The BCCPD delivered the Prepare to Survive – Prepare to Help workshop in Prince George on the 1st of March. Seventeen people – staff and clients – from seven disability organizations participated in the one-day workshop. The workshop involved interactive exercises and emergency scenarios and was very well received.

For more information about the Prepare to Survive workshop, contact Karen Martin, karen@bccpd.bc.ca.

The BCCPD recently facilitated a Money Skills workshop developed by Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

Workshop participants shared many great resources and money-saving tips:

• Clothes on Wheels: Free clothing – www.clothesonwheels.org
• Free Geek: Volunteer for 24 hours to get a free computer – http://freegeekvancouver.org/ – 1820 Pandora Street, Van. 604-879-4335
• UBC Dental School: Cheap and/or free dental work- www.dentistry.ubc.ca
• teksavvy.com– Internet for as little as 24.95
• Magazine & Comic Book Emporium (Broadway/Granville) – Cheap magazines (new: 50 cents)
• Dollarama: $1 store ($1 Shoe laces, $2 organic soup, pickled beets, Kalamata olives, hats gloves with double layers ($1.25)
• majicJack: Make long distance phone calls cheaply – www.majicJack.com
• Volunteer at thrift stores for 24hrs of service and receive a 40% discount
• Volunteer at discount food outlets (Quest) and receive free food
• FREE! – Free stuff in your area – www.freecycle.org
• Check out the ‘FREE’ column on Craigslist
• The Bay has a food floor on the lower level and it usually has discount dairy and perishables
• Green tea leftovers can be used for acne treatment

Many thanks to all our workshop participants and Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

Do you receive the Persons with Disabilities benefit (PWD) or are you thinking of applying for it? The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) and the Victoria Disability Resource Centre are holding a free workshop to help you understand more about PWD and other provincial benefits you may be eligible for.

BCCPD’s Robin Loxton will talk about:

• Contacting the Ministry of Social Development with a particular focus on the Ministry’s use of computerized applications and other service delivery issues
• Supplementary (other) benefits for people receiving PWD
• The Registered Disability Savings Plan (basic points)

The workshop will allow plenty of time for participants to ask Robin questions.

 March 23rd 2012
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Victoria Disability Resource Centre
817 A Fort Street, Victoria, BC

 If you would like to attend the workshop, please email Nicole Kiyooka at nicole@bccpd.bc.ca  or call her at 1-800-663-1278.

Or contact Erin Davis at employment1@drcvictoria.com or call 250-595-0044 extension #108.

Hope to see you at the workshop!