Dear Friend,
Below are highlights of what you'll discover in the October 2022 edition of Inclusion BC’s E-Update:
- Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan
- Inclusion Canada Event - 13th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion
- Free online course - Savvy Siblings
- Inclusion BC Welcomes Katie!
- BC Government Accessibility Feedback
- PGT Annual Report
- Applications now open: Provincial Child Care Council
- Inclusion funding for child care centres
- Changes to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
- We Deserve To Work - A new play
- Event - Building Organizational and Sector Sustainability
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Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan
The Disability Inclusion Action plan needs your input to make the right decisions on the future of Inclusion in Canada.
Take this survey to help shape the Disability Inclusion Action Plan! Make sure that Canadian policies, programs, and services reflect your experiences.
Take the survey here
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Event - 13th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion
Registration is now open for Inclusion Canada’s 13th Annual Federal Policy Forum on Inclusion, in partnership with People First of Canada! This year’s theme is Demanding Better: How the Disability Inclusion Action Plan could change the lives of people with an intellectual/developmental disability
Canada’s federal government is working on our country’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The Plan’s 4 pillars explore areas that deeply impact the lives of people with disabilities: Financial Security; Employment; Disability-inclusive Spaces; and, A Modern Approach to Disability. This year’s policy forum will explore the Disability Inclusion Action Plan through the lens of people with an intellectual disability, their families, and allies. As a community, you will discuss what is happening now, and what you want to see happen. Inclusion Canada's goal is to have everyone's voices heard and reflected in the Plan.
Join them in Ottawa on Monday, November 28th! Event will run from 9am-4pm, lunch is included with your ticket. Virtual CART services and ASL will be provided. This event is in-person only, at the Shaw Centre which is attached to the Westin.
Register and read more here
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Free online course - Savvy Siblings: Strengthening the Financial Security of Your Sibling with a Disability
People with disabilities are outliving their parents more than ever before. As a result, more siblings are transitioning into caregiving roles, which includes partial or even full responsibility for the long-term financial security of their siblings with disabilities.
For many, stepping into a caring role—or even just anticipating this transition—can be overwhelming. Maybe you wish you knew more about how to prepare for your sibling’s financial future or perhaps you feel anxious about the long-term costs of caregiving. Given that Canadians with disabilities face significant barriers to financial security, these are understandable concerns.
Savvy Siblings will help you play a more confident role in improving the financial security of your sibling with a disability by providing clarity around the various programs, benefits, and other resources available to people with disabilities. In the process, you’ll ease your own worries around finances and the future.
Read more and enrol
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Inclusion BC Welcomes Katie!
Inclusion BC is excited to welcome Katie Miller as our Content Developer! Katie's experiences as a self-advocate for people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are invaluable in guiding and supporting our team with content creation.
Welcome Katie!
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BC Government Accessibility Feedback
As part of the government's ongoing work to implement the Accessible B.C. Act, the Accessibility Directorate is pleased to share that the government has launched a new government feedback tool for accessibility.
The Accessibility Feedback Tool is now online for people with disabilities to share their experiences accessing provincial government services. It can be accessed by clicking the “Accessibility” link at the bottom of every government web page, or through gov.bc.ca/accessibilityfeedback.
The tool will support the government’s ongoing efforts to identify, remove, and prevent barriers that impede the full and equal participation of everyone in B.C. It gives members of the public an opportunity to submit information to the government about barriers they experience, or witness others experiencing when accessing government programs and services. This tool brings the government into compliance with Part 3 of the Act.
The Accessibility Directorate will collect submissions and share the feedback provided with the relevant program areas throughout the government.
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Public Guardian and Trustee 2022 Annual Report
The Public Guardian and Trustee is pleased to present our Annual Report for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
This report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly by the Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing, the Honourable Murray Rankin, K.C. on October 17, 2022.
Highlights of the report can be viewed here, while the complete 2021-2022 annual report can be found on the PGT website here.
About the Public Guardian and Trustee
The Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) is a corporation sole established under the Public Guardian and Trustee Act with a unique statutory role to protect the interests of British Columbians who lack legal capacity to protect their own interests. The mandate of the PGT is to:
- Protect the legal and financial interests of children under the age of 19 years;
- Protect the legal, financial, personal and health care interests of adults who require assistance in decision making; and
- Administer the estates of deceased and missing persons.
During 2021-2022, the PGT served 26,675 clients and administered $1.3 billion of client trust assets.
For more information about the PGT, visit www.trustee.bc.ca.
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Applications now open: Provincial Child Care Council
The Provincial Child Care Council is now accepting applications for vacant positions during its next appointment period.
If you are interested in providing strategic advice and expertise on child care to the Minister of Education and Child Care and Minister of State for Child Care, and can commit your time, please consider applying. The Provincial Child Care Council provides advice and recommendations on policies and programs that impact the affordability, quality, and accessibility of child care.
The Council is seeking diverse representation from child care providers of different types of care, school districts, child care advocacy groups, early childhood educators, early care and learning academics, labour unions, business, local or regional government, and post-secondary education.
Learn more about the Provincial Child Care Council and submit an expression of interest. Applications are due October 19, 2022.
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Government of Canada provides inclusion funding for child care centres
The Enabling Access Fund Small Projects Component is a federal granting program that provides up to $100,000 to successful project applicants to help improve the accessibility, safety, and inclusion of staff, families and children with diverse abilities in facilities, including licensed child care centres.
Examples of these projects could include the construction of ramps, accessible doors, accessible washrooms, multisensory rooms, and accessible playgrounds.
Eligible applicants – including Indigenous-led organizations, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, and private centres – must apply by November 1, 2022. Organizations interested in applying can consult the applicant guide, and attend information sessions intended to support those wishing to apply.
English language sessions are on October 5 and 19, 2022, while French language sessions are on October 6 and 20, 2022. Individuals interested in attending an information session should send an email to NC-HIP-PIP-EAF_ODI-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.
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December 2022 changes to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
What's new for December 2022
- Government is reducing child care fees again – this time by as much as $550 more per child every month, for families accessing care at participating licensed child care centres
- Funding is being provided directly to eligible child care centres to lower fees – so families don’t need to apply to get these additional savings
- Government is also significantly increasing funding for child care providers to support their operational costs, and limiting fee increases to ensure stability and predictability for both families and providers
A recording is now available of the October 13 provider information session on operational changes for the December 2022 fee reductions and the process to update Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB) plans. Please review the recording of the session if you missed out or if you would like a refresh on the information.
More information on the CCFRI rate change announcement is available on the ChildCareBC website.
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We Deserve to Work - A new play
“We Deserve to Work” starts soon!
This new play was created by a collection of self-advocates and the team that brought you “Romance, Relationships and Rights.”
“We Deserve to Work '' (running from November 18-20 at Massey Theatre) will illustrate a whole gamut of highs and lows that people with disabilities face while navigating employment.
Get your tickets here
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Event - Building Organizational and Sector Sustainability
Building Organizational and Sector Sustainability (BOSS), British Columbia’s conference for not-for-profit leaders and stakeholders hosted by Vantage Point, is on November 15-16, 2022!
BOSS 2022 equips leaders with strategies, tools, and inspiration for more healthy, sustainable organizations. Thier keynote speaker, Trier Bryant (Just Work), will motivate the creation of more equitable and inclusive workplaces. This two-day virtual conference brings together BC’s not-for-profit sector leaders through education and peer sharing, highlighting approaches that have worked – and those that haven’t!
Buy your tickets
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Our Work is Made Possible Thanks to You!
Thank you for reading our E-update! Consider donating to help us continue working towards a future that's inclusive.
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Updates & Alerts
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