We have received information about the following event from the Home Medical Equipment Dealers’ Association of BC (HMEDA). DABC will be attending the Expo and we will be providing information/materials on our various programs and services, including our new program Tax AID DABC.
Since 2009, the BC Personal Supports Network and the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation have been in partnership to develop and deliver the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI) http://www.bcpsn.org . The goal of EATI has been to demonstrate the Participation Model as a person directed, goal oriented way to enable people with disabilities to obtain the assistive technology they need to overcome a functional barrier to labour market participation. In its development and delivery, EATI meets and exceeds the standards established by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Funding for EATI has come through the federal/provincial Labour Market Agreement and over $19.5 million has been spent on EATI to assist more than 2,000 British Columbians since 2010.
In June 2013, EATI stopped accepting new applications but, thanks to additional funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, continued to work on assisting all applicants who were in progress prior to June 20, 2013. On August 29, 2014 all of these applicants will have completed the process and EATI will cease operations. EATI will continue to provide repairs or replacements for all existing clients until August 29, 2014 and expects to be able to refer existing clients who need repairs after August 29, 2014 to other programs and services.
EATI has also provided a unique opportunity for the government and the community to work in partnership to realize the vision, values and principles of the Participation Model for Personal Supports. The Independent Evaluation highlighted the joint decision making of this partnership as a key factor in enabling EATI to adapt to participants’ needs, be flexible in the provision of funding and be effective in supporting participants in their movement to obtaining employment.
With the end of the first generation of EATI on August 29, 2014, the BC Personal Supports Network and the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation hope to continue to work in partnership to ensure that British Columbians with disabilities have access to the assistive technology they need through innovative approaches like the Participation Model.
Members of the BC Personal Supports Network
BC Association for Individualized Technology and Supports http://www.bcits.org/ | Voice: 604-326-0175 | Fax: 604-326-0176
BC Coalition for People with Disabilities http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/ | Voice: 604-872-1278 | Fax: 604-875-9227
