Dear DABC community,

Happy Holidays!

Please note that Disability Alliance BC will be closed for the holidays from Monday, December 23rd, 2024 – Friday, January 3rd, 2025. Our office will reopen on Monday, January 6th. During this time, we will only be responding to very urgent messages. All other messages will receive a response as soon as possible after we reopen.

Year-End Fundraising Update

Between the spirit of holiday gifting and annual tax planning, December is THE top month for charitable giving each year, accounting for more than a quarter of donations annually to all nonprofits. With the postal strike having put a hold on donations by mail during this usually busiest time for philanthropy, we’re calling on you, our online supporters, to help us bridge this gap with a strong fundraising finish to 2024.

So far this year, thanks to your support DABC has raised $26,647.25 from 263 individual donations. That’s an awesome groundswell of goodwill that has us within reach of a record-breaking $30,000 from 300 donors!

Will you join us now in making this DABC’s best fundraising year ever? No donation is too large or too small to make a difference for people living with disabilities. You can donate here: https://give-can.keela.co/dabc.

With the new Canada Disability Benefit looming on the horizon in 2025, our advocacy is reaching new heights of urgency and impact as the disability community grows and policies strain to meet increasing needs.

Some accomplishments we couldn’t have achieved without your support this year include: updating our online tool for those applying for the Disability Tax Credit, advocating for the removal of the spousal cap for those on provincial disability assistance (and the Province agreeing to work on this as noted in their 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy), and translating our Help Sheets and CPP-D Guides into four other languages: Arabic, Persian, Punjabi and Spanish.

We send our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of our movement, and appreciate any and all financial support at this important time for the disability community and movement for inclusion and equity across BC.

From all of us here at DABC, wishing you and yours a happy and peaceful holiday season!

Open: December 9, 2024
Closes: January 13, 2025
Location: Vancouver, BC
Category: Community and Social Services Job
Type: Full-time
Salary: $54,000

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.

Our mission is to promote a more inclusive and equitable society for people with all disabilities through direct services, community partnerships, systemic advocacy, research, and publications.

Job Description

DABC is seeking a Community Advocate to join our Advocacy Access Team. The Advocate will be responsible for individual and community advocacy relating to provincial disability benefits (known as PWD).

Responsibilities:

• Assist people with disabilities with applications and appeals relating to provincial disability (Persons with Disabilities and Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers)
• Conduct workshops/webinars about provincial 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 PWD/PPMB

Working hours and location

This position is full-time for 5 days per week at 8 hours a day (including 1 hour as a paid lunch break) and is a hybrid work opportunity; the successful candidate may be required to work at the Downtown Vancouver office two or three days a week, and at home the rest of the time. The position may also require occasional travel to other BC communities. During your initial training, you will be required to be in the office 5 days a week until successful completion of training.

The position is located in downtown Vancouver, on the traditional, ancestral and stolen lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

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 provincial disability benefits (PWD/PPMB)
• 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: $54,000 per year

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

• 15 days of paid vacation annually
• 18 days of paid sick leave annually
• 100% of the cost of extended health and dental care benefit premiums
• 2 weeks of paid time off during DABC’s annual holiday office closure in December
• Generous health spending account

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 especially 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 uphold the rights and dignities of people with disabilities.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and brief covering letter addressed to Sharareh Saremi, Program Manager of Advocacy Access at sharareh@dabc.ca – no phone calls please.

Applications are due no later than midnight on January 13, 2025. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.