| Welcome to the September 2024 edition of CLBC’s Update for Individuals and Families. We hope you and your families have had a safe and happy summer.
Important update: The B.C. provincial general election is scheduled for October 19, 2024. However, for the provincial government, the election period begins on September 21. From that date until the official swearing-in ceremony for the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly, government agencies including Community Living BC are limited in our communications.
During that time, publications (including this Update), and most social media posts, website updates and other types of public engagement will be on pause. If needed, CLBC will share information related to public health and safety matters. But our day-to-day operations continue as normal, and our offices remain open as usual. And of course you can still contact CLBC if you have any questions or need assistance.
We look forward to once again sharing information, helpful resources and uplifting stories with you when this Update resumes later in the fall. In the meanwhile, we wish everyone a happy Community Inclusion Month in October and hope you are able to take part in events and activities happening in your communities. In this edition, you can read about some of the events and initiatives CLBC Community Councils have recently organized to promote and celebrate community inclusion.
CLBC and Government News
Self-Advocacy Corner
Staying Supported and Connected
CLBC Community Councils
Stories and Celebrations
CLBC and Government News
Join CLBC and the Office of Provincial Health Officer for new info about the value of pandemic measures
 CLBC has been working with the Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) on evaluating the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people who receive supports funded by CLBC. New data will be released that speaks to the impact of:
- precautions taken by service providers and individuals and families, and
- prioritization of the CLBC population for early vaccination.
Individuals and Families are invited to join CLBC CEO Ross Chilton, and Dr. Danièle Behn Smith, Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health at 10:30am (PDT) on Sept. 12. This will be a Zoom Meeting as feedback from our partners has indicated this platform is preferred instead of Teams. A separate call for service providers is being held earlier the same morning.
COVID Data Update – Individuals and Families (September 12, 2024 at 10:30 am)
For those who can’t make this meeting, a news release will be published in the What’s New section of the CLBC website later on September 12 detailing the results of the data collection.
Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
CLBC respectfully acknowledges the upcoming Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30 as a time of recognition to honour survivors, the lost children of residential schools, their families, and communities.
As of 2023, September 30 is a statutory holiday in the province, giving more British Columbians the opportunity to recognize the day by attending local events, reading, watching and listening to Indigenous-created content, supporting Indigenous-owned businesses, and talking to family, friends and coworkers about reconciliation.
September 30 also marks Orange Shirt Day, 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.
Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering coming up in November
From November 19 to 21, the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) / Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) is hosting the 2024 Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering in Victoria on the ancestral lands of the Lekwungen People. 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 people with disabilities face.
CLBC is proud to participate in The Gathering, taking place during the 10th Indigenous Disability Awareness Month. CLBC’s CEO Ross Chilton and Board Chair Shane Simpson will be speaking at the event. Members of CLBC’s Indigenous Relations Team will be connecting with attendees in the exhibitor area. Learn more about the 2024 Indigenous Disability and Wellness Gathering by visiting: www.IndigenousDisabilityGathering.com.
CLBC’s Accessibility Plan: First-year milestones
 September marks the completion of the first year of CLBC’s three-year Accessibility Plan which guides our work to identify, remove and prevent barriers, and to become a more accessible organization for all people with disabilities. Here are some of the highlights of what we learned and accomplished:
- Relationships make all the difference: We established committees, including a BC People First policy working group and an Accessibility Advisory Committee, to guide our actions. We also incorporated cultural safety into our work through training and policies.
- Clear, timely communication is key: We expanded our use of plain language and created videos to help navigate CLBC processes more easily.
- Information needs to be shared in many ways: We partnered with Community Councils to pilot “Communication for Everyone” picture symbol boards and introduced an online form for alternative format requests.
- Welcoming physical spaces: We updated our criteria for selecting new CLBC offices and gathered feedback from the people we serve to make CLBC spaces more welcoming.
- Accessible employment is necessary: We hired an Equity Diversity & Inclusion Lead to develop a strategy to improve accessibility for CLBC staff with disabilities.
As CLBC begins the second year of our plan, we’re excited to deepen connections with those we support and eager to gain new insights on accessibility from their experiences and from our colleagues.
You can visit the CLBC website here to provide feedback on accessibility.
Join CLBC’s September 19th Open Board Meeting
Individuals and family members are invited to join CLBC’s Open Board Meeting from 9:00am to 11:45am (PDT) on Thursday, September 19.
The meeting will include a self-advocate presentation titled Beyond Limits: Inspiring tales of Independent Living, reports from the Provincial and Indigenous Advisory Committees, as well as an update on the Re-imagining Community Inclusion initiative.
To register to attend the meeting, please send a request to Padminee.Chundunsing@gov.bc.ca asking to attend the September Open Board Meeting. You will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting link and an information sheet on how to use Teams.
The CLBC Board meets four times each year and meetings are open to the public. Information about the board schedule, how to join a meeting remotely, and the upcoming meeting agenda can be found on the CLBC Board Meeting webpage here.
Learn how supports and services fit together at a CLBC Welcome Workshop
CLBC Welcome Workshop Teams around the province are providing welcome sessions to introduce people to CLBC and show how community and different services and supports fit together in the big picture of adulthood. Welcome workshops are led by a CLBC Facilitator, a family member and a self-advocate with lived experience. Learn more about CLBC Welcome Workshops on our website here.
Upcoming Welcome Workshop sessions will be taking place in:
New Aging Knowledge Hub launching in September
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of CLBC’s new, online Aging Knowledge Hub. The Hub will be hosted on the CLBC website and will compile available, online aging resources, information and tools into one convenient location.
The goal of the Hub is to provide easy-to-access information on a wide range of topics to improve quality of life and enhance well-being for individuals with developmental disabilities as they age. The Hub will include resources for Indigenous individuals and families, opportunities for connection to community, transportation resources, housing programs, health resources, information about equity groups, dementia resources, advocacy tools and more.
We will be announcing the official launch of the Aging Knowledge Hub on CLBC’s website and social media channels in September. Until then, stay tuned!
Celebrating Disability Employment Month in September
The B.C. Government has proclaimed September as Disability Employment Month, highlighting the significant role people with disabilities play in British Columbia’s workforce, and working alongside employers to reduce barriers to inclusive employment, and build better, more accessible workplaces.
Read the official proclamation of Disability Employment Month 2024 here.
 Sharing stories is one way to highlight the contributions and leadership of people with disabilities in the workforce. South Island Community Council Chair Jennifer Dosanj shares her inclusive employment experience in a new podcast created in collaboration with her employer and the CLBC Communications and Community Engagement Team.
In Jennifer’s episode, she hopes to inspire other employers to make their workplaces inclusive and accessible. The podcast is presented in video form with captions, graphics and images of Jennifer and her colleagues. Listen to Jennifer’s podcast here.
In addition to the podcast, a written version of Jennifer’s story called Finding her voice and a career is featured in the Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES Magazine here.
Self-Advocacy Corner
Connections Hour is back
 The BC Self Advocacy Leadership Network and Community Living BC are launching the next series of Connections Hours starting September 19 at 12:00pm (PDT).
Self-advocacy leaders from across the province will be hosting these virtual connection opportunities and you’re invited to join every Thursday at 12:00pm noon to hear what’s happening around the province and share what’s going on in your own community.
To join the Connection Hour, go to this Zoom link at the scheduled time. Then enter the passcode: CLBC. You can also join over the phone by calling 1-647-374-4685.
Resources to help you vote on October 19
B.C.’s next provincial election is scheduled for October 19, 2024. Voting can be a little tricky when you don’t know what to expect. Here are some resources to help you prepare for election day and to make your voting experience a good one:
Self-advocates invited to join CLBC’s virtual Employment Corner
 The CLBC Provincial Employment Team is hosting another online Employment Corner session on Wednesday, September 25 from 2:00pm to 3:00pm (PDT).
The Employment Corner series is for self-advocates and people with lived experience seeking employment opportunities in B.C. There are opportunities to ask questions, and share stories, successes, concerns and ideas related to employment.
For more information and to sign up, please contact CLBC Employment Lead Jay Townsend at Jay.Townsend@gov.bc.ca.
Thinking About Language – Part 3 now available
Do you want to help self-advocacy leaders support people and organizations to think more about the language they use and make changes?
The BC Self Advocacy Leadership Network (BCSALN) has recently published Thinking About Language – Part 3, following up on Part 2 that was released in 2023, and the original report that was released in 2020.
Under the theme “Words Matter, Words Have Power”, BCSALN members share their own insights about the impact of words and offer suggestions on how to reframe the language we use when referring to the people we serve and the supports they receive.
You can download the all three Thinking About Language reports on the BCSALN website here.
Staying Supported and Connected
Webinar shares information about legal rights in housing
The Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) is hosting a webinar for all people who live in non-profit or BC Housing to learn more about their legal rights and have a chance to ask questions.
The webinar is free to attend via Zoom and will take place on September 26 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm (PDT). Find full details about the Learn Your Legal Rights webinar here, including how to register.
Disability Alliance BC hosts webinar on PWD health supplements and benefits
Join Disability Alliance BC’s upcoming webinar on health supplements and benefits available to people receiving the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefit.
The webinar takes place Thursday, September 26 at 10am (PDT). Find more details about the webinar and the link to register here.
Family Leadership Series comes to Northern B.C.
 Families and caregivers in Northern B.C. are invited to attend the Family Leadership Series which will feature two days of learning and connecting in Prince George. This will be an opportunity to learn ways to strengthen your advocacy and access resources that can help build a good life for loved ones with disabilities.
The Family Leadership Series takes place October 2 and 3 at AiMHi at 950 Kerry Street in Prince George. The event is free to attend and scholarships are available for travel, child care or other expenses. Find full details and register here.
The Family Leadership Series is organized through a partnership of Inclusion BC, Williams Lake Association for Community Living, AiMHi, Fort St. John Association for Community Living, Vela, Quesnel Community Living Association, Dawson Creek Society for Community Living and the Family Support Institute.
Upcoming Vela Chat
Vela Canada assists people with disabilities to take greater control of their lives and live the life they choose by forming a Microboard or accessing Individualized Funding. Vela Chats are online video chats for Microboards and Individualized Funding recipients, or people looking to learn more about Vela. This is an opportunity to speak with the Vela team while connecting and learning from other families and individuals.
Click here to register for the next upcoming Vela Chat taking place Thursday, September 19 at 7:00pm (PDT).
Create a vision for an inclusive life
Real Equitable Authentic Lives (REA-L) is a non-profit organization that connects families across the province who are looking for alternatives to traditional services. Their goal is to create a space where families can share information, learn from each other and explore new options together.
REA-L invites all family members to join them on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00pm (PDT) for a free virtual gathering called Creating Possibilities: Building Inclusive, Self-Directed Lives. They’ll discuss how to create a vision for your family member’s future and why this is key to building an inclusive life.
Learn more about Creating Possibilities: Building Inclusive, Self-Directed Lives and register to join here.
Diverse Family Roots supporting families in the Kootenays and beyond
 Diverse Family Roots Society (DFRS) is a new family support organization based in the Kootenays. Created in December 2023, DFRS was started to promote peer-to-peer mentoring, family support, connection to resources, advocacy and family navigation of services. DFRS now has 16 Kootenay-based Family Stewards to help facilitate community connection and support and meet families where they are.
Diverse Family Roots offers regular events including virtual gathering with families from across B.C., including:
Learn more about DFRS and how to connect with them on their website here.
Special Olympics shares sexual health resources
Individuals with intellectual disabilities have the same sexual desires as those without an intellectual disability. However, this is not always recognized or supported. As a result, many individuals experience challenges in accessing knowledge and support to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Read the BC Special Olympics summer newsletter Champions for Inclusive Health here to learn more about their research and available resources to support sexual health for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including:
Opportunity to participate in research on Autism
The Social Information Processing & Mental Health in Autism (SIMH-A) Study is a two-part study that aims to explore how social information processing and perspective-taking affect the well-being of young adults with autism.
The SIMH-A Study is currently seeking participants who are 18 to 30 years old. Click here to learn more about this study and how to participate.
Resources available to support mental health
 World Mental Health Day (WMHD) takes place every year on October 10 to spotlight mental health around the world, raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage efforts to support those experiencing challenges. Learn more about WMHD here.
Below are links to some helpful resources that are available to anyone who needs support with their mental health:
- HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca – This provincial government website provides information and resources around wellbeing, mental health and substance use. The phone line 310-6789 (no area code required) is also available for anyone seeking emotional support and mental health information.
- The Government of Canada Crisis Line – People across Canada can call or text 9-8-8 for help when they need it most. The service offers trauma-informed and culturally affirming support to anyone who is thinking of suicide, or who is worried about someone they know.
- Crisis Lines – This is a listing of numbers for immediate crisis support, whether you’re in crisis to know someone who you suspect is.
CLBC Community Councils
Highlighting the work of Councils and upcoming events
CLBC Community Councils are getting ready to start meeting again this fall. Watch this short video to hear about the important work they’ve accomplished throughout the last year on issues like inclusive housing, aging caregivers, self-advocacy and building relationships with community leaders to promote inclusion and belonging for all people.
Interested in volunteering to create inclusive communities? We invite you to participate in upcoming Community Council events:
- Central Island Council Hosts Arts for Inclusion The CLBC Central Island Community Council is partnering with BC Self Advocacy Leadership Network and Self Advocates of Nanaimo, to co-host Arts for Inclusion. The event aims to bring community together to create art, share a meal, and celebrate community inclusion. Watch a video here to learn more about the event and download the event poster here.Date and time: Tuesday, September 17, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm (PDT)
Location: CLBC Nanaimo Office at 6531 Metral Drive
Save your spot emailing the Community Engagement team at CLBC.Connect@gov.bc.ca.
- Upper Fraser CLBC Community Council Hosts Fall Harvest DanceThe Upper Fraser CLBC Community Council is hosting a Fall Harvest Dance. This is a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend. Download the event poster here.Date and time: Thursday, October 10, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm (PDT)
Location: Legacy Sports Center at 3279 Tretheway Street in Abbotsford
Tree symbolizes community’s roots of inclusion
In late July, the CLBC Kootenay Community Council, City of Trail and Mayor Colleen Jones planted a maple tree to celebrate inclusion and self-advocacy within their community. The plaque at the tree site reads: “This tree symbolizes the roots that persons with diverse abilities have planted to keep our community solid and inclusive.”
Read more about the tree planting and the work of the Kootenay Council here.
Summer fun with South Central Okanagan CLBC Community Council
 In mid-July, the Central and South Okanagan CLBC Community Council hosted a picnic BBQ at the Skaha Lake Pavilion in Penticton. The event was attended by over 70 members of the community, including individuals and families supported by CLBC, service providers and CLBC staff who gathered to enjoy the sunshine, share a meal, play games and celebrate community inclusion.
Read about this community event and find more pictures here.
Learn more about volunteering on a CLBC Community Council here. To connect with a Council near you, contact CLBC.Connect@gov.bc.ca.
Stories and Celebrations
Self-advocacy leader receives royal recognition
At a ceremony yesterday in Nanaimo, self-advocacy leader Amanda Hall, along with three fellow community leaders, was honoured with a King Charles III Coronation Medal. The medal was presented to Amanda by Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, in recognition of her work as an advocate for those with Williams Syndrome, a condition she lives with, along with her countless hours working and volunteering in her community. It has been more than 70 years since the last coronation medals were presented in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
When accepting the medal, Amanda paid tribute to her late mother Wendy who inspired her to stand up for her rights. The results of that dedication are reflected in the medal she received. Congratulations Amanda, your hard work and dedication are truly inspirational!
Read more about Amanda and her fellow medal recipients in the Nanaimo News Now here and in the Nanaimo News Bulletin here. You can also listen to this podcast from CHLY 101.7 FM featuring the story.
Recognizing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month and Day
 September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month and International FASD Awareness Day takes place on Monday, September 9. This day and month are recognized to highlight the importance of not drinking alcohol for the full nine months of pregnancy, as well as to raise awareness of FASD and increase access to diagnosis and support.
The theme for this year’s FASD Awareness Month is Everyone Plays a Part. This theme recognizes that everyone has a role in helping to shape a more equitable future for those with living experience of FASD and for women and gender diverse individuals who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Visit the CanFASD website here to learn more about FASD Awareness Month. The site features a list of different professions and people with practical tips for how to play a part in FASD awareness and prevention. There is also an opportunity to create and share your own video. To participate on social media, use and follow the hastag #FASDMonth2024 and check out CanFASD’s social media toolkit here.
On September 9, and throughout FASD Awareness month, many people wear red shoes to raise awareness and start conversations about FASD. Learn more about the Red Shoes Rock campaign here.
Read the Summer 2024 edition of Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES magazine
 Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES is CLBC’s annual magazine created under the guidance of self-advocate and community living leaders from across the province.
The theme for the Summer 2024 edition of the magazine is Self-Advocacy Leadership. The magazine shares stories from individual leaders and self-advocacy groups who are making an impact in the areas of education, employment, inclusive housing, social connection, mentorship, publishing, policy-making, planning and more.
Read the Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES magazine on the CLBC website here.
Self-Advocate Net wants to hear your story
As we sign off, we want to share a reminder to go visit Self-Advocate Net to read some of the latest stories they’ve published from self-advocates across B.C.
Also, for anyone wanting to share their story, Self-Advocate Net is looking for 250 to 350-word stories of success related to employment, personal growth, advocacy, leadership or learning new things. For stories that are chosen to be published, authors receive $100. Click here to submit a story idea to Self-Advocate Net.
Here’s a great story from Ross Evans called Our Trip to Ireland that we hope you enjoy. Ross is pictured below enjoying his travels.
Until next edition…
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