Disability

Hannah Steven, RVYC sailing staff, and her companion sailor, a DSA client, cruise in Cadboro Bay aboard Freedom a Martin 16 sailboat. (Courtesy Disabled Sailing Association Victoria)

Oak Bay yacht club rescues swamped Victoria adaptive sailing program

Victoria Disabled Sailing Association sees successful summer programming

 

Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough smiles as she speaks to media after tabling a bill in the House of Commons Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Bill to create Canada Disability Benefit reintroduced but with few details

Canada Disability Benefit is to be modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement

 

A report by the B.C. ombudsperson says the province kept federal money for almost three years that should have been passed along to the caregiving grandparents of a disabled girl. (Pixabay photo)

‘Disturbing’ case highlights inequity in disability benefit: B.C. ombudsperson

B.C. acted unjustly, delaying thousands of dollars in federal payments to disabled girl’s caregivers

 

A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The department is searching for witnesses in a March 31 assault on a visually-impaired man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Visually-impaired 69-year-old punched in Vancouver crosswalk

Police seeking witnesses in unprovoked March 31 assault

A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The department is searching for witnesses in a March 31 assault on a visually-impaired man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Victoria resident Melissa Sephton, who has cerebral palsy, is pictured in her Cook Street home on March 17. Sephton has saved up $14,000 towards a new van vital for her lifestyle, and along with her caregivers is asking the community for help fundraising more. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria woman with cerebral palsy loses vital van; replacement sought

‘Melly loves to see the world,’ fundraiser note says; $14,000 saved from disability cheques

Victoria resident Melissa Sephton, who has cerebral palsy, is pictured in her Cook Street home on March 17. Sephton has saved up $14,000 towards a new van vital for her lifestyle, and along with her caregivers is asking the community for help fundraising more. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Since May 2020, CanAssist has helped over 90 people with learning, cognitive, physical or other forms of disability find employment. (Pixabay)

UVic’s CanAssist programs offer timely employment boost for people with disabilities

Labour force entry barriers range from lack of small accommodations to outright discrimination

Since May 2020, CanAssist has helped over 90 people with learning, cognitive, physical or other forms of disability find employment. (Pixabay)
Those with mobility challenges continue to encounter utility poles on sidewalks in Saanich, like this one on an often-busy Cedar Hill Road near Mount Douglas Cross Road near two large trees. Mobility advocates say the district needs to do more work to address such safety issues in its road and sidewalk planning. (Photo courtesy of Dean Murdock)

Saanich disability advocate calls for more inclusive sidewalk, roadway designs

Utility poles on sidewalks one area of improvement needed to help those with mobility challenges

Those with mobility challenges continue to encounter utility poles on sidewalks in Saanich, like this one on an often-busy Cedar Hill Road near Mount Douglas Cross Road near two large trees. Mobility advocates say the district needs to do more work to address such safety issues in its road and sidewalk planning. (Photo courtesy of Dean Murdock)
Lifetime Networks of Victoria executive director Wendy-Sue Andrew (left) celebrates fellow staffer Melissa MacDonald, winner of Community Living BC’s Widening Our World award, in a modest ceremony Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Sassaman/Community Living BC)

Victoria woman awarded for uplifting vulnerable communities during pandemic

Dozens have received support from Melissa MacDonald and her Lifetime Networks Victoria team

Lifetime Networks of Victoria executive director Wendy-Sue Andrew (left) celebrates fellow staffer Melissa MacDonald, winner of Community Living BC’s Widening Our World award, in a modest ceremony Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Sassaman/Community Living BC)
Real estate agent Brian Cyr opens an elevator to the basement of what has been called the gold standard of homes for people with disabilities in St. Albert, Alta., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

‘About freedom’: A look inside an Alberta home adapted for physical disabilities

‘This is something I’ve never seen before in my 15-year career’

Real estate agent Brian Cyr opens an elevator to the basement of what has been called the gold standard of homes for people with disabilities in St. Albert, Alta., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. minister of children and family development Mitzi Dean announced the new system on Wednesday, Oct. 27. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)

Advocates raise concerns as B.C. moves to new support model for children with disabilities

Individualized funding for autism to be phased out by 2025 and replaced with community service hubs

B.C. minister of children and family development Mitzi Dean announced the new system on Wednesday, Oct. 27. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)
Rachel Levy (left) and their partner Eva Hocking in their Saanich-area apartment. (Photo courtesy of Eva Hocking)

Saanich couple’s wheelchair fundraiser passes $10,000 in 24 hours

Rachel Levy says a motorized wheelchair would help them regain their independence

Rachel Levy (left) and their partner Eva Hocking in their Saanich-area apartment. (Photo courtesy of Eva Hocking)
A Beacon with the logo of the CNIB is pictured on a wall in the group’s hub in Toronto’s Yonge and St.Clair neighbourhood, Friday, July 14, 2017. The CNIB says the federal government’s new ArriveCAN app is inaccessible to some Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Advocate says ArriveCAN app technology is not accessible for blind Canadians

Travellers to Canada must use the ArriveCAN app or online portal to submit vaccine and test information

A Beacon with the logo of the CNIB is pictured on a wall in the group’s hub in Toronto’s Yonge and St.Clair neighbourhood, Friday, July 14, 2017. The CNIB says the federal government’s new ArriveCAN app is inaccessible to some Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Another 16 Micro Bird G5 handyDART buses are being added to Victoria’s fleet this week. The models are equipped with rear lifts to help riders with mobility aids on and off the bus. (Courtesy of B.C. Transit)

New handyDART buses in service around Greater Victoria

Among new model’s features are rear lifts to help passengers with mobility aids get in and out

Another 16 Micro Bird G5 handyDART buses are being added to Victoria’s fleet this week. The models are equipped with rear lifts to help riders with mobility aids on and off the bus. (Courtesy of B.C. Transit)
Riley Oldford, 16, suffers from cerebral palsy. He was the first youth in the Northwest Territories to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Here he receives the needle from nurse practitioner Janie Neudorf in Yellowknife on Thursday May 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

People with disabilities even more alone during pandemic: cerebral palsy spokeswoman

Many people with disabilities are at higher risk, but not always prioritized for vaccines

Riley Oldford, 16, suffers from cerebral palsy. He was the first youth in the Northwest Territories to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Here he receives the needle from nurse practitioner Janie Neudorf in Yellowknife on Thursday May 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
Kim Cooper, 53, stands next to her vehicle with a disabled parking pass permit on Wednesday, April 28, in Parksville. (Mandy Moraes photo)

B.C. woman with heart condition verbally accosted over disabled parking stall

‘I just burst into tears… I mean, I was just shaking’

Kim Cooper, 53, stands next to her vehicle with a disabled parking pass permit on Wednesday, April 28, in Parksville. (Mandy Moraes photo)
(File)

B.C. permanently increases disability and income assistance, senior’s supplement

Province says more than 300,000 people will be affected by rate increase

(File)
Kelowna City Hall. (Michael Rodriguez - Capital News)

Kelowna council advocates for increased provincial social assistance payments

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge tabled the motion, says many people on those payments live below the poverty line

Kelowna City Hall. (Michael Rodriguez - Capital News)
Gina Huylenbroeck started losing her vision at 19 when she was diagnosed with progressional cones dystrophy, which becomes more severe over time. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

How one Victoria woman with vision loss overcomes pandemic obstacles

No full-time training program available for Canadians with blindness

Gina Huylenbroeck started losing her vision at 19 when she was diagnosed with progressional cones dystrophy, which becomes more severe over time. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Georgia Pike and guide dog Grainger face an added layer of COVID-19 challenges while navigating the world. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)

‘Guide dogs don’t know how to social distance’: Victoria woman asks for patience

Woman with vision impairment says pandemic poses new challenges

Georgia Pike and guide dog Grainger face an added layer of COVID-19 challenges while navigating the world. (Nina Grossman/News Staff)
Storm clouds pass by the Peace tower and Parliament hill Tuesday August 18, 2020 in Ottawa. The parliamentary budget office says a one-time payment this fall to people with disabilities will cost the federal treasury $792 million. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Pandemic-related disability support to cost feds $792 million, PBO says

Budget office warns there may be potential fiscal impacts in subsequent years

Storm clouds pass by the Peace tower and Parliament hill Tuesday August 18, 2020 in Ottawa. The parliamentary budget office says a one-time payment this fall to people with disabilities will cost the federal treasury $792 million. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
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