Resources in the Time of Physical Distancing

Click here to access our SAFETY PLAN AND PROTOCOLS 2021 January Update

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Check back daily for links, tips, and tricks submitted by Lifetime Networks’ staff and participants as we stay connected but not in person!

• Flockdraw.com is an online group drawing platform
• Click this link for an online scavenger hunt that hones internet skills: http://www.ion/uillinois.edu/resources/otai/scavengerhunt.asp 
• washyourlyrics.com  is a simple site where you can make your own hand-washing lyrics poster. No more singing Happy Birthday 20 times per day!
• Now could be a good time to try out geo-caching! Make sure to stay 2 metres away from any other explorers! You will need an app to do this activity.  www.geocaching.com/play 
• Drawize is a free online drawing game like Pictionary. You can draw and guess with friends, with other people around the world, or just guess the drawing or make your own quick sketch.
• Houseparty is a social media app you can play games in and “lock” the room where you’re interacting with your friends.
• Some colouring pages to print at home: Plants/Flowers/Succulents, Fruits, Fruits and Vegetables, Coffees, Planes, Happy Sea Creatures, Owls and Bird, Butterflies, Crabs and Seahorse, Many Many Mandalas, Hearts for your Window, Terrariums, Fresh Produce

OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

• COVID-19 BC Government support. You can find information on financial supports available during this public health emergency and vaccine schedule information.
• Community Living Society Financial Supports Summary
• DABC Community Update – Bill C 20 Receives Royal Assent: one-time payment of up to $600 for people with disabilities. Disability Alliance BC offers assistance with the DTC application.
• Telus has a promotion for low-income families and people living with disabilities in BC and Alberta. Internet for Good^TM is an innovative program offered in BC and Alberta that provides eligible Canadians with the tools and connectivity they need to succeed. https://www.telus.com/en/about/company-overview/community-investment/how-we-give/cause-campaigns/internet-for-good
• Supporting People with Diverse-Abilities During the Pandemic 12 slides with some useful knowledge!
• Open Future Learning Blog – articles on how to connect with individuals with disabilities during the pandemic
• COVID19 Info + Resources
• Resource List from Community Living Society  last updated April 14 2020
• Self Advocate Leadership Network COVID-19 Response
• Self Advocate Leadership Network (SALN) News-sheet April 7
• Self Advocate Leadership Network (SALN) News-sheet April 9
• Self Advocate Leadership Network (SALN) News-sheet April 15
• BC Hydro can defer bill payments or arrange for payment plans with no penalty. Customers are encouraged to call 1-800-224-9376 (1-800-BCHYDRO) to discuss bill payment options.
• ICBC offers customers a monthly Autoplan payment plan, able to be deferred for up to 90 days without penalty. You can apply here: onlinebusiness.icbc.com/eforms/dotcom/jsp/ACG398.jsp
• Renters & Landlords: Landlords may not issue a new notice to end tenancy for any reason during this emergency. Temporary rent supplement will provide up to $500 per month directly to Landlord. New annual rent increases are frozen. Press release here: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020MAH0048-000561
• Community Living BC’s COVID-19 Resource page for Service Providers
• Community Living BC’s COVID-19 Resource page for Individuals and Families
• Read about Canada’s Emergency Wage Subsidy
• How Canada is responding to COVID-19

Continuing Education of the Accessibility Committee:

The Accessibility Committee is dedicated to furthering its knowledge of Accessibility issues and developments and has subscribed to a wide spectrum of accessibility resources. In 2019, we saw the largest increase in resources that the Committee has decided to monitor. Below is a summary of our most used resources.

Federal Accessibility Legislation Alliance:

Lifetime Networks is a member of the Federal Accessibility Legislation Alliance which is a social movement powered by people with disabilities. Over 100 Canadian disability organizations, representing thousands of people with disabilities, are joined to improve access and inclusion. The goal is to create an accessible Canada.

Accessible Canada Act:

On May 29, 2018, Bill C-81 – Accessible Canada Act was passed in the House of Commons with unanimous support. On June 21, 2019 the Bill received Royal Assent. The goal of this legislation is to benefit all Canadians so that everyone, and especially those with disabilities, can get to and use information, spaces, and places.

The Act adds to the existing rights and protections for people with disabilities, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act and Canada’s approval of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

You can read the full Act here: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-81/royal-assent

The Provincial Government of British Columbia:

The BC Government has a 10-year Accessibility Action Plan, which was developed in response to the 2014 public consultation. It contains 12 building blocks based on themes that emerged during the consultation.

The Accessibility Secretariat provides annual Accessibility progress update each year. These updates outline highlights and information on progress towards Accessibility goals from:

• Government

• Business

• Communities

The 2018 Progress Update – Building a Better B.C. for People with Disabilities provides an overview of the policies, programs and activities helping make B.C. more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. It displays a selection of the work that government, community and businesses have been doing to improve accessibility throughout B.C.

The Accessibility Committee of Lifetime Networks subscribes to email updates regarding the 10-year Accessibility Action Plan. Further information can be found at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility/background

BC AccessAbility Week:

On Monday, May 27, 2019, the Province launched B.C.’s second annual AccessAbility Week. During AccessAbility Week, communities throughout the province hosted events and activities that promote inclusion and accessibility. The celebrations were supported by $10,000 in provincial funding to the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC). AccessAbility Week 2019 concluded on June 1, Access Awareness Day.

As part of the celebrations, the government of British Columbia announced the funding of $500,000 for community projects that improve accessibility. The funds will be distributed through grants administered by Disability Alliance BC (DABC). A call for proposals were posted on the DABC website in summer 2019, and grants will be awarded by the end of the year.

Lifetime Networks applied to, but was not successful in obtaining a grant from the Disability Alliance BC.

Additionally, The Accessibility Committee will be working harder to promote BC AccessAbility Week in 2020 amongst it Stakeholders.  It is unclear now how this will be achieved, but the Committee thinks that our social media platform would be a good place to start.

Disability Alliance of BC:

Disability Alliance BC has been a provincial, cross-disability voice in British Columbia. The mission is to support people, with all disabilities, to live with dignity, independence and as equal and full participants in the community. It champions issues affecting the lives of people with disabilities through its direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research and publications.

Lifetime Networks often refers its stakeholders to the resources provide by the Disability Alliance of BC. These self-help guides explain various benefits and programs, and how to apply for them.

https://disabilityalliancebc.org/category/publications/help-sheets/

Council of Canadians with Disabilities:

CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

In November 2019, Lifetime Networks Accessibility Committee signed up for “a Voice of Our Own”, the quarterly newsletter from CCD.

The BC Community Accessibility Network (BC CAN):

In November 2019, we became a member of The BC Community Accessibility Network (BC CAN) which is a way to stay updated on provincial accessibility issues and developments.

The Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC):

The Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) was established in 1966 and is a leader in applied social research, social policy analysis and community development approaches to social justice. The mission is to work with communities in building a just and healthy society for all. It is a provincial organization with over 16,000 members, governed by a Board of Directors that is representative of all regions of British Columbia.

Lifetime Networks Accessibility Committee receives regular email newsletters from SPARC.