It is with great sadness that all of us at DABC acknowledge the passing of our dear friend, mentor, longtime board member and Honourary Past Chair—Pam Horton. In addition to having served on our board of directors for close to thirty years, Pam was also the first executive director of DABC. Her work as a disability rights advocate spanned over five decades at the municipal, provincial and federal level. In addition to her decades of work with DABC, she was a founding member of both the North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues and TransLink’s Access Transit Users’ Advisory Committee. She was also a past president of the North Shore Disability Resource Centre and a former board member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. As a staunch advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Pam was a member of the BC Institute Against Family Violence Steering Committee, the North Shore Coordinating Committee to End Violence Against Women in Relationships and Together Against Violence. In her final years, she turned much of her advocacy efforts to supporting seniors, serving on the City of North Vancouver Seniors Action Table and their Seniors Working Group. In the months prior to her death, she was also one of the founding board members of DABC’s national affiliate; Disability Alliance Canada.

Anyone who knew Pam will remember her for the kindness, wisdom, humour, generosity and compassion that she brought into any space. Her tireless advocacy, as well as her willingness to bravely speak out on important issues, however controversial, earned her the deep respect of so many people. We send our deepest condolences to everyone in the community who was touched by this remarkable woman during her lifetime. It was a life well-lived- full of purpose and remarkable service to others. Pam’s amazing legacy, as well as her vision of a truly accessible, inclusive and equal society for all inspires all of us at DABC to continue with the important work that needs to be done to make that vision into a reality.

– The DABC Board of Directors

Open: May 6, 2025

Closes: May 28, 2025

Location: Vancouver

Category: Community and Social Services Job

Type: Part-time Contract (20 hours)

Salary: $32 per hour

Who We Are

Since 1977, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. We are a non-profit, charitable organization that champions issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities. 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.

Program Description

Launched in 2017, the Right Fit program is a multi-partner service designed to address the crisis in wheelchair accessible housing by matching affordable, accessible homes and independent living supports with people who need them in the Vancouver region of British Columbia.

Led by Disability Alliance BC in partnership with the Individualized Funding Resource Centre Society (IFRC), the program provides peer-led navigation  support to wheelchair users and their families, which includes a holistic assessment and the coordination of all their disability support needs (home support, equipment, and assistive technology). The Right Fit maintains a detailed inventory of accessible units through a standardized Accessibility Checklist. The program supports housing providers by matching vacant units with wheelchair users who have diverse accessibility needs and are the “right fit” tenants, ensuring the most effective use of accessible housing stock.

Job Description:

As the Outreach and Research Assistant, you will support the Right Fit Team in conducting client surveys, documenting client needs, liaising with the Team on addressing client needs, conducting analysis of survey data, and assisting with communications and events.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conduct Right Fit client surveys (in person, online or by phone)
• Document Right Fit client needs and assist in addressing needs
• Take photographs (as appropriate) of units, accessibility features, and clients
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of survey data
• Assist with data entry
• Prepare reports, presentations, and other documents as needed
• Assist with creating website content, social media and Program communications
• Other duties as assigned.

The successful applicant must:

• Have a degree or diploma in communications, public relations, social science research, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Have proficiency in web content/social media creation
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills
• Be team-oriented with a positive, approachable attitude
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with clients across many diverse backgrounds
• Have the ability to act ethically and handle sensitive information with confidentiality
• Be self-motivated, adaptable, and able to work effectively with a team as well as independently
• Be able to handle multiple tasks and prioritize effectively
• Have excellent organizational skills
• Be technologically proficient with computers and computer programs, including Microsoft Office software, specifically Excel, Word and Outlook
• A driver’s license and a vehicle are required

The following are strong assets for this position:

• Experience in the non-profit sector
• Experience with a disability and/or supporting people with disabilities
• Proficiency in photography
• Knowledge of housing accessibility

The position is a fixed term, contract position (until November 30, 2025). Depending on future funding, this role may be extended and may further develop to involve direct client work when the contract period ends.

Length of the position: 6 months

Compensation: $32 / hour

Location of the position: The position is located in Vancouver, on the Unceded Territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations. This is a fully remote position, with some requirement to attend meetings at the DABC office on an as-needed basis.

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 rightfit@dabc.ca using the subject heading “Job Application: Right Fit Outreach and Research Assistant”. No phone calls please.

Applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on May 20, 2025. DABC welcomes all applications, however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.

People with disabilities should not have to pay money to access social and financial supports.  

DABC is excited to announce the opening of applications for the DTC Medical Fees Fund to residents of BC from April 17 to May 17! We announced the launch of this Fund last October during RDSP Awareness Month and are sincerely grateful to those who have contributed to the fund thus far. This fund is to help cover charges by medical practitioners for assistance with the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) application for individuals who face financial barriers to applying. The DTC is a crucial financial benefit meant to reduce the taxes someone with a disability or their supporting family members owe, as well as provide access to numerous financial programs such as the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement, Child Disability Benefit, Canada Dental Care Plan, and Registered Disability Savings Plan. There is also the new Canada Disability Benefit that is coming this July, which will be available to low-income individuals with the DTC.  

The paperwork required by medical practitioners can be lengthy and there is no current regulation on the cost that they can charge for this paperwork. For those living in poverty, this added financial burden can prevent them from accessing the benefit. 

Who is Eligible 

This fund is eligible to residents of BC only. You can apply to this fund if you have been charged or expect to be charged a medical fee to apply for the DTC on or after October 1, 2024.  

As the purpose of this fund is to provide those who are low-income with the financial support they need to apply for the DTC, eligibility will be determined by two factors:  

1.  Current income level
2.  Why you need help from this fund  

We encourage all to apply, but preference will be given to those who face financial barriers applying for the DTC. 

Proof of income is accepted in a variety of ways including but not limited to: previous tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, proof of PWD Designation, proof of social assistance. 

Once qualified applicants are selected, we will also request proof that you have paid or will be charged a medical practitioner fee.  As funding is limited, we anticipate we will not be able to fund all those eligible. We will assess and approve applications in the order that they come in.  

How to Apply 

• Applications will be accepted through an online application form.
• Applications will be accepted from April 15, 2025 until May 15, 2025.
• Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

If it is not possible for you to apply online, or if you need any assistance with the application, you can call (604) 923-8136 or email dtc@dabc.ca for assistance. 

Please note, this fund is rolling, and we are looking to continue to raise more money to support applications. We will accept applications again once there is more funding available. Follow us on social media to keep updated when applications are open again.