Every organization should be prepared for an emergency but are you? Through our partnership with Volunteer Canada, we have trained 20 trainers from disability organizations and volunteer centres to deliver our community training in emergency planning for people with disabilities.
The training manual we created, Prepare to Survive – Prepare to Help, is full of exercises and resources for community groups who want to play a role in emergency planning and response in their communities.
Now, PowerPoint presentations have been prepared to help trainers use the manual.
Visit our Library/Emergency Preparedness page, and click on the Community Organizations section at the top of the page. You will see all the Prepare To Survive resources there, including videos.
In the BCCPD’s August 2011 e-newsletter we announced a joint project with the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) – the creation of a simple one-page form that enables people with disabilities and seniors to voluntarily and confidentially provide BCAS with information that will help them respond better to your needs in an emergency. Information about the form was also in our Transition magazine, fall/winter 2011. Since we announced this initiative, the BCAS has reported receiving “a flurry of completed forms” from individuals and they are anticipating and welcome more.
For more information and to download the form from the BCCPD website, go to:
In July 2011, BCCPD launched a new peer support group for people living with a disability. This first group was such a success, a new group is starting November 2/11. And, at participants’ request, this group is extended to 6 weeks.
What is “peer support”?
It is an opportunity for people to exchange ideas and experiences in a confidential, respectful environment. The group will explore many topics, such as:
Daily living and coping in a changed world
Relationships with friends, family and others
Navigating medical systems
Personal wellness
Finding joy
Exploring and sharing ideas about ‘what’s next’.
The group size will be limited to a maximum of 15 and there will be a trained facilitator. Light snacks provided.
Dates: 6 Wednesdays starting November 2, 2011 Time: 1-3 pm Location: BCCPD, #204- 456 West Broadway
Recent tax cuts in BC and across Canada were meant to ease financial pressure for Canadians. However, for many low-income individuals, particularly for people with disabilities, these policy changes are having the opposite effect.