Community
Connection to local resources.
Connecting you to regional resources.
Connecting you to local and regional resources.
Advocacy
Helps government better support adults with a developmental disability, teens with special needs, and family members and other support providers.
Barrier-Free Canada advocates for a barrier-free Canada for all persons with disabilities.
Find support near you for children who have suffered or witnessed crime.
BCEdAccess Society serves families of students with disabilities all over the province of British Columbia. The stories shared on their private discussion board daily illustrate the depth of the challenges families face in pursuing equitable access to education in BC schools.
Family Net is an independent provincial network that provides a provincial voice for children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families.
Works to ensure that public sector organizations are treating people fairly and following the rules. They listen to and investigate complaints about local and provincial public sector organizations, as well as investigate reports of serious wrongdoing in the provincial government. Services are free and confidential.
The BC People First Society works to make sure that people with a developmental disability are respected and included in communities as full citizens.
BC’s Representative for Children and Youth supports the province’s young people and their families in dealing with the provincial child and youth welfare system. The Representative also provides oversight to this system and makes recommendations to improve it. The Representative is a non-partisan, independent officer of the legislature.
The Office of the Seniors Advocate monitors and analyzes seniors services and issues in BC, making recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues.
BRAIN is a support network based out of New Westminster that strives to meet the needs of survivors of brain injury, family members, friends, and caregivers. They provide resource materials, advocacy, information, and networking opportunities.
Promotes social justice, accessibility and inclusion for people who have speech, language and communication disabilities
Community Living BC provides advocacy support and helps persons with disabilities build self-advocacy skills.
CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.
Disability Alliance BC provides income advocacy and assistance, mentorship, and planning support for people with all disabilities.
This tool helps people find disability advocates and legal support nearest them
First Call BC puts the province’s children and youth first through public education, community mobilization, and public policy advocacy.
Housing and legal advocacy for persons living in Vancouver.
Inclusion BC builds community and enhances the lives of children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families by promoting action and advancing rights and social justice.
Helps protect children and respond to cases of abuse, supporting the children and family throughout the process.
Works collaboratively to find creative solutions to, and educate about, barriers within communities. Projects include: accessibility, transportation, advocacy, empowerment, disability awareness, poverty, 2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) issues, disability justice, and more.
The Mission Self Advocacy Group is made up of people with intellectual disabilities. They advocate for appropriate benefits, housing, employment, and services
A free and independent dispute-resolution service for banking and investment complaints.
Pacific Dawn’s mission is to end the poverty, isolation, discrimination and violence experienced by women with disabilities.
A national voice for people who have been labeled with an intellectual disability. People First is about rights – human rights, citizenship rights, accommodations rights and language rights.
Plan Institute is a non-profit social enterprise that works to improve the lives of people with disabilities by collaborating on community-based projects, offering a suite of learning initiatives, and advocating for policy reform.
PLAN helps families and people with disabilities feel confident about the future by making careful plans and fostering supportive relationships to be safe, secure, and fully included in the community.
An international awareness and advocacy campaign to support those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure
Community Living BC’s province-wide community councils advocate for the community inclusion of persons with disabilities, working on projects related to inclusive housing, community-mapping for accessibility, and more.
SALN is a network of self-advocates working towards communities for all.
An impressive collection of self-advocacy resources
Free legal education and advocacy for BC tenants.
Vancouver Community Council advocates for the community inclusion of persons with disabilities, working on projects related to inclusive housing, community-mapping for accessibility, and more.
Health & Wellness
Provides health care and home support services to assist your loved ones in retirement communities, group homes, apartments, family homes, and other community settings. Serving the Okanagan and Victoria.
Provides direct support to ALS patients, along with their families and caregivers, to ensure the best quality of life possible while living with ALS.
Helps effectively alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, while also promoting research and leading the search for a cure.
Offers health, home, and personal support services that are customized to each client. Services include free health assessments, home health care, recovery support and after care, respite, and more. Based in Burnaby.
Promotes awareness of anxiety disorders and supports access to evidence based resources and treatment.
Provides integrated, best practice medical and allied health services for diagnostic screening, assessment, and treatment of individuals with autism spectrum and/or related neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan.
Advice and resources on how to support healthy aging in adults with developmental disabilities.
A collection of books, videos, journals, board games, curricula and various educational props and materials designed for children with disabilities.
Search for and find a doctor near you.
BC Emergency Health Services provides pre-hospital emergency services and inter-facility patient transfers throughout the province, and oversees the BC Ambulance Service and BC Patient Transfer Services.
Find a hearing clinic near you.
Through clinics and support of parents, peers, and research, BC Epilepsy empowers and educates British Columbians living with epilepsy.
A list of hospitals and health centres in BC
A list of psychologists and counsellors in BC
Supports people with physical disabilities province-wide through education, research, arts, recreation, and wellness programs.
A mobile app that connects health institutions (pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, local community services centres, long-term care centres, etc.) to relief pharmacists, nurses, personal support workers, assistants, technicians and students.
Provides support, information, and education for families and individuals who live with epilepsy, their support staff, educational personnel, friends, co-workers, health care providers, and anyone else affected by epilepsy.
Committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF), investing more in life-saving CF research and care than any other non-governmental agency in Canada.
The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at St Paul’s Hospital offers patient and family-centered care to those living with CF.
DDMHS provides mental health services for persons age 12 and over who live with developmental disabilities and a mental illness. Individuals may also struggle with behavioural challenges that are often influenced by the mental illness and developmental disability.
Provides mental health services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind people throughout BC.
Located near Vancouver’s major hospitals and health centres, Easter Seals House provides low-cost but cozy residence to families of individuals whose health needs take them far from their local area.
Delivers a wide range of health care services to more than 1.8 million people living in communities stretching from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope. Their services range from hospital care, to community-based residential, home health, mental health, and public health services.
Promotes holistic awareness, prevention, and wellness for people with acquired brain injury, their supporters, and the community.
Works to reform the way health care is delivered to BC First Nations through direct services and collaboration with provincial partners. The FNHA is governed by and serves BC First Nations individuals and communities.
HeadWay helps people with Parkinson’s lead active lives and fully participate in society.
Offers health promotion and supportive care services to communities in BC. Programs include meals on wheels, family respite, and community integration.
BC’s largest rehabilitation centre, working with patients who have experienced strokes, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, ALS, arthritis, and other conditions.
A health authority based regional travel assistance program that offers subsidized transportation options to help defray costs for rural residents who must travel to obtain non-emergency, physician-referred medical care outside their home communities.
Provides reliable non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia. Information and advice are available by telephone, website, a mobile app, and a collection of print resources.
Dedicated to improving the health of Canadians by preventing and reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke through research, health promotion and advocacy.
A home away from home for members of our Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services Personnel and their families to stay, completely free of charge, while they are receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area.
Provides a wide range of integrated health-care programs and services across BC’s Southern Interior.
Island Health provides health care services through a network of hospitals, clinics, centres, health units, and long-term care locations. They serve more than 794,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and the mainland communities north of Powell River and south of Rivers Inlet.
Kids Brain works to understand the causes of conditions including autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy.
Canada’s first specific and comprehensive guidelines for specimen collection for patients with autism, it focuses on delivering a safe and worry-free blood collection experience. Available throughout BC.
The Ministry of Health has overall responsibility for ensuring that quality, appropriate, cost effective and timely health services are available for all British Columbians. See their website for valuable information.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions was created in 2017 to improve the access and quality of mental health for all British Columbians, as well as develop an immediate response to the opioid public health emergency.
Muscular Dystrophy Canada raises spirits and funds in support of those affected by neuromuscular disorders.
A charity run by patients, caregivers, and their families, formed to help and support patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or Fibromyalgia.
Enhance the well-being of all people living with pain through empowerment, care, education and innovation. It provides free support, education and resource-connection to people with persistent pain in BC.
Handles compliments and complaints regarding quality of care.
Provides resources and services to enable self-management, self-reliance, and self-advocacy.
Works to reduce the incidence and severity of paralysis after spinal cord injury, improve health care outcomes, reduce long-term costs, and improve the quality of life for those living with a spinal cord injury.
A health and wellness resource for all British Columbians, with 16 sites across BC.
Supports the health of children with disabilities through clinics, therapy, early intervention, mental health, crisis services, and prosthetics
Provides residence to families of children whose health needs take them far from their local community, keeping families together in a home away from home.
Information, resources, and support for people with scleroderma, a condition affecting skin and connective tissue.
Empowers people with the skills and knowledge to successfully manage chronic health conditions.
Dedicated to helping people with spinal cord injury and related disabilities thrive, providing information and unique community experiences.
Expert advice, guides, videos, and community group programs designed for stroke survivors in BC.
Sunny Hill provides specialized development and rehabilitation services to BC children and youth and their families.
Vancouver Coastal Health provides health care services through a network of hospitals, primary care clinics, community health centres and residential care homes. Search their health care services in Vancouver, Richmond, North and West Vancouver and along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Sunshine Coast and BC’s Central Coast.
Provincial Mental Health
Foundry is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people ages 12-24.
Freedom Quest Youth Services Society (Freedom Quest) provides free, confidential, and non-judgmental services and programming to youth who may be negatively impacted by substance use in the West Kootenay Boundary Region
Helps families across the province navigate the mental health system, connect with peer support, and access resources and tools to support well-being.
Connecting you with resources and information for every stage of the eating disorder journey.
Supports young people, families, and professionals, in order to enhance the quality of experiences and services for child and youth mental health.
Autism Support
Kim Barthel
Kim is a much loved teacher and speaker who connects ideas and people in the supporting or resiliency and health world-wide.
kimbarthel.ca/shop#freevideos
A B.C. based, non-profit that helps the autism community live their best lives. We empower, support, and connect the autism community in BC.
PFAN is a network of support for families and individuals with autism and related neurodiversities.
Legal & Policy
The Accessible British Columbia Act makes BC more inclusive for people with disabilities
The Accessible Canada Act, also known as bill C-81, sets out requirements to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility
Sets out various forms of employment support and assistance for persons with a disability in BC, including Person with Disability (PWD) benefits
Provides free legal services to people who need help with a provincial human rights complaint
The BC Human Rights Code (the Code) is a law created by the B.C. legislature. The purposes of the Code are to:
- Foster a society in B.C. where there are no impediments to full and free participation in the economic, social, political and cultural life of B.C.
- Promote a climate of understanding and mutual respect where all are equal in dignity and rights
- Prevent discrimination prohibited by the Code
- Eliminate persistent patterns of inequality associated with discrimination prohibited by the Code
- Provide a means of redress for those persons who are discriminated against contrary to the Code
The Code prohibits discrimination in certain areas of activity (for example, employment). The Code also creates the tribunal and sets up a process for making and resolving complaints of discrimination.
Provides educational info on human rights, and is responsible for having a fair and timely process to resolve human rights complaints in BC.
Addresses the root causes of inequality, discrimination and injustice in BC by shifting laws, policies, practices and cultures.
Works to ensure that public sector organizations are treat people fairly and follow the rules. They listen to and investigate complaints about local and provincial public sector organizations, as well as investigate reports of serious wrongdoing in the provincial government. Services are free and confidential.
BC’s special education policies, procedures, and guidelines.
This section of the Canadian constitution guarantees everyone equal protection under the law. It bans discrimination and emphasizes a few specific groups, including people with a “mental or physical disability”.
The Canadian Human Rights Act is a statute passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1977 with the goal of extending the law to ensure equal opportunity to individuals who may be victims of discriminatory practices based on a set of prohibited grounds, including disability. The act applies only to federally regulated activities.
The Commission protects the core principle of equal opportunity and promotes a vision of an inclusive society free from discrimination by:
- Promoting human rights through research and policy development
- Protecting human rights through a fair and effective complaints process
- Representing the public interest to advance human rights for all Canadians
- Auditing employers under federal jurisdiction for compliance with employment equity
An overview of human rights and human rights resources in Canada related to disability.
A series of videos in ASL about the Canadian Human Rights Act and how to file a discrimination complaint
Provides legal assistance and works to advance the law to address the critical needs of those who are disadvantaged or face discrimination
A guide to rights for self-advocates.
This law requires federally regulated employers and crown corporations to eliminate barriers that prevent people with disabilities (and other designated groups) from participating equally in the work force. It also calls for these employers to provide accommodations, such as ensuring the technology used to perform a job is accessible.
This tool helps people find disability advocates and legal support nearest them
Fact sheets to help you understand human rights in BC
Nidus is currently the only community-based resource in Canada devoted to personal planning. It is an expert on Representation Agreements, which are a legal model for supported decision making.
The Federal government has a page with certain laws and policies relating to the rights of persons with disabilities.
Free legal education and advocacy for BC tenants.
A human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. Signed on March 30th 2007, and stressing choice, equality, and inherent rights for persons with disabilities, it addresses a range of issues, including employment, housing, education, recreation, and political life for disabled persons.
Adopted on 9 December 1975, the Declaration encouraged national and international protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The Declaration reiterated the rights of persons with disabilities to education, medical services, and placement service. It further recognized their right to economic and social security, to employment, to live with their families, to participate in social and creative events, to be protected against all exploitation, abuse or degrading behaviour, and to avail themselves of legal aid.
PFAN is a network of support for families and individuals with autism and related neurodiversities.
Resources
Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia is a non-profit organization. Our vision is to create a Life Without Limits for people with disabilities.
Helps government better support adults with a developmental disability, teens with special needs, and family members and other support providers
Barrier-Free Canada advocates for a barrier-free Canada for all persons with disabilities
Find support near you for children who have suffered or witnessed crime
BCEdAccess Society serves families of students with disabilities all over the province of British Columbia. The stories shared on their private discussion board daily illustrate the depth of the challenges families face in pursuing equitable access to education in BC schools.
Family Net is an independent provincial network that provides a provincial voice for children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families.
Works to ensure that public sector organizations are treating people fairly and following the rules. They listen to and investigate complaints about local and provincial public sector organizations, as well as investigate reports of serious wrongdoing in the provincial government. Services are free and confidential
The BC People First Society works to make sure that people with a developmental disability are respected and included in communities as full citizens.
BC’s Representative for Children and Youth supports the province’s young people and their families in dealing with the provincial child and youth welfare system. The Representative also provides oversight to this system and makes recommendations to improve it. The Representative is a non-partisan, independent officer of the legislature.
The Office of the Seniors Advocate monitors and analyzes seniors services and issues in BC, making recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues.
BRAIN is a support network based out of New Westminster that strives to meet the needs of survivors of brain injury, family members, friends, and caregivers. They provide resource materials, advocacy, information, and networking opportunities.
Promotes social justice, accessibility and inclusion for people who have speech, language and communication disabilities
Community Living BC provides advocacy support and helps persons with disabilities build self-advocacy skills.
CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.
Disability Alliance BC provides income advocacy and assistance, mentorship, and planning support for people with all disabilities.
This tool helps people find disability advocates and legal support nearest them.
First Call BC puts the province’s children and youth first through public education, community mobilization, and public policy advocacy.
Housing and legal advocacy for persons living in Vancouver.
Funding options for families looking to travel outside the region for healthcare.
Inclusion BC builds community and enhances the lives of children and youth with special needs, adults with developmental disabilities, and their families by promoting action and advancing rights and social justice.
Helps protect children and respond to cases of abuse, supporting the children and family throughout the process
Works collaboratively to find creative solutions to, and educate about, barriers within communities. Projects include: accessibility, transportation, advocacy, empowerment, disability awareness, poverty, 2SLGBTQIA+ (Queer) issues, disability justice, and more.
A free and independent dispute-resolution service for banking and investment complaints.
Pacific Dawn’s mission is to end the poverty, isolation, discrimination and violence experienced by women with disabilities.
A national voice for people who have been labelled with an intellectual disability. People First is about rights – human rights, citizenship rights, accommodations rights and language rights.
Plan Institute is a non-profit social enterprise that works to improve the lives of people with disabilities by collaborating on community-based projects, offering a suite of learning initiatives, and advocating for policy reform.
PLAN helps families and people with disabilities feel confident about the future by making careful plans and fostering supportive relationships to be safe, secure, and fully included in the community.
An international awareness and advocacy campaign to support those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
Community Living BC’s province-wide community councils advocate for the community inclusion of persons with disabilities, working on projects related to inclusive housing, community-mapping for accessibility, and more.
SALN is a network of self-advocates working towards communities for all.
An impressive collection of self-advocacy resources.
Free legal education and advocacy for BC tenants.