627-7027

Toll Free Fax: 1-888-842-1332

Email: Schoolabuseclassaction@crawco.ca

Website: www.schoolsforthedeafclassaction.ca

Forms:

Claim Form (Fillable)

Settlement Approval – Long Form Notice

Settlement Approval – Short Form Notice

Notice – Claims Deadline Extension

 

VCDA Christmas Dinner

Deaf BC
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VCDA Christmas flyer_2018

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