Family Support and Resources​

Find Support BC

We connect families of persons with disabilities with resources available to them in their community.

My Booklet Digital Portfolio 

My Booklet BC is a FREE online tool that families and people with disabilities can use to create a beautiful and personalized information booklet for a loved one or for themselves.

Family Support Institute: 1-800-441-5403 or Email: fsi@fsibc.com

The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family-to-family organization with a broad volunteer base. FSI's supports and services are FREE to any family.

Family Support Institute Events

Wayfinders

http://wayfindersbc.ca/Marketing/Wayfinders_Video_March2021.mp4

Provides families with free person-centered planning tools to empower people with disabilities to find their direction towards fuller, richer lives in their community.

Representative for Children and Youth

British Columbia's Representative for Children and Youth supports our province's young people and their families in dealing with the provincial child and youth welfare system.

​Kinsight (604) 525-9494 Email: info@kinsight.org 

Kinsight works with families and individuals, from infants to seniors, who are at risk for, or have, developmental delays or disabilities. We serve the communities of New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.

​PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network): 604-558-2055 E: hello@plan.ca

PLAN helps families build personal support networks for individuals with disabilities, make plans to secure their future, and bring families together for mutual support, learning and community leadership.

PLAN Institute

Learn about RDSPs

PWD (Persons with Disabilities) Income Assistance Support

Individuals designated as a PWD or (Person with Disability) may be eligible to receive this financial disability assistance if they meet financial eligibility requirements, are 18 years old (you can start the application process at 17 ½), have a severe physical or mental impairment that is expected to continue for more than two years, are significantly restricted in their ability to perform daily-living activities, and require assistance with daily living activities from another person, an assistive device, or an assistance animal.

BC Disability Caucus: (250) 361-9697 bcdisabilitycaucus@gmail.com

Speak with a volunteer about the PWD application process.

Kinsight PWD Video Series

CLBC and STADD

CLBC (Community Living BC)

Vela Canada

Individualized Funding

​STADD (Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities)

STADD Navigators act as the primary point of contact for individuals in coordinating transition planning and access to supports and services through the transition period of 16-24 years old.

Supported Employment Organizations

Canuck Autism Network​

Ready Willing and Able

CAN-STEPS

Work BC

Work BC Customized Employment 

CBI Consultants 1-604-320-1960 info@cbiconsultants.com 

LEAP Program (Learning Employment Action Plan)

ACCESS

We provide education and training services to Indigenous people living in Greater Vancouver.

​PLEA Community Services

PLEA's vision is a world where everyone has the opportunity for a good life, and where everyone counts.  To fulfil this vision PLEA delivers unique services, tailored to individual strengths, and needs, to children, youth, adults, and families facing significant challenges so that they may live fulfilling lives within their communities.

Mentorability Supported Employment​

Workforce Innovation

BC Partners in Workforce Innovation is an innovative recruitment approach helping BC employers meet workforce needs and connecting people with disabilities/diverse abilities to employment.

Chance to Choose: A Youth Employment Program

Youth explore career pathways, enhance their employability and life skills, and achieve success in the local labour market through our 12-week integrated training and work experience program.

​Neil Squire Society: Working Together - Neil Squire Society

If you have a self-declared disability, we'll help you develop the skills needed to achieve your employment goals. Our program is unique, comprehensive, and most importantly, focused on you. 

Post-Secondary Inclusive Education 

Services at Post-Secondary 

Disability or Accessibility Services (educationplannerbc.ca) 

All BC post-secondary institutions have a disability or accessibility services department that works one-on-one with students to ensure their needs are met and can achieve their education and work/life goals. 

Steps Forward

STEPS Forward's BC Initiative for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (BC-IPSE) provides inclusion support for students with developmental disabilities to access post-secondary education in BC. 
 
Students are supported to enroll at the university or college of their choice and to pursue studies and engage in student life in the same classes and places as any other student. Over 4 years, students take a variety of courses with a focus in a specific field of studies. 
 
These studies are recognized by the college or university with a Certificate of Completion awarded to students at Convocation alongside students earning a BA in the same field of studies. 

Douglas College 

Accessibility Services | Douglas College 

Douglas will work with you and your instructors to create an individual plan for accommodations and support. Be ready to share IEP's, Psycho-educational reports, accommodations and supports used in the past and other information related to your support needs.  

Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP) 

The Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP) Program is designed to assist individuals with barriers to employment. Students identify a realistic, achievable career goal and make a plan to reach that goal. They learn and practice the skills needed to be successful in further vocational training. The program includes four weeks of work placement, where students demonstrate the employability skills they have practiced in the classroom. 

Vocational Education and Skills Training | Douglas College 

Douglas College offers Vocational Education and Skills Training (VEST) programs to people with disabilities or barriers to education and employment. Programs help students identify career paths, develop work skills, or move on to additional education or employment. 

Kwantlen - Access Programs for People with Disabilities Department (APPD)​ 

​This program is designed for students with diverse learning needs that hinder educational success. 

The EACS courses and learning experiences will prepare students for lifelong learning, employment, and community engagement opportunities.  Students will participate in hands-on learning and work experience opportunities. 

Langara College 

Disability Services works with students with disabilities to arrange appropriate support services on a case-by-case basis. 

Vancouver Community College – VCC 

Some VCC students with disabilities study in specialized programs, while others are enrolled in regular programs.  In addition to course and program planning assistance, orientation to the college, and ongoing learning assistance, VCC provides specialized services on an individual basis. Disability services can provide support such as exam accommodation, job search assistance and community resource referrals. 

BCIT 

Accessibility Services – BCIT 

Our focus at Accessibility Services is to empower you to overcome the limits and barriers that you encounter during your studies as a result of a disability, whether it's visible, invisible, permanent, or temporary. We look forward to helping you “level the playing field" and succeed in your courses. 

Capilano University 

Accessibility Services

Accessibility Services coordinates and establishes academic accommodations and associated services for students with ongoing or temporary disabilities. 

Education and Employment Access Certificate

If you're a student living with a learning disability or a social, physical, or mental health challenge we can help you transition from high school to post-secondary education or meaningful employment.  Students will finish with a personal portfolio, educational and employment-related certifications, strategies for success in first year courses, and current work experience in a sector related to their vocational interests. ​​

SFU 

Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)

We provide disability related information and support to the SFU community and campus visitors, and act as liaison between students and faculty in the implementation of disability-related services and accommodations. 

Autism Mentorship Initiative - Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)

The goals of the service are to enhance your social experience and connection to the University community and to help support your academic success. 

You will be matched up with an SFU student who has received specialized training as a mentor. You and your mentor will identify areas of interest or concern to explore over the course of each semester. Focus areas may include topics such as: improving your academic skills (e.g., effectively structuring your study time); communication and interpersonal skills (e.g., how to talk with a professor or another student); or finding out about campus activities and resources. 

The Note-Taking Program - Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)

The note-taking program is a service that the CAL provides to students with who, because of their disability (e.g., mobility impairment, hearing, or visual impairment, or learning disability), are unable to take their own notes in class.  

UBC 

Centre for Accessibility | Student Services

The Centre for Accessibility facilitates disability-related accommodations and programming initiatives designed to remove barriers for students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions in all aspects of university life. 

Trinity Western University 

Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)

The Centre for Accessible Learning promotes equitable access to educational programs for students guided by the Human Rights Code (BC) and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. 

​

Entrepreneurship

Douglas College

Young Entrepreneur Leaders

Futurpreneur Mentoring and Grants

Biz Kids Creating Business Plans