Winter 2010 Rethinking Your Assets
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Acknowledgements
FEATURES
Editorial
Letter
Financial Literacy and Asset Building
Working for the Right Law Regarding Wrongful Death
Find Goods, Save Money and Connect with Bartering
Tips from BCCPD Volunteers
Once in a Blue Moon
Lotsa Helping Hands
Everyone's Welcome at Pigeon Park Savings
What Needs to Change? How to make it easier for you to build–and keep–your assets
Reducing Hunger with Dignity: Quest Food Exchange
Save with Groupon
Resources
OTHER
BCCPD News
RDSP Gaining Momentum
Living and Loving with MS
Reader Photos
Help Sheets
SPECIAL
Do You Need an Assistive Device?
HEAL Guides
It's All Thanks to You
We also hope to expand your ideas about what assets are. Assets can definitely be financial, but they’re also all the other things we have that enrich our lives and those of people around us. There are strengths we have as a community and as individuals living with a disability.
This edition of Transition is about rethinking our assets. What does this mean to our community? What does this mean to you?
When we started working on this edition, we were interested in looking at how asset building can help people with disabilities living on low incomes. After all, income security issues are one of the main areas of our work at BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) and, over the past year, one of our main projects was the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). We held capacity-building workshops to help our community partners understand the Plan and better help their clients. We produced a guide and videos about the Plan to educate ourselves and the community about how this initiative can help people with disabilities with financial planning–even those on very low incomes.
But we’re living in very challenging times. We’re bombarded with news about how programs and services that are crucial to British Columbians are being cut or downsized because of the economic downturn. Many people with disabilities are already living on extremely low incomes and struggle to afford the basics of nutritious food, warm clothing and decent housing.
So, how can we talk about assets and asset building? As you’ll see from the articles in this edition, there are many ways that we can improve our financial security, even when we are living on a very low income.
One asset the disability community has is its resilience. Over the years, we have seen many rounds of cutbacks and service changes. We struggled together and ultimately weathered the storm through the re-assessment of thousands of people receiving provincial disability benefits in 2002/03. Ultimately, there was a minimal change to the number of people who were eligible for income supports. We continue to work together and to speak out about issues that impact us. We don’t always win, but our resilience keeps us going.
It’s easy to forget what we have and only focus on what we don’t have and what’s not working for us.
And sometimes positive change does occur. For example, the implementation of the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI), through which people with disabilities can access equipment if they have employment or volunteer goals, is a significant step forward for our community. This resilience, this strength–to coin a well-known marketing phrase–is priceless.
Another asset our community has is our partnerships. For example, the BCCPD works closely with organizations to problem solve, fundraise together and brainstorm ideas. We all work in different ways and on different projects, and we learn from and support each other. We are often contacted by other organizations for information or an opinion and the BCCPD also benefits from the expertise of other groups.
What does rethinking our assets mean to us as individuals? Many of us take very little time out of our lives to be mindful of our assets, our strengths. We’re too disheartened, depressed, tired, busy, ill, or worrying about how we can make ends meet. It’s easy to forget what we have and only focus on what we don’t have and what’s not working for us.
It’s important to be realistic about our personal challenges and to take a critical approach to the systemic issues faced by our community. But it’s also important and empowering to think about our assets.
So what are some of these personal assets? They are very individual, but some important ones are:
Taking the time to consider our personal assets helps us to build our resilience and strength which are also assets. There are various strategies to help us rethink our assets or the positive elements of our lives. We may want to tally up at the end of each day two or three experiences that made us feel good about ourselves. Or we may try some simple meditation exercises where we think about our personal assets.
We hope you’ll find the ideas, personal stories and resources in this Transition helpful and maybe even inspiring. As always, we invite you to write to us with your comments and ideas.
And we would like to thank you for your support in 2010 and wish you all the very best for the holidays and the New Year from the BCCPD Board, staff and volunteers.
Johanna Johnson is BCCPD President. Jane Dyson is BCCPD Executive Director and Robin Loxton is Director of BCCPD’s Advocacy Access Program.
BACK TO TOP
Dear BCCPD:
I just wanted to say congratulations on your recent funding from the Law Foundation of BC to revive your Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits program. I have worked in the social service field for three years and have witnessed how incredibly valuable and, in many cases necessary, legal and bureaucratic advocacy is for marginalized people in our society.
Your efforts to secure this funding, so you can continue to do the good work you do, is greatly valued and appreciated.
Any one of us could become severely disabled at any point in our lives. All British Columbians should be proud to know there are services like yours available. Congratulations!
Best regards, Chris Head
by Melanie Buffel
Let’s be honest, if your income is limited, the phrases “financial literacy” or “asset building” may leave you cold.
I don’t blame you. The language of money is foreign, even scary, for many of us. You’re not alone if you’re wondering what all that has to do with you. Well, I’ll tell you. It has everything to do with you, right now and for your future!
We all need to deal with money in order to satisfy our needs and wants. Financial literacy is about finding reliable information, developing strong money skills and having the confidence to make responsible money decisions.
Financial literacy is about finding reliable information, developing strong money skills and having the confidence to make responsible money decisions. Assets aren’t just money. They include stable housing, friends, affordable quality childcare, reliable transportation, healthy self-esteem and skills for employment.
Financial literacy is about finding reliable information, developing strong money skills and having the confidence to make responsible money decisions.
Assets aren’t just money. They include stable housing, friends, affordable quality childcare, reliable transportation, healthy self-esteem and skills for employment.
If you are living on a low income or receiving disability benefits, you may have well developed daily and monthly money management skills. You may know how to stretch a dollar and juggle bills. But if you want to know more, where do you get objective information not designed to sell you anything? The internet and books can both provide a wealth of information about money management, but the financial language they use can be difficult to understand and link to your own life. Money is a sensitive and private subject for many people, so many of us don’t feel comfortable asking friends or family.
The Money Skills program at Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV) works in partnership with community groups across Metro Vancouver to offer a four-session workshop series on money. The workshops are free of charge and provide a fun, interactive environment to share information and learn new money skills. Funding is provided by Vancity Credit Union, with additional support from BC Hydro and Lawson Lundell. BCCPD is sponsoring a Money Skills program, starting in February 2011.
Let me tell you about Joan. Joan signed up for a Money Skills workshop because she wanted to find a place to talk about money, ask questions and not feel alone in her money struggles. Her income is from government benefits and she lives in subsidized housing. Joan is deaf and the agency sponsoring the workshop arranged for a sign language interpreter for her.
Joan learned a great deal from the facilitator and the other people in the class that were in a similar situation. She learned how to read her bank statement and arranged to reduce her monthly banking fees. She also realized that every time she was using the ATM across the street from her apartment, the banks were charging her a $3 fee. When she read her statement, she realized she had paid that fee five times last month. That was $15 in possible savings just by using a different machine to withdraw her money!
For the past year, Joan had avoided answering her phone if she didn’t recognize the number calling. She had received some very stressful phone calls from an aggressive collection agent because of an overdue bill. She couldn’t afford to pay it in full and was frightened by the collector’s threats. Joan felt powerless to do anything except avoid the calls. Whenever the phone rang she was reminded of this stressful situation.
Joan signed up for a Money Skills workshop because she wanted to find a place to talk about money, ask questions and not feel alone in her money struggles. Her income is from government benefits and she lives in subsidized housing.
In the workshop, she learned how to stand up for her rights when receiving collections calls. One of the other participants in the class had a similar situation and when she wrote to the collection agent and requested they contact her in writing only, the collection calls stopped. This gave her a chance to write a letter to the company explaining her situation and negotiate a repayment arrangement she could live with. Joan thought that sounded like a great idea and she looked forward to being able to answer her phone without fear.
The workshop also covered many other topics such as:
So how does asset building fit in? Let’s not confine the definition of assets to just money. Assets can include stable housing, friends, affordable quality childcare, reliable transportation, a healthy self-esteem and skills for employment. Your personal network of friends and family, community organizations and government are also part of your assets.
Using this broader definition of assets, it’s clear that they serve an important role for everyone. Assets act like a cushion to soften the blow of a crisis. Having access to healthcare and a friend to drive you to the doctor are assets. Having money to pay for a taxi ride home late at night is an asset. Having a home to come back to is an asset. Assets can also act like a springboard to allow you to take advantage of life’s opportunities. Having confidence in yourself and your skills can lead you to work, volunteer or take classes.
The biggest thing Joan got from the financial literacy workshop was a sense of hope for her future. She was inspired to set some realistic goals and make a plan to achieve them. She is excited to be saving for a trip to visit her sister in Regina on her next birthday. The workshops also increased her confidence in making money decisions and advocating for herself. She increased her knowledge and put it to good use by taking more control over her money.
In the workshops, Joan also learned about a long-term savings plan, sponsored by the federal government called a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). She learned that this savings plan included a yearly grant of $1000 that could help her save money, even when she didn’t have much to save. She called the BC Coalition for People with Disabilities (BCCPD) and made an appointment to receive personal assistance in setting up this savings plan at the bank. By increasing her financial literacy and building her assets, Joan is well on the road to a more secure financial future.
The Cash Plan program at EMBERS is another asset-building program in Vancouver for people who want to start a business. The program offers financial literacy workshops, business planning support and a matched savings program. Participants attend workshops to develop their money skills, meet with a business advisor and save a minimum of $15 to a maximum of $100 per month. Every dollar that is saved up to $600 is matched with three dollars, earning each person up to $1800. The money is then available for investment into the business, such as buying equipment, raw materials or marketing. To be eligible, you must have a solid business idea and be engaged in a business planning process. The program is funded by Vancity and is connected to a larger network of programs as part of the BC Asset Building Collaborative.
Whether you want to develop your money skills, save for the future or build your assets there are programs in the community to help. Reach out and you may find the results are priceless!
Melanie Buffel has spent the last 20 years working in grass-roots community programs. She is a facilitator in the Money Skills Program at Family Services of Greater Vancouver, coordinator for the BC Asset Building Collaborative and an Associate of Money Coaches Canada, providing one-on-one money coaching services
Budgeting: Track your earning and spending and be in control of your money.
Banking: Choose the options that are right for you, reduce fees and save money.
Credit: Build and maintain a good credit history and deal with debt.
Consumerism: Buy buy buy ! Examine the role of advertising in our spending choices and how to be in charge of your own spending.
Cost: Free
When: Thursdays, February 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2011
Where: BCCPD, #204 - 456 West Broadway, Vancouver
Time: 1pm-3pm
Register early, space is limited.
Call Val at 604-875-0188.
by Bentley Doyle
BCCPD and its partners want a new piece of legislation to provide legal remedies for grieving families after their loved ones are killed due to the negligence and recklessness of others. And it must recognize other forms of loss, such as loss of companionship, protection and guidance.
Is the BC Government ready to make things right regarding wrongful death? Answering that question is no longer limited to a wild guess or hopeful speculation. There is good reason to believe that the Attorney General will introduce new wrongful-death legislation this coming spring, when the legislature resumes.
Will the legislation be good enough? More to the point, will it place value on the lives of citizens with disabilities, children and seniors? That is the key question because–as it stands in British Columbia–children, seniors and people with disabilities are “worthless” in the eyes of the law. That has been the core message from groups, such as the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD), involved with the now five-year-long campaign calling for a Wrongful Death Act to be created in this province. The groups and individuals involved point to the lack of regard the existing legislation has for anyone who isn’t a wage-earner.
BCCPD has been working on this issue in conjunction with the Wrongful Death Law Reform Group, the Trial Lawyers Association of BC and the Coalition Against No-Fault. The Wrongful Death Law Reform Group is represented by family members of wrongful-death victims. Many of the individuals involved gathered together on September 11, at a meeting in Burnaby, to mark the fifth anniversary of their group’s existence and to renew their call for a Wrongful Death Act. The event gained radio and newspaper media coverage. Coincidentally, that very morning, a column in the Vancouver Sun (by Vaughn Palmer) mentioned that wrongful-death legislation is expected to be part of the BC Government’s next legislative session.
Word of potential new legislation is certainly good news, but the real assessment won’t come until the contents of a new act are revealed. BCCPD and its partners want a new piece of legislation to provide legal remedies for grieving families after their loved ones are killed due to the negligence and recklessness of others. And it must recognize other forms of loss, such as loss of companionship, protection and guidance.
In 2008, BCCPD published an anthology of victim stories which included specific recommendations for new legislation. The document is available on the BCCPD’s website.
by Shelley Hourston
A bit of time on the Internet turned up some interesting barter/exchange/swapping opportunities in BC. Visiting these sites, gave me ideas on ways to get things I need, save money and connect with people.
When someone asks about our “assets,” we often think of cars or real estate or a savings account. Many of us think about our lack of assets. I was curious about the formal definition of “assets” and found that it is defined as 1) “a useful or valuable quality” and 2) property and possessions, especially regarded as having value in meeting debts, commitments, etc.”*
Hmmm… could it be that my definition of “asset” is limiting? Is it possible that I have more and different assets than I’d previously thought? A bit of research turned up some intriguing possibilities.
Barter systems have existed in various forms for a long time–some say since about 9000 BC. It’s “a type of trade in which goods or services are exchanged for other goods and services without the use of money.”** In early days, people exchanged tea, spices and food items. We have all bartered or exchanged possessions or services but may not have thought about our willingness to “lend a hand” as an “asset.”
A bit of time on the Internet turned up some interesting barter/exchange/swapping opportunities in BC. Visiting these sites gave me ideas on ways to get things I need, save money and connect with people. Some require a membership fee, but many are free. As always, be cautious about new or unfamiliar services. Talk to friends or neighbours who have used the service or do your research to avoid potential scams.
Organizations on the list below illustrate the range of barter/exchange options available, but are not endorsed by BCCPD.
We’d be interested in hearing about your bartering or exchange experiences. Send your ideas or stories about assets and exchanges to me at wdi@bccpd.bc.ca or 604-875-0188 (toll-free 1-877-232-7400; TTY 604-875-8835).
Canadian bartering community for items and skills. http://swapsity.ca
Website for exchanging items and services. Free membership required; there is a charge for posting real estate, vehicles and boats. http://www.u-exchange.com
“LETS works a little like a baby-sitting club, where members earn credits by babysitting other people’s children, spending whenever they need child minding. Unlike a baby-sitting club, however, LETS extends the range of services to whatever is available locally.” http://www.lets-linkup.com/77-Canada.htm
“A community-based exchange system that provides the means for its users to exchange their goods and services, both locally and remotely.” http://www.community-exchange.org/docs/whatces.htm
List of CES exchanges in Canada: http://www.community-exchange.org/exchparams.asp?country=CA
One-time membership, annual renewal fee and transaction fees apply. http://www.oneworldbarter.com/
Richmond-based business to business exchange. http://www.barterfirst.com/
“An Additional-Economy” offering an “organized and professionally managed system to trade goods and services, without the use of cash.” http://www.canadianbarterexchange.com/
http://www.socialeconomynetwork.ca/node/154
“4,864 groups with 7,603,875 members around the world. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.” http://www.freecycle.org/
Ontario-based organization now Canada-wide for exchange of items or services. http://www.neighbour123.com
*The Canadian Oxford Dictionary. (Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press, 2001).
** Linda Kennedy. “Bartering.” BBC Inside Out. January 29, 2009 http://tinyurl.com/nnj99g
We asked our volunteers for tips on saving money, where to find deals and other ways to stretch your money.
“I read the newspaper to find deals. Mostly I know where to go, and I stick to that. If a friend tells me about a new store with no frills, even if it’s out of my way, I go look.”
“I’m always looking for clothing, food and entertainment. I can’t afford it unless it’s reasonable.”
“You have to quit smoking to be able to afford anything. I wanted new furniture, so I put my smoking money–$5 a day–in a can. I saved up for a couch this way.”
“Typically, I don’t leave money in the bank because of ATM fees. I have a plate with a candleholder on it and I save it under that. It doesn’t exist for me until I need it. I have to think of my savings as already gone.”
“I got a second-hand computer at Reboot. It was great. I get other things second hand, like clothing and household goods. It’s good because it’s not going in the landfill and things are affordable.”
“Some people, like me, are spooked by debt. I used to be that way when I was really into my addiction. But there is a way to get unspooked.”
“Make your savings plan part of your expenses and pay yourself like a bill. My BC Housing comes out of my account and my Hydro, and now my savings does too.”
“I try to grocery shop on sale. Sometimes places like London Drugs will have good deals, even though it’s not a grocery store. And do bulk shopping.”
“Quest [Food Exchange] is good. I like going there.”
“I’ve heard of clothing swaps where you bring items and take away things. I’ve never been to one, but I’d like to. I need to find out where they happen.”
“I used to clean houses or do odd jobs for $20 here and there. I traded chores for a lamp once and that was pretty good.”
The Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI)–the first project of the BC Personal Supports Network (BCPSN)–is a community-based program that provides funding for assistive technology and devices for people with disabilities.
Get in touch with us.
We will help you to brainstorm your equipment needs and goals, and will let you know if you’re eligible for EATI funding. Even if you aren’t, there are still ways we may be able to assist you, such as directing you to one of our Network Partners or other organizations who provide assistive technology. And, the more we know about you and your equipment needs, the more the BCPSN can focus on how we can help people with disabilities receive the supports they need, now and in the future.
Learn more about EATI at www.bcpsn.org, including downloading our Personal Strategy Tool Application Form (where you describe your goals, barriers and equipment needs).
EATI has assisted people to acquire JAWS software, power wheelchairs, van conversions, Dragon Naturally Speaking software, electric door openers, hearing aids,Trekker Breezes and much more.
EATI provides funding for assessments, training, trialling, equipment and assistive technology for people with disabilities.
#103-366 E. Kent Ave. S., Vancouver BC V5X 4N6 Fax: 604-326-0176
We’re always encouraged and grateful when we receive financial support from the community. Thank you to the BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU) for your generous donation to help make this edition of Transition possible.
We’ve changed the look of our email announcements and invite you to sign up through our website. Our Voice is the free, full-colour e-newsletter from the BCCPD you’ll receive about every 8 weeks. It includes community updates, resources, and tools.
So far, Our Voice has included updates on free one-to-one RDSP assistance, new publications about HEAL-ing, free energy kits, funding for assistive equipment, the Woodlands Survivors compensation deadline, and our Canada-wide Emergency Preparedness plans. As well, we highlight Transition articles to share them with Our Voice subscribers. To sign up, please visit www.bccpd.bc.ca and type in your email address in the box: "Sign up for our Email newsletter" on the right. We will not share your information.
“I’ve noticed that the people who live fulfilling lives despite their illness or disability...have a toolkit that includes knowledge about their disability or illness, skills to advocate for themselves and others, and leadership qualities that channel their experience and knowledge to shine a light for others.” An excerpt from the article Surviving Change: Five Tools for Resilience in the October issue of Our Voice.
Another way to stay current is to visit our website often. We post a range of information that you can read, download or find on our community partners’ websites. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. So stay in touch.
Thanks to our community partner BC Rehab Foundation. Together, we’re helping people with disabilities to get the assistive devices they need to live and participate in our communities independently.
Thanks to BC Rehab’s generosity, we’re able to have an advocate on staff who specializes in finding resources to fund specialized equipment.
Do you like taking photos? We’d love to publish your pictures in a future Transition–either in print or online. Email us your photos, along with a short caption and your name, and you may see them in Transition. Please send photos, in high resolution .jpg format if you can, to: trans@bccpd.bc.ca.
Join other readers who have switched from receiving Transition in print to reading us electronically. Here’s how you can make the switch:
And, if you still want to receive Transition by mail, that’s ok too.Save a tree, save BCCPD money and still receive all Transition issues. A big thank you to subscribers who have already switched!
Need legal help? Or legal information on tenants’ rights or disability benefits? Visit Clicklaw, a user-friendly website funded by the Law Foundation of BC, that compiles information from many sources, including BCCPD. Visit their main site at www.clicklaw.bc.ca or their new YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/clicklaw.
by Anahi English
Blue Moon is suited to Richard’s mobility challenges and to the Zacks’ commitment to giving back to the community. They wanted to provide shopping and delivery services for people with disabilities and seniors.
In 2003, Richard Zacks was diagnosed with a debilitating disease that limited his mobility. A painter for nearly 25 years, Richard’s life was changing dramatically.
He needed a new vocation and, in 2007, along with his wife Billie, they started Blue Moon Personal Shopping and Delivery Services. Blue Moon is suited to Richard’s mobility challenges and to the Zacks’ commitment to giving back to the community. They wanted to provide shopping and delivery services for people with disabilities and seniors.
Recently, Blue Moon approached Vancity for a loan to buy a new vehicle for their delivery business and for a line of credit to help with working capital. Their loan was approved through the Be My Own Boss Microloan and ABLED program–Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities.
Vancity knows that small businesses face many challenges, including accessing start up or expansion financing. In addition to those challenges, Vancity recognizes that entrepreneurs with disabilities may experience difficulty accessing coaching or business support that considers the whole needs of the entrepreneur, including disability accommodations.
This is why Vancity, in partnership with Western Economic Diversification, offer ABLED services. ABLED provides coaching and support services to entrepreneurs who may qualify for a microloan for their business plans. Since 2001, Vancity has funded over $13 million in loans to small businesses through our microloan program. Through ABLED, 60 small businesses have benefited from $1 million and our business support services, many of them just like Richard Zacks and Blue Moon.
Blue Moon has allowed Richard and Billie to develop solid personal relationships with their customers and create a reliable client base. With the Vancity loan, Blue Moon will now be able to expand services throughout the Lower Mainland. And, ABLED services will be partnering Blue Moon with a business advisor for coaching and mentoring services.
The Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program provides microloans that start at $5,000 and can go up to $35,000 for a start-up business.
To qualify, entrepreneurs must show business viability by providing a business plan, cash-flow projections, and a strong commitment and entrepreneurial drive to make their business succeed. Entrepreneurs must also meet all other requirements stated by the microloan application.
Eligible applicants who self-identify as having a permanent or long-term disability can receive funding for pre- or post-business launch support.
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If you would like more information on the Be My Own Boss Loan and ABLED program, please contact Anahi English or Brian Cade at 604.709.6940 or email abled@vancity.com.
You can also visit https://www.vancity.com/MyBusiness/BusinessFinancing/CommunityBusinessLoans/ABLED/.
If you would like to contact Blue Moon Personal Shoppers and Delivery, call 778-848-0487.
Anahi English is the Microfinance Program Officer at Vancity Savings Credit Union.
BCCPD’s HEAL project has published five HEAL (Health Education, Advocacy, and Leadership) guides.
Available on our website on this Health and Wellness Publications page, the first five titles in the HEAL series are:
HEAL Guides provide information from experts and researchers, as well as people living with chronic health issues and disabilities. They offer a selection of short “keys”: facts, research findings, experiences, perspectives and insights about living with one or a combination of chronic health conditions or disabilities.
If you don’t have access to the Internet, contact Shelley at BCCPD to have a copy mailed to you. Phone 604-875-0188 in Vancouver or toll-free 1-877-232-7400 or email wdi@bccpd.bc.ca.
We’re extremely pleased at the response to our RDSP project and want to encourage even more people with disabilities to look into the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
RDSPs are a savings vehicle developed by the federal government specifically for people with disabilities, and it includes government grants and bonds for people who are eligible. This includes people who are receiving provincial disability benefits.
Here are ways you can find out more on our website at www.bccpd.bc.ca/rdsp.htm:
Thanks to the many organizations who requested our RDSP Kits that include all our materials, including a DVD copy of the RDSP Video Series. We appreciate their support.
Extended to February 2011
Through a partnership with Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN), we are also providing individual assistance–in person, by phone or by email. You can learn about the RDSP, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and decide if an RDSP is a good asset-building option for you.
Call 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278 or email rdsp@bccpd.bc.ca.
Our thanks to the Law Foundation of BC for their generous support of our RDSP project.
Kickstart has collaborated with five of Vancouver’s finest theatres to offer an ambitious schedule of live audio description for theatrical performances. Contact our partners at Vancouver Playhouse, The Arts Club, Gateway Theatre, Presentation House and Touchstone Theatre to book your seats for their audio described performances! From classics like Death of a Salesman and musicals like The Fantasticks and Hairspray to perennial favourites like Brighton Beach Memoirs, EarSighted’s inaugural theatre season has everything a theatre lover could ask for.
Audio description brings the sets, lighting, costumes, and action of a theatre performance alive for blind and visually impaired audience members. Kickstart has trained a team of professionals who provide key action and other visual information, between the actor’s lines, through a wireless transmitter to a single earpiece worn by the recipient. Description begins 15 minutes prior to curtain, with an introduction to the overall production and design concept, and more.
See more at http://www.kickstart-arts.ca/audio-description.html.
by Amber M. Louie
One of my closest friends was seriously injured in a car accident last winter. He was going to need ongoing support during his recovery and it was time for our community to gather around him. A wonderful tip from a friend introduced us to the Lotsa Helping Hands website.
Lotsa Helping Hands is a free website that allows you to create a private, web-based community to organize people during times of need. It’s hard asking for help and it was much easier having an organized site to invite people to. It can be used for various needs such as eldercare, volunteer coordination, faith-based groups and parenting. And yes, it’s free!
We were able to create different categories of help: daily visits, meals, shopping, rides to doctor appointments and dog walking. Then people signed themselves up to do the tasks. Helping Hands automatically sends out reminder emails to volunteers one week and one day before their shift. Under “Meals,” it has space to include allergies and nutrition needs. Under “Appointment rides,” it pulls up a map for the driver. There are also a many areas for keeping information on medications, emergency contacts, etc.
Times of crisis can be overwhelming and exhausting. When I didn’t know where to begin, this was a ready-made tool to start keeping track of what sorts of help and information might be needed. Lotsa Helping Hands is so useful because it is set up specifically for organizing caregiving. It is named and designed in the spirit of building community. And it’s a time-saver!
Because it’s online, I was able to call on a friend out of town to help set up the calendar. We found it intuitive and easy to use. There was even space to post a message that home visits were reserved just for closer friends and family, to allow for privacy during a difficult time. It was wonderful because co-workers and acquaintances could still help in tangible ways like walking the dog or bringing a meal.
It was a huge relief and it was heart-warming to receive notifications each time someone signed up and seeing the calendar was filled for the week. The contact list also helped me collect phone numbers for staying in touch. When people needed help signing up, it was a way to get to know people a little better, so it also really helped strengthen the support network. And I had an instant answer when so many people asked, “How can I help?”
I highly recommend Lotsa Helping Hands to anyone coordinating caregiving on an ongoing basis. The main challenge is that the system is new to people, with a two-step process to sign in, that not everyone will complete. But the more people you invite, the greater the chances that folks will use it.
It does have extra features for announcements, well-wishes, photos and vital info, but it was faster for us to use a Facebook group and Google docs which people are already familiar with.
And we still kept an old-fashioned wall calendar in the house for extra reminders, like prescription refills and birthdays, because the Internet just can’t replace a cute calendar on the wall!
www.lotsahelpinghands.com
by Liz Evans
Run by the PHS Community Services Society in partnership with Vancity, Pigeon Park Savings was created with the goal of achieving equality in financial services.
This unique financial institution provides access to basic banking for Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES) residents who otherwise could not open a bank account due to their homelessness, mental health disability or addictions.
Most people wouldn’t think that the simple act of opening a bank account would cause someone to feel either rejected or accepted by society. But for thousands of low-income community residents, opening a bank account is anything but simple, and outright rejection is the norm.
More traditional banks require that clients have valid ID and a fixed address in order to open an account, and the tellers aren’t experienced with clients who are battling with mental health and addictions. In contrast, the Pigeon Park Savings staff has extensive experience working with many different people and, if someone doesn’t have ID, the staff will work with other agencies in the DTES to help obtain it. An account at the Pigeon Park Savings ensures that members aren’t at the mercy of prohibitively expensive cheque cashing outfits and people don’t have to carry or hide large sums of cash. But for its members, Pigeon Park Savings is more than just a place to keep their money safe.
A bank account is symbolic of membership in society. For people who have, at so many levels, been told they don’t belong, membership in a bank can have a positive impact on self-esteem. The staff at Pigeon Park Savings focuses on creating relationships with their members and are on a first name basis with many of the regular monthly clients. This welcoming, respectful atmosphere helps develop trust, so many of the account holders feel comfortable asking for the staff’s help with budgeting and money management.
Pigeon Park Savings acts as an example of how well things can work when we change the paradigm of how we offer services to those in need: instead of forcing individuals to meet the requirements of service agencies or government in order to get basic needs met, we can create flexible services to meet our clients’ needs.
Pigeon Park Savings is open 11:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, and 12:00pm to 6:00pm on Fridays. An account package is available for a flat fee of $5 per month, including cheque cashing, unlimited withdrawals, bill payments, money orders and ATM card access. Pigeon Park Savings also provides cheque-cashing services to non-members for a flat fee of $2.99 per cheque. For more information, drop by the branch at 92 East Hastings in Vancouver or call 604-678-8276.
Liz Evans is Executive Director of the PHS Community Services Society.
by Nancy Chamberlayne M.Ed.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) invaded our relationship twenty-three years ago when I was diagnosed. It affects not only my life, but my husband’s too. We have to consider MS when making almost every decision. If given the opportunity, MS could consume our lives. But we don’t let that happen and neither do the five other couples I interviewed.
Not surprisingly, every couple emphasized the importance of effective communication. If you don’t talk about issues and listen to each other, problems will never be solved. We all agreed that not letting problems build, avoiding blame and agreeing to disagree can lessen conflict.
Asking if it’s a good time to talk or setting time aside for talking helps. I know not to bombard my husband with household, financial or social concerns when he walks in the door from work! One couple talks things out when he assists her with her morning stretches. Another couple finds themselves staying up late, talking into the night. Two husbands give their wives clues for finding a particular word when there are memory lapses.
Four couples pointed out that when they get angry, it’s often at the MS, not their partner. My husband and I take this a step further by separating the behaviour from the value of the person. So, I know that when my husband is upset with me or I with him, it’s with each other’s actions. I’ve come to learn that my husband doesn’t love me any less when I irritate him by repeatedly asking him to do a chore. He just doesn’t like how I acted. This knowledge gives us both the opportunity to change our behaviour.
Making time for fun is a priority. It allows us to forget that we have MS, even though play needs to be more planned because of the disease. And, humour helps all of us; it takes away the seriousness when we laugh with each other.
Four of the couples felt strongly that they needed to give their partner “personal space.” They saw it as a form of respect. One man said, “My world may have shrunk, but I don’t want my wife to not fully participate in life.”
Spending time volunteering for the local MS Chapter and an environmental organization has helped two couples forget their own challenges.
Throughout the interview process, I saw the mutual respect demonstrated by each couple. I could see that just because one person has a disability that didn’t mean that person was “less than” in the relationship.
Of course, everyone dislikes MS, but we’ve decided to make the most of what we have. Living one day at a time, keeping things simple and being positive help us focus on what we can do, not what we can’t.
What makes all these strategies so effective is that each couple looks beyond the MS and sees the person, not the disease. They believe that the MS is just one small part of the relationship.
I would like to thank Sharon and Kaj Kristiansen, Heather and Gimi Mior, Greg and Rosella Wright, Sheryl and Jeff Owens, Don and Kate Dufour and Gary Neilson for their very open and honest contributions to this article. We are all members of the South Island MS Chapter of the MS Society of Canada.
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by Jack Styan, Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network
Our quality of life is improved and we are able to weather the ups and downs in life when we have more assets–like friends, family, creativity, job skills–and financial assets like savings, a trust, a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), secure housing or a business.
The articles in this Transition are conveying the idea that there are a whole range of things in our lives that are assets. At PLAN, we’ve been doing a lot of work on financial assets for people with disabilities, including the RDSP, and we see the importance of these assets to families every day.
If you receive provincial disability assistance (PWD), the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) allows you to save money without jeopardizing your disability income. The money you save in an RDSP, and the money you withdraw from an RDSP, will not reduce or stop your PWD benefits.
In addition to an RDSP, you are allowed to have up to $3,000 in savings (this amount includes other assets that can be turned into cash), household items, a car, and you can own a home if you live in it. If you receive a large lump-sum payment, such as an inheritance, you can put this money into a trust or RDSP (or both). These are all considered exempt assets by the Ministry of Social Development.
You can also transfer one kind of exempt asset to another without penalty. For example, if you sell your car you can put the proceeds into an RDSP or a trust.
You can also earn up to $500 each month without deductions from your PWD cheque. Some other kinds of income are totally exempt, such as GST credits and the Working Income Tax Benefit. If you have a trust, disbursements are exempt if they are for disability-related services, and you can spend up to $5,484 per year on anything that promotes your independence.
Why, then, don’t more people accumulate more assets? Why is it that people seem to live so close to the edge? We’ve spoken with many people about this issue and here are some of the reasons that people give for not saving.
While almost everyone agrees that changes to encourage people to save would be beneficial, not everyone agrees what those changes would look like.
PLAN has pulled a group of community organizations together to explore this complex question. Our very early thinking suggests that the solution would include some of the following.
We need to remove the disincentives to working and saving. It’s human nature to want to benefit from our efforts. Asset and income rules could, instead, be used to create incentives for working and saving.
Changing one program to encourage people to save will not be effective if the savings result in a disincentive in another program. For example, changes to disability benefits would need to be complemented by changes to the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement.
People need to have the confidence that their hard work today will benefit them not only today, but also looking forward. That means they need to be able to trust that governments will not change the rules sometime in the future.
We need to simplify information and provide learning opportunities for people to be able to assess future benefits.
Many families and friends have assets and want to assist their loved ones with disabilities, but are deterred by the rules. We need to remove barriers that deter people from assisting people they care for.
Please visit us at www.plan.ca to learn more about this project and other ways we can help you and your family plan for the future.
Our thanks to the Law Foundation of BC for its support of this work.
Without the basic necessity of sufficient food, people face many avoidable difficulties.
Quest rescues food from every sector of the local food industry that might otherwise go to waste. Food is then sorted, processed and redistributed to organizations and people who need it most.
Quest helps to provide food assistance to individuals and families in the Lower Mainland through our partnered Social Service Agencies, like BCCPD. Quest encourages a healthy and balanced lifestyle by providing nutritious recipes and encouraging self-prepared meals, using the groceries that are provided in our stores.
There are four food distribution programs to ensure that people living on low income have access to affordable, healthy food.
Quest operates a low-cost grocery store where clients can shop by referral. This store is not open to the public at large. Three store locations offer food such as fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, bread, desserts, meat, canned goods, vitamins and household accessories.
Quest provides a wide selection of fresh, frozen, canned, dry and seasonal food products, as well as snacks, pop and candy. They provide food for community kitchens, food banks, residence programs and other food programs.
Social Service Agencies can purchase gift certificates to distribute to their own clients.
Quest’s Community Kitchen serves as a complement program to their low-cost food stores. Using excess food that would have otherwise gone to waste in their stores, the kitchen prepares ready-to-eat meals for individuals to purchase in their stores and for Social Service Agencies to purchase for their clients.
To access Quest’s low-cost food stores, you need to:
Quest has over 400 partner agencies in the Lower Mainland. To find an agency near you, visit the Quest website “Partners” page where you’ll see a Google map listing all agencies and their locations. Individuals and organizations can contact Quest for more information.
Quest Food Exchange
It couldn’t happen to a nicer gal! Our best wishes to BCCPD President Johanna Johnson on her recent engagement to Greg Doheny.
Groupon features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in your city. By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, you get discounts you won’t find anywhere else. It’s called “collective buying power”!
You sign up for Groupon. It’s free.Each day Groupon sends an email to you that features something you can buy at an unbeatable price. You only get it if enough people also buy the item.
Just click “BUY” before the offer ends at midnight. If the minimum number of people sign up, Groupon charges your credit card and sends you a link to print your Groupon.
No. Many Groupons have an expiration date, but you never have to use them on the date of purchase.
Set up your free Groupon account at www.groupon.com. There are Groupon communities in cities around the world.
The Best Journey to Adult Life (2009) (Guide)
“The Best Journey to Adult Life for Youth with Disabilities” is a model that represents the developmental process of a young person’s life course, with the transition to adulthood depicted as an important “journey.” Best Practice Guidelines for the transition have been written using the words of youth, parents, community members, service providers, educators and researchers in Ontario, Canada. The Guidelines are organized into six themes: Collaboration, Capa-city-building, Navigation, Education, Information and Research. http://transitions.canchild.ca/en/OurResearch/resources/BJAmodelandbestpracticeguidelinespdf2009.pdf
Think-Plan-Do Encourages Self-Determination (June 2009)(Guide)
The State of California Department of Developmental Services has released a guide with leadership tips, from decision-making to managing money, for people with disabilities. The Think-Plan-Do guide presents a simple plan for participating in the direction of one’s own future and establishing leadership goals. The guides are divided into four areas, covering 15 topics. http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/ThinkPlanDo.cfm.
Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)
Western Canadians who have a disability can access a network of business professionals and a world of resources through Western Economic Diversification Canada’s EDP. The program provides western Canadians with disabilities easy access to business information, training and development, mentoring and one-on-one counselling services, and financing in their pursuit of self-employment and entrepreneurship. In rural communities, the program is delivered through Community Futures offices. http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/273.asp.
CONNECTRA: Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities
ConnecTra is a connecting agency, linking people with disabilities to activities and programs that will allow them to gain confidence and become more active and involved in community life. It also includes a self-employment group Abilities Business Co-op. http://www.connectra.org/employment-training.html.
BC Asset Building Collaborative
BCABC supports and encourages low income earners, and others in poverty, to accumulate, develop and preserve all types of assets, through asset building programs delivered through local community service agencies. http://www.bcassetbuilding.ca/.
Vancity ABLED Program
ABLED provides entrepreneurs with funding for pre- and post-business launch support tailored to the realities of entrepreneurs with disabilities. Eligible loan applicants can receive funding for: business planning training, business coaching or mentoring services, business counseling.https://www.vancity.com/ and search for “ABLED.”
Thanks to Transition reader, Man-kay Koon, for sending in his photos. Click on the photos below to see his beautiful shots.
BCCPD’s Advocacy Access Program has 14 Help Sheets explaining various aspects of BC Disability Benefits.
All of our Help Sheets are available for download from this page free of charge.
We are also happy to mail these publications at no cost to individuals and groups.
Also available:
BC211 and United Way are very pleased to announce that Lower Mainland residents are now able to access 211 services that:
Dial 211 to speak with an Information Specialist. Services are free, confidential, multilingual and available 24/7.
E-mail help@bc211.ca with your stories, questions or comments and BC211 will reply within 24 hours with information, options and referrals.
Look it up in the Red Book Online–http://www.bc211.ca/redbook2.html–with over 11,000 listings of community, social and government services in the Lower Mainland.
Here are just some of the successes we’ve had this year at BCCPD thanks to our donors’ financial support:
We helped people across BC with provincial disability benefits, CPP disability, health benefits, housing and more.
More people with disabilities are planning for their financial security with Registered Disability Savings Plans.
14% more people used our Help Sheets on disability benefits and other supports.
People living with HIV/AIDS have five new health guides to “help, educate and inspire.”
Our referrals connected people to information and supports, province-wide.
We’re proud to be co-creators of the new BCPSN that is assisting people to find and fund assistive technology.
For these reasons and more, your donations are needed. Your support goes directly to our core services and programs.
To donate or join our monthly Visionaries Circle, please contact us at 605-875-0188 or feedback@bccpd.bc.ca. Or, you can donate in seconds through our website at www.bccpd.bc.ca/supportdonate.htm. Together, we’re building “Our Voice in the Community.
Editorial Statement The views and opinions expressed within the pages of Transition are not necessarily those held by the total membership or Board of Directors. The material presented herein is meant to be thought-provoking and to promote dialogue. Transition is a forum to share information within the disability community, and with government and the general public. It is also an opportunity for people with disabilities to display creative talent.
Disclaimer Any firm or company advertising in Transition is for our readers’ benefit and does not constitute an endorsement by the BCCPD.
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Our 2012 CPP Series guides are now available in English, Punjabi and Traditional Chinese.
See our multilingual publications .
9-1-1 and You
Be Prepared
George Pearson Centre, gardens, orchards....find out about a wonderful new project here.
See our Disability Benefits Help Sheets , including new Chinese and Punjabi translations.
And, give us your feedback on our Help Sheets by July 31, 2012, and you'll be eligible to win a $20 gift certificate to Starbucks or London Drugs. Follow the link above and click on 'BC Disability Benefits | Help Sheets.'
BCCPD Online
Open an RDSP
The Registered Disability Savings Plan can benefit people regardless of their income. Learn more.