Links

health & wellness

advocacy

Health & Wellness   

BC Association for Individualized Technology and Supports for People with Disabilities

www.bcits.org

BCITS work with people who have severe physical disabilities "to help them to live as well and as independently as possible." It has two main programs: Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program (equipment and support to people using ventilators) and Technology for Independent Living (in-home control devices).

British Columbia Paraplegic Association   604-324-4111

www.bcpara.org
The BC Paraplegic Association provides peer support and rehabilitation counselling, information services, employment services and advocacy and offers support and community-based rehabilitation programs for people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities across the province. 

Disability Resource Centre   604-232-2404

www.drc.ca
Working for Inclusion, Independence and Empowerment.

Disabled Services Clothing   1-800-817-4365

www.DisabledServicesClothing.com
A Dressing Needs – Disabled Services Clothing  improves dressing routines for individuals living with a disability, offering a  line of adaptive garments, and a  custom design service which provides solutions for unique dressing needs.

ErgoCanada

www.ergocanada.com

Computer-related ergonomic products including keyboards, mice, touchpads, trackballs, footswitches, LCD monitor arms, arm and foot rests, etc.

George Pearson Centre   604-321-3231

www.vch.ca/facilities/hospitals/vancouver/gpc.htm
The George Pearson Centre provides long-term residential care to adult residents who require specialized assistance as a result of disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and a variety of other conditions.

GF Strong   604-734-1313

www.vch.ca/gfstrong
GF Strong is BC’s largest rehabilitation centre, providing inpatient, outpatient, outreach and clinical support services to clients/patients in four unique programs: Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Arthritis and Neuromusculoskeletal.

Global Network Personnel    604-588-4661

www.globalnetworkpersonnel.com
Global Network Personnel is a licensed employment agency based in Vancouver, BC, founded and owned by Marites (Tess) Ancheta. GNP's main focus is healthcare, providing livin-in or live out caregivers to fulfil full-time, part-time and on-call positions.

Rick Hansen Man in Motion Foundation   604-876-6800

www.rickhansen.com
The Rick Hansen Foundation works to create more accessible and inclusive communities for people with a spinal cord injury, and supports the search for a cure.

ConnecTra is a connecting agency, linking people with disabilities to activities and programs that will, over time, allow them to gain confidence and become more active and involved in community life (it also includes self-employment group Abilities Business Co-op). ConnecTra is one of the six affiliated societies that make up the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation

Others are:

British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to explore the outdoors, centered around the TrailRider. This is a specially designed, single-wheel, remote access wheelchair that enables the user, propelled by two able-bodied helpers, to take part in wilderness and recreational activities.

Disabled Independent Gardeners Association provides people with significant physical disabilities the opportunity to become involved in gardening. DIGA recognizes gardening as a recreational activity that can enable people with disabilities to develop skills, build self-confidence, learn and grow.

Disabled Sailing Association of British Columbia promotes freedom and independence by providing people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in an exciting and challenging outdoor sport. Uses a specially designed adaptive sailboat, the Martin-16, which allows joystick or (mouth-operated) sip 'n' puff control. DSA has affiliates in Victoria, Chemainus, Kelowna, and other cities across Canada. While you are at it, check out the DSA blog, Sailing is Freedom.

Tetra Society of North America provides volunteer engineers to design and construct customized assistive devices for people with significant physical disabilities. Volunteers work one-on-one with people with specific needs that cannot be met by commercial assistive devices.

Vancouver Adapted Music Society works with musicians of all levels of ability. Provides karaoke and entry-level music making, along with fully equipped performance studios at the GF Strong Rehab Centre and George Pearson Centre, both in Vancouver. The society also promotes more accomplished musicians through its website, by arranging performance opportunities, staging concerts and through recordings.