Job Posting: Community Advocate for DABC

Who We Are

Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.

We work to support people with all disabilities to live with dignity, independence and as equal and full participants in the community.

Job Description

DABC is seeking a part-time Community Advocate to join our Advocacy Access Team. The Advocate will be responsible for individual and community advocacy relating to federal Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist people with disabilities with applications and appeals relating to Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefits
  • Conduct workshops/webinars about CPP-D disability benefits for community organizations, people with disabilities, healthcare professionals, and other interested individuals and groups
  • Be a provincial resource for community advocates and individuals on policy and legislation governing CPP-D

Working hours:

  • This position is part-time for 3 days per week at 8 hours a day (including 1 hour as a paid lunch break).

The successful applicant must:

  • Have a minimum 2 years combined post-secondary education and/or applicable work experience
  • Have strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate complex concepts in plain language
  • Be able to work effectively with people with disabilities from a client-centered approach
  • Be self-motivated, adaptable, and able to work effectively with a team
  • Have strong analytical and research skills
  • Have excellent organizational skills
  • Be computer literate and proficient with word-processing software including the Microsoft Office Suite
  • Maintain the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive client information

The following are strong assets for this position: 

  • Experience with CPP-D and other disability benefits
  • Experience in the non-profit sector
  • Background in law, social work, or a related field
  • Lived experience with a disability and/or supporting people with disabilities
  • Experience with legal research
  • Understanding of anti-oppression principles

Salary: $28,800 per year

The position is located in Vancouver, on the Unceded, Traditional, and Ancestral Territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Peoples.

This position offers a hybrid work opportunity; the successful candidate may be required to work at the office (located in downtown Vancouver) one or two days a week, and at home the rest of the time. The position may also require occasional travel to other BC communities.

This position offers the following benefits after a three-month probationary period:

  • 9 days of paid vacation annually
  • 11 days of paid sick leave annually
  • 100% of the cost of extended health and dental care benefits
  • 2 weeks of paid time off during DABC’s annual holiday office closure in December.

DABC is an open and diverse organization that promotes inclusive hiring practices. We encourage applications from qualified applicants who identify as visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and of all sexual orientations, gender expressions and identities. People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Importantly, we are looking for people who want to make a long term commitment to our organization and have a strong desire to assist people with disabilities.

100% of DABC’s staff and volunteers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Many of the clients that DABC serves have medical conditions which make them vulnerable and more susceptible to severe symptoms of COVID-19, and so it is vital that DABC strives to protect our clients from risk of transmission. It is DABC’s policy to request that all new employees be fully vaccinated and therefore the successful applicant for this position will be asked for proof of vaccination upon hiring.  

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and brief covering letter addressed to Sharareh Saremi, Program Manager of Advocacy Access at sharareh@disabilityalliancebc.org No phone calls or faxes please. 

Applications are due no later than midnight on August 10, 2022. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. Interviews will be conducted at the end of August and the position start date will be in mid September 2022.

Research Study: Survey and Interview on Disability and Reproductive Health during COVID-19 in Canada

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Identify or may be identified as having a disability
  • Identify as a woman, trans, or non-binary person
  • Are 18 years or older
  • Live and receive health care in Canada

What will you be doing?

  • You have the option of completing a 20-minute survey and/or a 1-hour interview about your reproductive health and the health care services you received since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • You can do the study, or not do the study. The choice you make will not impact the services you use now or later.

How will it work?

  • The survey can be done by you online, by telephone or Zoom with a researcher at a time that works for you.
  • The interview can also be done by telephone or Zoom.
  • You are welcome to do both the survey and the interview.
  • If you need any supports or accommodations to participate, please let us know.

What are the benefits of participating?

What you share about your reproductive health experiences during COVID-19 will help make services better for other people during and beyond the pandemic. You will receive a $15 gift card for the survey and a $40 gift card for the interview, to thank you.

Contact us Email wiresearch.utsc@utoronto.ca or call 647-601-4519. Visit our website for more information: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/projects/disabilitySRH

Notes

“Reproductive health” includes experiences related to contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer screening, violence, pregnancy, postpartum health, and the health of your children.

“Disability” comprises a range of disabilities, including those who self-identify as disabled and/or d/Deaf. This definition is inclusive of those who have yet to receive an official diagnosis. We have chosen to be as inclusive as possible, consistent with our commitment to include those with disabilities who remain invisible and uncounted.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board #42194.

Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough have partnered with the Disabled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada to design and run this study. This study is funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Update re: In-person appointments at DABC 

After much discussion and consideration of the risks associated with COVID-19 as well as the needs of clients who require in-person support, DABC’s office will re-open soon to some clients. We will be re-opening using a staggered approach to lessen risk and allow us to adjust to welcoming clients to a new space. This means that some programs will start welcoming clients in-person before other programs. 

The first program to start taking in-person appointments will be Tax AID DABC. Other programs will tentatively start welcoming clients later in the summer, dependent on COVID-19 transmission levels and guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control.  

DABC will continue to offer remote appointments. Most of our staff will be offering both in-person and remote appointments going forward, in order to reduce the number of people in the office at any one time. This means that in-person appointments will be at certain times throughout the week depending on our staff schedule. Please expect that if you require an in-person appointment, there may be a longer wait time. 

Screening for cold or flu like symptoms will be carried out by our reception staff and advocates, and all health and safety measures will be posted online and in-person at our office. We have a communicable disease prevention plan in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. This involves detailed health and safety measures such as sanitization of surfaces, the use of air purifiers, physical distancing, and the requirement for all staff and volunteers to wear masks. Any clients booking an in-person appointment will also be expected to wear a mask at this time. If a client arrives at the DABC office, they will be provided with a mask to wear. 

Clients will not be forced to have an in-person appointment – it will be entirely optional. As we start to open up our office to the public, we may need to prioritize in-person appointments for those that need one. If a client is able to take a remote appointment, they should consider this an option. 

If any clients are sick, ie: experiencing cold/flu like symptoms, they should stay home; their appointment will be rescheduled to a later date. Clients can rest assured that all DABC staff and volunteers will stay home when they are sick as well. 

Clients will not be able to meet with advocates in-person unless they have booked an appointment – there will not be any walk-in appointments available. 

Thank you very much for your understanding and patience.