BCACL is a federation working with partners to build community and to enhance the lives of children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and their families by supporting abilities, promoting action and advancing rights, responsibilities and social justice.
BCACL and the Canadian Association for Community Living Call on BC Government to Include Pre-1974 Woodlands Residents in Settlement
The Province of B.C. has negotiated a proposed settlement in a class action brought by former residents of Woodlands institution. While the settlement agreement approves compensation for approximately 1100 former residents, over 500 former residents will be excluded merely because they lived at Woodlands prior to 1974.
The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) joins the BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) in calling on the Government of BC to do the right thing and recognize the abuse suffered by former residents of the Woodlands institution before August 1, 1974.
For more information on institutions and Woodlands, visit the institutions section of the BCACL website.
Read the joint press release here.
Read BCACL's letter to Premier Campbell here.
Visit the BC Coalition for People with Disabilties website for more information.
BCACL has launched a petition to Premier Campbell urging his government to reverse recent changes made to the Community Living Authority Act that remove the legislated requirement that people with developmental disabilities and family members are guaranteed a place on the CLBC Board of Directors.
We ask that you please sign the petition and forward it to your family, friends and coworkers.
Read and sign the petition here
Other resources:
BCACL press release
BCACL letter to the Premier
OpEd printed in the Vancouver Sun from BCACL board member Tim Stainton
What else can you do?
Letters:
December 3, 2009 letter to Minister Coleman from the Mission Association for Community Living.
December 3, 2009 letter to Minister Coleman from the Mission Self Advocacy Group
January 11, 2010 response letter from Minister Coleman
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has released its report of the Subcommittee on Cities. Click here for recommendations related to disability. Highlights include a recommendation that the Disability Tax Credit be non-refundable and that the government look at a basic income guarantee for people with severe disabilities.
To highlight National Inclusive Education Week and to bring attention to the many positive examples of inclusive classrooms across the country, the Canadian Association for Community Living has created a national certificate of recognition to be given to those who have made positive contributions to inclusive education in their province or territory. The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2010.
Click here for more information about the awards, including nomination criteria and indicators of successful inclusion. For past winners, click here.
On December 3, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Association for Community Living released its stark 2009 report card on the Inclusion of Canadians with Intellectual Disabilities. According to the report, the overwhelming majority of Canadians with developmental disabilities experience poverty,unemployment and exclusion. Read the BCACL press release here.
Visit this link (http://www.bcacl.org/documents/WebAnnualReport.pdf) to download our 2008/2009 annual report. If you would like a paper copy of our annual report, please contact BCACL: info@bcacl.org
For current information and updates, click here to view our web page on the Registered Disability Savings Plan.
