January 2023 E-Update

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UPDATE – January 2023

Dear Friend,

Below are highlights of what you'll discover in the January 2023
edition of Inclusion BC’s E-Update:

Adjustments to Inclusion BC's Advocacy Line
Inclusion Canada - An Update on Bill C-22: Canada Disability Benefit
Plain Language Info Sheet for the Canada Housing Benefit and Canada Dental Benefit
Blog: Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services and Rotary at Work – Employer Excellence Awards
Blog: Post-Secondary Education is an Option for Youth with Disabilities
Learning and Connections for Family Support Workers
Supporting Advocacy and Community Development
Real Talk is Hiring for a New Project
February 2023 Digital Skills Tutor Training session
Professional development opportunity for early childhood professionals
Canadian Health and Well-Being in Developmental Disabilities Conference
Research Study – Access to Services in BC for Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Siblings Canada – coming up in 2023

Adjusting for better advocacy service

The requests for support from our Community Inclusion Advocacy Program have been increasing over the previous three years at an average rate of 33% per year. During the 2022-2023 year, we have seen another 14% average increase in each quarter. We are humbled by the trust of the community in the support we provide and the value given to our work.

We have discussed strategies to make sure we continue supporting people the best we can while staying aligned with our values.

Starting February 1^st, 2023, we are shifting our advocacy support from an on-demand to a by-appointment system.

People can continue to expect a response to their first outreach to us within 24-48 business hours. After that, people will be assisted in booking an intake appointment with our advocates. Our advocates will also book follow-up calls and meetings based on their availability during designated hours to support people and families.

You can expect our same committed approach to advocacy that is person-centred, rights-based, collaborative, and solution-focused to build a world where everybody belongs.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we adjust to this new way of providing advocacy support.

Inclusion Canada - An Update on Bill C-22: Canada Disability Benefit

Before the holiday season, the Bill was passed by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills, and Social Development, and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) and presented back to the House of Commons. Unfortunately, it was not brought back for a final reading and vote before the Parliamentarians left for their holiday break. This was disappointing and a missed opportunity.

We are now at a critical point.

The House of Commons returns on January 30th and will sit until February 17th before it takes its scheduled winter break. With such a small window, it is important that we advocate for Bill C-22 to be the first order of business when Parliament returns.

There have been many letters sent to Members of Parliament (MPs) urging their support of the Canada Disability Benefit, and it has helped tremendously.

Inclusion Canada is asking once again to help support and advocate to your local MPs. If you are comfortable, request a meeting with your MP or simply call, email, or write urging support.

Inclusion Canada has created an updated letter for you to send. Join in asking our MPs to prioritize and fast-track the bill for Third Reading as the first order of business when the House of Commons returns on January 30th.

Once this bill passes successfully through the House of Commons, it will have to go through the same process in the Senate. After it passes through the Senate, it will receive Royal Assent and become law! The faster it passes through the House of Commons now, the closer we are to having a benefit that will support the financial security of people with disabilities who need it.

Plain Language Info Sheet for the Canada Housing Benefit and Canada Dental Benefit

Inclusion Canada created plain language info sheets for the one-time top up to the Canada Housing Benefit and the new permanent Canada Dental Benefit.

Plain Language Info Sheets:

Read Inclusion Canada’s December newsletter about the benefits

Blog: Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services and Rotary at Work – Employer Excellence Awards

In a series of short interviews, our staff writer, Katie Miller, spoke with people around the province who have received funding from Inclusion BC to hold events to celebrate and promote inclusive employment. We’ll be sharing their stories with you in the form of monthly blog posts. Read the first blog featuring the event in Nakusp, BC.

Read more on our website

Blog: Post-Secondary Education is an Option for Youth with Disabilities

What if we told you that high school doesn’t need to be this way and that the Ministry of Education’s vision for student success can include your family member and the choice to attend post-secondary education? Advocating for an inclusive education and life path is within reach.

Read more on our website

Learning and Connections for Family Support Workers

Does your staff support families to navigate systems? Inclusion BC hosts free quarterly learning and training opportunities to a network of professionals who support families of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities called the Family Support Workers Network (FSWN). We engage with partners inside and outside the disability sector to develop content that will improve the capacity of Family Support Workers to locally support families to advocate for inclusion and access to resources.

Here are a few examples of past presentations:

POPARD- Supporting schools and supporting students with ASD
Early Childhood Navigators
Mental Health Network and the 5 questions
Steps- Forward –An initiative that supports students with developmental disabilities attending academic post-secondary programs.
Disability Alliance BC Law Clinic
Support Workers Central

Network members are not required to attend every session. People usually attend sessions that fulfill a need in their role at their organization.

Please contact TinaDam tdam@inclusionbc.org to join or for more details.

Supporting Advocacy and Community Development

“Having our Inclusion BC advocate involved has made such a huge difference. Not only at school but at home as well. The impact of her help can be felt throughout our life. Having my child included and supported properly at school has eliminated many elements of stress in our lives, thus improving relationships and home life.”  -Parent

Over 40% of the calls to our Community Inclusion Advocacy Program are related to advocacy for inclusive education including parents looking for help to support their child’s access to education.

With Inclusive Education Month coming this February, we need your help to ensure that people with disabilities and their families don’t have to wait to be connected to one of our friendly and knowledgeable advocates when they need support. With your help, we will be there to listen and build confidence and knowledge to advocate for inclusive education.

Become a Monthly Circle of Friends donor or make a one-time donation today!

DONATE

Real Talk is Hiring for a New Project

Real Talk, is looking for a Peer Coordinator for their brand new project titled Real Talk: Connecting 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities (CQC) The ideal candidate will have living experience as a 2SLGBTQIA+ person living with an intellectual disability, and be independent in transportation around Greater Vancouver. The role will be four hours per week. It will pay $26.76/hour and will go until December 31, 2023.

Read more and apply here: https://www.real-talk.org/news/real-talk-is-hiring-a-peer-coordinator

February 2023 Digital Skills Tutor Training session

The Immigrant Services Society of BC is offering Digital Literacy Tutor training for Employment Service Providers. Digital literacy is a real challenge when accessing supports and services and finding employment. This training gives service providers the knowledge and tools to teach digital skills through proven materials and successful strategies. It also includes learning videos and practice activities for learners.

The next training will be held on February 6 to 9, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm each day on Zoom.

Read more and apply here

Professional development opportunity for early childhood professionals

UBC’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA) has created a new inclusive child care program for child care providers, early childhood professionals, parents and more. The program is free of charge, and includes four self-paced, interactive, online modules on practical strategies to support young children with developmental disabilities, including Autism, in the early child care setting.

Upon completion of all four modules, learners will receive a Certificate of Completion. Visit the CIRCA UBC website for more information and to register.

Canadian Health and Well-Being in Developmental Disabilities

Online Conference
February 8 – 9, 2023

The Canadian Health and Wellbeing in Developmental Disabilities Conference is an interprofessional conference where health care providers and community partners connect to share educational and informative updates and practical, innovative, promising and effective practices that improve the health and wellbeing of people with developmental disabilities.

Visit the website to read more and register https://www.healthandwellbeingindd.ca/

Research Study – Access to Services in BC for Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

The University of Calgary is conducting a study about how youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities in B.C. access government services like inclusive education, Community Living BC, nursing support services, health, and employment assistance.

The project is looking for service providers who could share their experience providing any of these services.

The study includes an online survey followed by an interview.

To participate, fill out the survey here

If you have any questions about the research study, please get in touch with Ash Seth, the research coordinator, at ashish.seth@ucalgary.ca.

Siblings Canada – coming up in 2023

Siblings Canada has lots of great resources for siblings of people with disabilities this year. Check out some of the great resources they have to offer below.

Online course:

Savvy Siblings: Strengthening the Financial Security of Your Sibling with a Disability

Webinars:

February 1st – a chat exploring w hy people with disabilities are more likely to experience poverty.
March 2nd - solutions for addressing the higher rates of poverty among people with disabilities by taking a deep dive into the Benefits Wayfinder tool with the team at Prosper Canada.

Visit their website to discover all of their events and programs

Updates & Alerts

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