150 posts found for community

VDSN Forum: The Impacts of Climate Change on People with Disabilities

April 10, 2025 by DABC

The Vancouver Disability Solutions Network (VDSN) is a network of organizations committed to finding actionable solutions to problems faced by the disability community. Our goal is to create a community of voices, listen, and help implement change.

Every year we identify a major challenge encountered by the disability community and present our findings at a forum, where we develop actionable solutions that inform government policy, support reallocations of funding, and create a platform for establishing initiates.

With drastic changes in our environment becoming more prevalent, this year our focus is on how climate change affects people with disabilities.

This Year’s Forum Topic:
The Impacts of Climate Change on People with Disabilities

Our forum will be held on May 22nd, 2025 at Creekside Community Centre and will focus on the topic:

“How can we as community service organizations contribute to emergency planning, preparedness, and disaster relief for people with disabilities?”

The forum presentation and discussion will emphasize:

  • improving communication between disability-serving organizations to make emergency planning more effective
  • the importance of raising awareness about existing emergency resources
  • including and listening to people with disabilities themselves with respect to challenges faced during climate-related emergencies and potential solutions

If you are interested in attending our forum, please register here.

Your Voice Matters!

We’d like to hear about the challenges you’ve faced and your experiences with emergency preparedness. Your responses will help guide discussions at our forum and improve emergency planning in Vancouver. Take the survey: https://forms.office.com/r/cJMWGjqDUh?origin=lprLink

Focus Groups

We are looking for individuals to participate in a focus group or interview (online or in-person) and offer an honorarium in exchange for your time. Please fill out the following form to participate!: https://forms.office.com/r/9s2k0rrCg3?origin=lprLink

Statement on the Passing of Ellen Cohen

March 19, 2025 by DABC

DABC is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Ellen Cohen, lifelong advocate for people with disabilities. Ellen passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was part of the Canadian delegation of disability rights and civil society organizations participating in the United Nations review of Canada’s implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Canadian Civil Society UN CRPD Delegation has issued a statement on her passing: http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/access-inclusion/Ellen-Cohen-17May2025

DABC’s Salina Dewar has issued the following statement:

“Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ellen Cohen, a lifelong disability Rights advocate in Ontario and nationally, when we had the chance to attend and participate in the UN’s evaluation of Canada’s performance of its obligations under the CRPD. It was immediately clear that Ellen was a strong and knowledgeable advocate. It was also clear that she had a keen sense of humour and an incredibly giving heart. I am saddened by Ellen’s passing at the end of our time in Geneva. I am also immensely grateful for the chance to have crossed paths with her and learn even a little about her work, and her dedication.”

– Salina M. Dewar, Legal Advocate, Disability Alliance BC

Minister seeks to fill 2 vacancies on the Provincial Accessibility Committee

March 19, 2025 by DABC

The Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction is looking to fill two vacancies on the Provincial Accessibility Committee (PAC). The role of the PAC is to give advice on accessibility to government.

Recruitment is now open and you can find comprehensive details about the role in the Notice of Position. The application deadline is Monday, April 21, 2025. The Minister is also looking to build an eligibility list for future vacancies on the committee.