The Two of a Kind Buddy Initiative under the nonprofit organization Disable the Difference® is a pioneering initiative to close the distance that many of us are experiencing at the moment, especially for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other special needs. Especially during COVID-19, where many youth with special needs cannot go to school or receive at-home care, parents are bearing much of this extra weight and students aren’t able to be their best academically, socially, and behaviorally. The initiative aims to increase support for youth with special needs and their families, providing them with online opportunities to interact with others, receive mentorship, and have fun throughout the summer and into next year!

Link to Application for Volunteers: https://forms.gle/8Wd29hxCrJvUZFEq6

Link to Application for Parents of Youth: https://forms.gle/X8vmaE5P2sP6ju497

The goal of the BC Public Advisory Network (BC-PAN) is to encourage more comprehensive and meaningful public engagement on important issues related to health-care regulation in BC. BC-PAN is seeking public members, who are asked to provide their feedback on a variety of topics to help guide professional standards and policies, strategic priorities, and communications directed at the public. Compensation will be provided.

For more information and to apply: https://www.bcpan.ca/

BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner released their excellent policy guidance on mask-wearing yesterday.

Read it here: https://bchumanrights.ca/news/b-c-human-rights-commissioner-issues-guidance-on-covid-19-mask-policies/