1. Adaptive Recreation (AR) and Wilderness School (WS)

Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society

The Adaptive Recreation Program an adventure based therapy and recreation program which provides adaptable equipment so people with disabilities can enjoy and connect to nature. Activities include: kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, gardening, camping and environmental stewardship. Participants can choose to enrol for a single, one-time activity or participate in ongoing, multi-activity group programs. Power To Be also operates a Wilderness School, a 4 year program for at-risk youth, where participants learn a variety of wilderness and life skills through hands on learning strategies.

Address:
1009 Langley St.
Victoria, BC, V8W1V7

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2. Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association-BC Chapter (CDBRA-BC)

The Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association-BC Chapter is a registered not-for-profit organization that is committed to assisting all individuals in BC who are Deafblind to achieve, with intervention, the best quality of life. CDBRA-BC believes that individualized lifelong intervention is a right for every person who is Deafblind and that all individuals who are Deafblind should live in a safe, healthy environment and have the self respect and dignity due every Canadian. CDBRA-BC also aims to promote awareness and recognition of Intervention and Deafblindness as a unique disability.

Address:
713 Columbia Street
New Westminster, BC, V3M1B2

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3. Deaf Access Office

Ministry of Children and Family Development

The Deaf Access Office helps deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind British Columbians and their families to access provincial programs that may be useful to them.

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4. Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI)

Ministry of Housing & Social Development and the BC Personal Supports Network

The EATI provides equipment and assistive technology, and funding for related services such as assessment, trialing, repair and training, for people with disabilities who would like to work. You may be eligible for the EATI if you are a BC resident who is 18 years of age or older and you are: unemployed and ineligible for Employment Insurance/reachback benefits OR employed and looking to upgrade essential skills such as literacy or numeracy. This program is funded by the Government of Canada through the federal-provincial Labour Market Agreement. Please contact the program for more information.

Address:
9007 Shaughnessy St.
Vancouver, BC, V6P 6R9

5. Hearing Loss Resource Program, Technical Aids Program

Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre

Assistive listening devices and alerting equipment for individuals with hearing loss are available through the Hearing Loss Resource Program. Devices include personal listening systems, amplifying telephones, TTYs, amplifying systems for the TV and alerting systems for the home. There is a small loan program for clients to try equipment at home before purchasing. The centre also provides education, counselling, group support, employment and vocational services, interpreting and captioning services, as well as family and community support and volunteer opportunities.

Address:
300 - 1627 Fort Street
Victoria, BC, V8R1H8

Contacts Page

Phone: 250 592-8144 TTY: 250 592-8147 Toll-Free TTY: 1 877 667-5488 Nanaimo Office 205 - 55 Victoria Road Nanaimo, BC V9R 5N9 Phone: 250 753-0999 Toll-Free: 1 877 424-3323 TTY: 250 753-0977 Toll-Free TTY: 1 877 424-3323 Fax: 250 753-9601E-Mail: nanaimo@idhhc.ca

6. Interpreting Services Project (ISP)

The Interpreting Services Project (ISP) ensures consistency and quality in interpreting and captioning services in the public post-secondary college and institute system for students with hearing loss. ISP provides advice to colleges, university colleges and institutions to assist them in hiring interpreters and captioners and in providing support to students with hearing disabilities.

Students should contact the disability services office of their post secondary institution to obtain the services of an interpreter.

7. Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS)

PADS raises and trains dogs for people who have a physical disability or are deaf or hard of hearing. People with disabilities, other than blindness, who can demonstrate their need for an assistance dog are eligible for a PADS dog. Individuals must be 16 or over for the service dog program and 18 or over for the hearing dog program.

Address:
9048 Stormont Avenue
Burnaby, BC, V3N4G6

8. Post Secondary Communication Access Services (PCAS)

The program assists: students who want to explore service options for their post-secondary education; faculty and staff to explore teaching tools that enhance access for their students who are deaf or hard of hearing; disability coordinators and administrators to recruit and hire service providers; visual language interpreters to prepare for the post-secondary screen and transcribers who work in post-secondary classrooms.

Address:
British Columbia Institute of Technology 3700 Willingdon Ave
Burnaby, BC, V5G3H2

Contacts Page

Students should contact the disability services office of their post secondary institution.

9. Provincial Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (PSDHH)

Ministry of Children and Family Development

This program provides supports and services to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind.

Address:
4334 Victory Street
Burnaby, , V5J1R2

10. Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides a wide variety of services to support persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. These include: audiological assessments, ASL interpreters, employment counselling and other employment related services, selling TTYs, hearing aids and visual alert systems and repairing and providing some hearing aids. The MIS provides Sign Language interpreting services for deaf citizens and their health care providers on a 24hr 7 days a week basis throughout BC. For EMERGENCIES call the Medical Interpreting Service Emergency only line (24 hours / 7 days a week) and they will send an interpreter to the hospital as fast as possible.

Address:
2125 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC, V6K1X9

Contacts Page

LOWER MAINLAND: Voice: 604 736-7391...TTY: 604 736-2527...Fax: 604 736-4381....OKANAGAN: Phone: 250 763-3854...TTY: 250 763-3547...Fax: 250 763-7608....EMERGENCY: Voice (Vancouver):604 736-7039...Voice (Long Distance):1 877 736-7039...TTY (Vancouver):604 736-7078... TTY (Long Distance):1 877 736-7078...NON-EMERGENCY VANCOUVER: 604 736-7012...Toll-free:1 877 736-7012...TTY :604 736-7099...Fax: 604 736-7786... VANCOUVER ISLAND General & Emergencies: TTY (Victoria):250 592-8147...Voice (Victoria):250 592-8144....TTY Toll Free:1 877 667-5488...Voice Toll Free:1 877 667-5448

11. Tax Rebates

Canada Revenue Agency

There are a number of tax credits, rebates and deductions that persons with disabilities may be eligible for.

12. Technology for Independent Living

This program delivers and services electromechanical assistive devices for individuals with severe physical disabilities. Technology for Independent Living (TIL) provides services in two main areas: Augmentative Communication Systems (ACS) and Environmental Control Systems (ECS). ECSs allow people with severe physical disabilities to control devices in their homes. ACSs are a range of devices which enable people who cannot speak or write to communicate with others. TIL provides permanent loans of these devices and systems. Presently, these technologies and services are provided at no charge (including installation, labour and ongoing maintenance and repair) to people with fixed or limited incomes.

Address:
9007 Shaughnessy Street
Vancouver, BC, V6P6R9

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