Welcome to the September 2022 edition of CLBC’s Update for Individuals and Families. We hope you and your families have had a safe and happy summer and we look forward to sharing information, helpful resources and uplifting stories with you through this monthly update as we move into the fall.
As a reminder, you can find all Updates (including past editions) posted on our website here. You can also check out CLBC’s Facebook page here and Twitter page here. If you know of anyone who would like to receive future Updates, please share the link to our sign up page with them. If you have a specific question, or feedback about this update, you can send an email to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca.
CLBC and Government News
Honouring the Sept. 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
Community Living BC respectfully acknowledges the upcoming Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 as a time of recognition to honour survivors, the lost children of residential schools, their families, and communities. Since the beginning of its work in 2010, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been collecting information about what was done in residential schools and has worked to make this information public. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation became a federal statutory holiday in 2021.
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30. Orange Shirt Day is so named based on the residential school experiences of the campaign’s founder, Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. It is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that encourages all Canadians to wear orange to honour the children who survived residential schools and remember those who did not.
Learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation here and about Orange Shirt Day here, including events taking place and resources for learning about Indigenous history and culture in Canada.
Join CLBC’s September 21 open Board meeting
Individuals, family members and service providers are invited to join our next CLBC open Board meeting from 9:00 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. (PDT) on Wednesday, September 21. The meeting will include a presentation from the Family Support Institute (FSI) to CLBC board members on its role in supporting families and the issues they are currently working on. The Board will also be hearing updates from Chairs of its Provincial Advisory Committee and Indigenous Advisory Committee.
These presentations are scheduled to occur between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
To register to attend the meeting, please send your request to Padminee.Chundunsing@gov.bc.ca asking to attend the September 21 open Board meeting. You will be sent a Microsoft Teams meeting link and an information sheet on how to use MS Teams.
The CLBC Board meets four times a year. Meetings are open to the public and information about the board schedule and joining a meeting remotely can be found on the CLBC Board Meeting Schedule website here.
Apply to help the B.C. Government remove barriers to accessibility
As part of the Accessible B.C. Act which became law in June 2021, the Province of B.C. will be creating new accessibility standards to remove barriers that can restrict people with disabilities from pursuing the same opportunities as those without disabilities.
The first two standards to be developed will be on employment accessibility and accessible service delivery. The B.C. government is currently accepting applications from British Columbians to join two new technical committees that will help develop these standards. Learn more about this here.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 16, 2022, at 12:59 p.m. (PDT). Anyone interested in applying can complete the online questionnaire found here.
Join the September 26 CLBC COVID-19 Microsoft Teams video call
CLBC will be holding another virtual call for individuals and families with Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Daniele Behn Smith and CLBC CEO Ross Chilton and moderated by CLBC Board Chair Michael J. Prince. This call will be an opportunity to hear the latest COVID-19 related updates as we head into the fall season.
Date: Monday, September 26, 2022
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m (PDT)
An invitation for the call, with instructions about how to join using Microsoft Teams, will be sent out in the near future. Self advocates and family members are invited to submit COVID-related questions in advance by sending an email to CLBCinfo@gov.bc.ca with the subject line: September 26 COVID CALL.
Reminder: Submit a WOW Award nomination by September 7 at 5:00pm
 Each year, the CLBC Widening Our World (WOW) Awards celebrate British Columbians who are making their communities more inclusive.
The nomination deadline for the 2022 WOW Awards is Wednesday, September 7 at 5:00 p.m.
It’s not too late to submit a nomination on our website here to recognize a person, organization, agency, community partner or employer who is making your community a place where people of all abilities are valued and respected.
Award recipients will be chosen in September by an evaluation committee of self advocates, family members and CLBC staff, and recognized through presentation events in their communities during Community Inclusion Month in October 2022.
September is Disability Employment Month
The Province of B.C. has again proclaimed September as Disability Employment Month. This month celebrates the significant contributions of people with disabilities and employers who demonstrate inclusion and leadership. The proclamation also affirms B.C.’s commitment to working with employers to recruit, retain and promote people with disabilities in their workplaces.
You can read the official proclamation here and search for the hashtag #DisabilityEmploymentMonth on social media to see posts and updates being shared throughout September.
Stay updated on B.C.’s response to COVID-19
As a reminder, the B.C. government continues to share the most up-to-date COVID-19 information on its website here, including details about testing kits, booster doses, travel requirements and more.
Self Advocate Corner
Upcoming self advocate led events open to everyone
Join one of the upcoming self advocate led events below or visit the Calendar for Connection to learn about other fun ways connect with others.
Game Chat, hosted by Speaking Up for Self Advocates (SUSA)
Speaking Up Self Advocates host a presentation with the Kamloops Self Advocate (KSA) Newsletter and Ability Online
Self-Care Workshop by Erin Sinclair, hosted by Self Advocates of the Rockies (SAOR)
Game Trivia hosted by Speak up for Self Advocates (SUSA)
Accessible dance videos are a fun way to get active
As part of a study on COVID-19 and health, the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre has developed a series of accessible dance videos. Led by physical activity specialist Dr. Laura St. John, the videos are designed to motivate people to move and stay healthy while having fun.
You can watch all of the videos on the YouTube playlist found here.
BC People First offers peer mentorship
 Did you know that BC People First has Peer Mentors who can help people learn more about rights and self advocacy? There are also opportunities for people who want to share their own skills to sign up as Advocacy Mentors. To get involved all you need to do is become a BC People First Member. It’s free!
Learn more by visiting the BC People First Website here.
Staying Supported and Connected
Free laptops available for people who take digital literacy training
Digital literacy is the ability to use computers, phones or tablets. It is increasingly important for helping people to find and keep a job. The Immigrant Services Society of BC has worked with CLBC to develop training to teach community living service providers how to support individuals with digital literacy.
Digital literacy training is available in many communities throughout B.C. and you can see the list of service providers who provide this training here. To be eligible to register for the training, individuals must already be receiving employment or community inclusion services from the agency.
People registering to take digital literacy training also have the option to apply to CLBC to receive a free laptop to support their training. Laptops are available to apply for until March 30, 2023, and digital literacy trainers have the application form.
If you are interested in taking digital literacy training and your service provider is not on the list, please encourage them to register for the next train the trainer sessions taking place in September and October 2022. Registration information for these sessions can be found here.
Youth the Future Pre-Employment program now accepting referrals
The Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work is now accepting referrals to the Youth the Future (YTF) Pre-Employment program, a virtual pre-employment program for young people ages 15 to 30 with disabilities who are looking to find part-time employment.
To be eligible for the program, people must be legally able to work in Canada, and cannot be currently receiving other federal government funding (from other programs, Employment Insurance, etc.)
For full details, read the YTF flyer here. To apply, email ytfvancouver@ccrw.org or call 604-909-4065 ext. 503.
Free mindfulness group for family caregivers
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence and the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre are offering a free six-week virtual program to learn about and practice mindfulness for caregivers of adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities across Canada. The program will be led by Sue Hutton, a mindfulness teacher with 30 years of experience.
The program runs every Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT), from September 23 to October 28. For full details and the link to register, view the program flyer here.
Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering taking place in November
Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) will host its third Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering on November 15, 16 and 17, 2022, in Victoria on the ancestral lands of the Lekwungen People. The event takes place during the 8th anniversary of Indigenous Disability Awareness Month (IDAM) which will be recognized and proclaimed.
The Gathering brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments, leadership, service providers, community members and others to learn, connect, and collaborate in addressing the unique barriers Indigenous peoples with disabilities face.
Find full event details and information about how to register at: www.indigenousdisabilitygathering.com.
Support Worker Central connects people with disabilities with potential support staff
Support Worker Central is a free employment website that connects people with disabilities throughout British Columbia with potential support staff in their communities who are looking for work. The site includes a resource section to help navigate employment documents and regulations.
Support Worker Central was created for people with disabilities and their families who hire and manage their own staff. The goal of the site is to enhance independence and flexibility for people with disabilities and the staff who support them.
Visit the site and explore support staff at www.SupportWorkerCentral.ca.
Stories and Celebration
Recognizing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day on September 9
 September 9 is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day. Recognized around the world since 1999, this day raises awareness and understanding of FASD to improve prevention, as well as diagnosis and support for people with FASD.
This year’s theme is Building Strengths and Abilities. Historically, much of the research and discussion about FASD has focused on challenges. While this discussion is necessary, it is also important to recognize people’s unique talents, abilities, and interests, and to celebrate their successes and contributions to our communities.
Learn more about FASD Awareness Day and events happening around the province here. You can also learn about the Red Shoes Rock campaign to raise awareness and start conversations about FASD at: redshoesrock.com
Film honours the healing journeys of Indigenous families
 Healing Nation is documentary film that shows the real lived impact of taking generations of Indigenous children away from their families. The film features stories spanning three generations of those who have either been removed from their families or felt the impact of family members who were taken away. The stories guide viewers along the path of interconnectedness between generations and across communities, and shows the way ceremony plays an essential part in healing.
Watch the trailer here, and visit www.healingnationfilm.ca to learn more about the film and its creators Jamuna Galay-Tamang and Symbia Barnaby, and to stay up-to-date about opportunities to view the film.
Video: Self advocate leader shares her story of inclusion in Invermere
Kate Gibbs is a self advocate and community leader who sits on the Board of Inclusion BC. She was recently featured in a video series called Valley Profiles highlighting people who live in the Columbia Valley. In the video, Kate shares her story and describes how she has experienced her small town of Invermere as an inclusive community.
On her experience with creating the video, Kate says: “I am very grateful to him [local videographer Justine Woodman] for capturing my story and helping me spread what inclusion means to me. I felt very honoured that Justin and other community members thought my story was inspiring enough to be on TV, and I hope it gives a strong message to everyone who watches it.”
Watch Kate ‘s video profile here.
ONE DAY community celebration co-hosted by the South Island Community Council
 CLBC’s South Island Community Council, along with partners BeConnected Support Services, Community Living Victoria, Integra Support Services, Independent Living Housing Society, Lifetime Networks and One Ability, are excited to welcome the community at the upcoming ONE DAY celebration.
This will be the first ONE DAY event to take place since 2019 and will be held on Saturday, September 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Topaz Park in Victoria with measures in place for COVID-19 safety. This is a day to dance, play, and eat together to celebrate diversity and the full inclusion of all people in community. Find all the details about the event here.
CLBC Community Councils are groups of people who work to break down barriers to inclusion and help make a difference in the lives of people with diverse abilities. There are 13 Community Councils across the province, each made up of self advocates, family members, service providers and other people from the broader community who care about building inclusive and welcoming communities.
To join a Community Council in your area, contact CLBC’s Self Advocate Advisor Jessica Humphrey at Jessica.Humphrey@gov.bc.ca.
Signing off
We’re now just a few weeks away from Community Inclusion Month. Every October in B.C., Community Inclusion Month celebrates the valuable contributions that people with developmental disabilities make and recognizes the importance of communities where everyone is included.
Stay tuned to CLBC’s Community Inclusion Month webpage here as October approaches and during the month as we will be sharing events, stories, community proclamations and information and also announcing the winners of CLBC’s 2022 Widening Our World (WOW) Awards.
Have an event, story or other highlight you’d like to share? Send an email to CLBCInfo@gov.bc.ca and let us know.
Until next edition…
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