Save the date! Dec 3rd this year is both International Day for Persons with Disabilities, AND Giving Tuesday – the biggest day of the year for charitable giving. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to donate to DABC, this moment of global generosity is a great opportunity to be a part of big impact.

Last year on Giving Tuesday, Canadians donated $50 million through 10,000 charities in 24 hours! Thanks to your support, DABC raised $3,825 from 24 donors including members, volunteers, staff, friends and allies. This year, will you join us with a contribution towards our 2024 goal of $5,000?

Whether you choose to give to our new Disability Tax Credit Medical Fees Fund, or our General Fund for most urgent needs, every dollar helps and is greatly appreciated! Click the following link to join us in making this Dec. 3 the best yet for people with disabilities: https://give-can.keela.co/dabc.

DABC has recently updated our Mission, Vision and Values to better reflect and and make clear who we are as an organization:

Vision Statement

Our vision is for people, with all disabilities, to live with dignity, independence, and as equal and full participants in the community. We envision a future where people with disabilities are recognized for their inherent worth as individuals, and as valued members of society.

Mission Statement

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.

Values

The below values capture the fundamental principles and beliefs that guide our organization. We have selected values which reflect our dedication to upholding equity, inclusion and diversity within our organization, and in our interactions with our clients and the larger community.

• Accountability

The perspectives of people with disabilities is central to our work. We honour each person’s individual experience with disability and respect their right to have their voice heard.

As we progress and learn as an organization, we will strive to hold ourselves accountable to our clients, funders, and community at large for our behavior, governance, and quality of services that DABC provides.

• Mutual Support

When one person in the community experiences oppression, it impacts the entire community. Recognizing that we live in an ableist society which places emphasis on individualism we believe that fostering a culture of mutual support and interdependence will make us and our community stronger as a whole.

We acknowledge that mutual support is not always a balanced relationship —some individuals may shoulder more responsibility for providing support or education based on their lived experiences. Our goal is to cultivate a culture of mutual support that minimizes these imbalances wherever possible.

• Reconciliation

DABC recognizes that the oppression of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is deeply rooted in colonialism and persists today in many different forms. Routinely, this oppression expresses itself as violence against Indigenous Peoples, the violation of traditional lands, and systemic oppression involving various institutions.

We recognize the rich diversity of thought, ways of being and knowing, among Indigenous Peoples and Nations. We are committed to regular and constant unlearning of the colonizer mindset by actively engaging with and listening to Indigenous communities in our work and partnerships. We recognize that our efforts to decolonize our work should not impose the burden of education on Indigenous communities, but rather we must take the initiative to approach this process with respect and solidarity.

• Accessibility

Accessibility includes removing physical, environmental, sensory, communication and attitudinal barriers to the full participation of people with disabilities in society. We are dedicated to ensuring that DABC is an accessible, accommodating, flexible and supportive environment for its board, staff, volunteers, visitors, and clients with a diversity of disabilities and needs.

We operate on the principle of “Nothing About Us, Without Us.” It is vital that people with lived experience with disability are central participants in all decision-making processes.

It is of utmost importance to us that we treat our clients with respect and empathy. We strive to “meet them where they are at,” recognizing that their intersecting identities will inform their needs.

• Intersectionality

We acknowledge that identities are intersectional and do not exist in silos. Many people with disabilities are also members of other equity-seeking groups, including, but not limited to, IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, People of Colour), women, 2SLGBTQIA+, unhoused, and/or sex workers. We  understand that these individuals may face unique and compounded barriers and forms of oppression due to various aspects of their identities. We stand in solidarity with all equity-seeking groups and are committed to working collaboratively to dismantle these barriers so that everyone has the chance to succeed and have their voices heard. True equity, not just equality, is the goal.

Open: November 15, 2024

Closes: November 29, 2024

Location: Vancouver, BC

Category: Community and Social Services Job

Type: Full-time, Part-time, contract until end of March 2025 with possibility of extension

Salary: $54,000 (prorated to number of days working)

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

Program Description

The Access RDSP program provides direct support through the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and related benefits including the Child Disability Benefit, Canada Disability Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan to promote financial literacy and financial security for people with disabilities in British Columbia. Access to the DTC and related benefits has become more relevant, as many people with disabilities will need the DTC to apply for the upcoming Canada Disability Benefit. We are seeking advocates passionate about social justice issues to join our dynamic team and help grow our impact in BC and beyond.

Job Description – National Outreach Navigator

You will build on the foundational work of the program to help extend our supports across Canada. This includes developing and delivering a national engagement strategy to raise awareness about DTC through community outreach, creating and maintaining strategic partnerships, as well as designing and facilitating training modules that will capacity build key partners to deliver DTC navigational supports. You are also an active team member, able to contribute to the additional administrative responsibilities associated with the day-to-day operation of the program.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Environmental scan of available services across the country to understand existing supports and prevailing gaps that can be mitigated with our support
• Creation and delivery of training modules, resources, and tools to capacity build other organizations to support and provide services to people with disabilities across Canada on the DTC
• Involves facilitating training, such as online or printed educational materials, instructional videos, delivery of virtual or in-person workshops,
• Amplifying existing tools and resources, adapting for national outreach to individuals and families, community service organizations, and health professionals across Canada
• Working one-on-one with people with disabilities to provide in-depth support through the DTC and associated benefits as needed.

The successful applicant must:

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

The following are strong assets for this position:

• Experience with the DTC and other disability benefits (e.g. RDSP, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Pension Plan-Disability)
• Experience in the non-profit sector
• Experience with community outreach or program planning
• Experience with presenting complex information to diverse audiences
• Experience working with Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience with a disability and/or supporting people with disabilities
• A driver’s license

The position is a fixed term position (until end of March 2025). Depending on future funding, this role may be extended and may further develop to involve direct client work when the contract period ends. The role can be negotiated to be either part-time or full time (anywhere between 3-5 days/week) and will be based out of DABC’s Vancouver office, with occasional travel across Canada.

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.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and brief cover letter addressed to Cynthia Minh, Director—Tax AID & Access RDSP at cynthia@dabc.ca using the subject heading “Job Application: Community Advocate”. No phone calls please.

Applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 29, 2024. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

Download a PDF of the job posting here.