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

Contacts Page

2. Adult Special Education

Learning Programs Branch Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development

The Ministry provides support and services for equipment and assistive devices for persons with disabilities in two ways:directly to the post-secondary institutions for students' use and directly to students who apply and are eligible.

Address:
PO Box 9882 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC, V8W9T6

3. Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities (APSD)

This provincially funded program is for students with permanent disabilities attending public post-secondary schools in B.C. This is a needs based program available to part-time or full-time students either taking post-secondary level courses or upgrading courses. Depending on your need, grants of up to $10,000 are available for exceptional education-related services and adaptive equipment. If you need an attendant while at school, the grant may be increased up to $12,000. This grant does not cover living expenses, tuition or books.

Address:
Student Aid BC PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC, V8W9H7

Contacts Page

Students should contact the disability services office at their post secondary institution. Disability resource centre staff and administrators may wish to contact StudentAid BC. Phone: 250 387-6100 B.C. Lower Mainland: 604 660-2610 Fax: 250 387-7460

4. Assistive Technology and Seating Service

GF Strong Rehab Centre

The Assistive Technology and Seating Service (ATSS) supports clinicians and rehabilitation professionals working with adults and adolescents with disabilities in the public health system of BC and the Yukon. Support is provided in the form of: consultation, assessment, evaluation, intervention, education and equipment loans for assessment. The Service works to further an individual's goals related to seating, communication, vocation, education, leisure, and independent living. Please note: access to services (consultations and equipment loans) is through clinicians and rehabilitation professionals only.

Address:
4255 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC, V5Z2G9

Assistive Technology Service Phone: 604 737-6263 Seating Service Phone: 604 734-1313 Ext. 2491

5. Assistive Technology Services, Career and Employment Services, Computer Training, Consumer Products Support, Low Vision Services

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

The first step in accessing CNIB services and programs is registration and referral through local CNIB offices or associated community agencies. CNIB offers a variety of programs including assistive technology, employment, low vision services, computer training, counselling and support services, travel and independent living support, and a library for people with a print disability. CNIB also provides consumer product support, which allows people with vision loss to become familiar with devices before buying.

Address:
100-5055 Joyce Street
Vancouver, BC, V5R6B2

Contacts Page

6. BC Permanent Disability Benefits Program

Student Aid British Columbia

This program is available to students or former students who are or become permanently disabled during the lifetime of their B.C. student loan. They may apply through StudentAid BC to have their B.C. student loan forgiven in full.

Address:
PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC, V8W9H7

Contacts Page

B.C. Lower Mainland: 604 660-2610 Fax: 250 387-7460

7. BC Rehab Foundation

BC Rehab Foundation provides support to people with disabilities through education, research, arts, recreation and wellness programs. They fundraise for equipment, education, and research, in addition to providing advocacy services.

Address:
4255 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC, V5Z2G9

Contacts Page

8. Canada Study Grant for the Accommodation of Students with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PD)

This program may be used to cover the costs of a wide variety of supports for post secondary students who have permanent disabilities. The assistive technology allowed under this grant is provided by Assistive Technology BC (AT BC).

Address:
StudentAid BC PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC, V8W9H7

Contacts Page

Students should contact disability services/disability resource centre at their post-secondary institution. B.C. Lower Mainland: 604 660-2610 Fax: 250 387-7460

9. Children and Youth with Special Needs Fund

Giving in Action Society

The Children and Youth with Special Needs Fund provides grants to families who have children or youth (birth-19 years) with special needs living at home. The Fund offers one-time grants to help improve the individual's health, development or ability to participate in daily activities at home, in school and in the community. The grant may be used for such things as home renovations and vehicle modifications.

Contacts Page

10. Colleges and Institute Library Services (CILS)

Colleges and Institute Library Services (CILS) provides educational resources and services to public post-secondary students in a format that is usable by students with a print impairment. Some examples of available formats may include: DAISY digital talking books, large print, Braille and others.

Contacts Page

Contact a librarian at your post secondary institution for information about how to access these services.

11. 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.

12. Learning Disabilities Association of BC

Learning Disabilities Association of BC

The Learning Disabilities Association of BC - Vancouver, provides information and referral in the areas of education, support and advocacy for adults and children with learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They offer a public resource library, remedial programs on site for children, support, and education for parents, community outreach/referral service, and educational workshops for the general public.

Address:
3292 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC, V5M1Z8

Contacts Page

13. Neil Squire Society

The Neil Squire Society offers a variety of ergonomic and technology related programs, including computer literacy training, and computer accessibility for persons with disabilities. Where appropriate these are provided to persons with disabilities as an alternative to the fee-based service.

Address:
220 - 2250 Boundary Road
Burnaby, BC, V5M3Z3

Contacts Page

14. PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship

The PLAN Institute fosters belonging by creating networks, developing resources, cultivating innovation and promoting thinking to enable the contribution of people who are isolated and marginalized. They deliver training and consultation to individuals, families, organizations and service providers. They offer on line access to publications, training and a library.

Address:
260-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC, V5R5W2

Contacts Page

15. Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN)

PLAN is a not-for-profit charity created by and for families who have a relative with a disability. Their goal is twofold: to ensure a safe and secure future for your relative with a disability and, in the process, to provide you and your loved ones with peace of mind. In pursuit of this goal they are inspired by a simple but powerful vision: the vision of a good life for all people with disabilities and their families. PLAN provides assistance with future planning and network development.

Address:
260-3665 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC, V5R5W2

Contacts Page

16. 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.

17. Program for Institutional Loans of Adaptive Technology (PILAT)

The Ministry, through Assistive Technology-BC (AT-BC), provides assistive technology and support services to post-secondary institutions for students with permanent disabilities in order to reduce barriers to education caused by their disability.

Students are referred through Public Post-secondary Disability Coordinators or Advisors (contact the disability services of your institution).

18. Provincial Resource Programs

Ministry of Education

Provincial Resource Programs are available through school districts to assist them in educating students whose access to the curriculum is restricted as a result of disabilities in the following areas: physical disabilities or chronic health impairments, visual impairment, multiple disabilities (physically dependent with multiple needs) deaf/blind, autism. Custodial parents or caregivers should speak to their child's teacher about possible supports.

Contacts Page

Please contact your local school district office to inquire about these programs.

19. Scholarship and Mentorship

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)

AEBC is an education and advocacy organization of blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted Canadians, providing advocacy, scholarship and mentorship programs and information resources.

Contacts Page