To help British Columbia residents with physical disabilities regain their ability to travel independently, March of Dimes Canada, through the Istvan and Barbara Haas Vehicle Retrofit Fund, will provide up to $15,000 to retrofit a vehicle. This is the second time this competition has run in British Columbia. The application deadline is February 16, 2014.

The funding is intended to provide vehicle modifications for an eligible individual or family to enable a person with disabilities that restrict mobility to participate in his/her community. 

For information on eligibility and to access the application forms, please visit March of Dimes’ website here or contact:

Istvan and Barbara Haas Vehicle Retrofit Initiative 
301 – 1212 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3V1
haasretrofit@marchofdimes.ca
Tel: 604-738-6219
Fax: 519-432-4923

The Province announced yesterday that it will implement an Annualized Earnings Exemption (AEE) model in January 2015. This means that the $800 monthly earnings exemption that PWD recipients are eligible for will be calculated over the year ($9,600) rather than the month. This will provide much more flexibility and choice and is a positive change. If you have any questions about this, please call Robin Loxton at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278.

For more information, please visit this link: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2014/12/flexibility-helps-people-with-disabilities-earn.html

DABC has been notified about the We Connect Now website, which “is dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.”

From the creator of the website: “I developed the website to connect and integrate college students with disabilities as a virtual community with a voice on important issues with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment. The We Connect Now website has been up and serving college students with disabilities since April of 2008.”

Website link: http://weconnectnow.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Connect-Now-National/136925609714725