Over several dates in September, in a variety of BC locations, volunteer lawyers will be providing free legal advice to low-income clients. This marks the 10th anniversary of Access Pro Bono’s free legal advice-a-thon! For more information, visit: http://advice-a-thon.ca/

Statistics Canada released a new report today that examined the relationship between low income and the characteristics of people with a disability aged 25 to 64.

Here are some interesting statistics from the study:

• In 2014, persons with a disability accounted for approximately one‑fifth of the overall population aged 25 to 64.
• Among those without employment, 22% of people without a disability were in low income, compared with 35% for those with a physical–sensory disability, 46% for those with a mental–cognitive disability and 47% for those who had a combination of both.

To read more, please visit this link: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2017001/article/54854-eng.htm. 

Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB) Train the Trainer Workshop

Date: Tuesday, September 5 – Friday, September 8, 2017
Time: Tuesday and Wednesday – 10:00 – 4:00, Thursday and Friday – 3:00 – 7:00
Location: Victoria Disability Resource Centre (817a Fort St.)

This four-day free workshop is for individuals interested in becoming an instructor for the PTCB.  We are looking for blind or partially sighted adults who have independent blindness skills in at least two of the following areas: Braille, travelling with a white cane, accessing technology through a screen reader and independent life skills.

The workshop will include:

1. The Foundation: including founding principles of the PTCB, its philosophy and code of ethics
2. Training Basics: including the structured discovery model, use of sleep shades, peer trainers, the long white cane and problem solving
3. Assessment and Goal Setting
4. Lesson Planning
5. Specific Training Techniques and Tools
6. PTCB Policy and Best Practices

The workshop will include discussions, demonstrations, hands-on exercises and assignments.  Participants will be expected to attend all Train the Trainer sessions and will be evaluated throughout the week.

For more information, and to download the application form, please click here.  You can also call: 250-580-4910 or email: lbartram@telus.net  or info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca