Resources

(Under construction: Please advise if you'd like us to provide a link to your group or recommend web links to useful resources for families of children and youth with special needs.)

Advocacy

BC's independent Representative for Children & Youth

• Oversight, information, advocacy & support

Advocate for Service Quality: Jane Holland

• Works for adults with developmental disabilities served by CLBC

Your MLA: Find your MLA

• Full list of all MLA emails

Ministers

• Premier: Christy Clark: [email protected]
• Education/special education: George Abbott: [email protected]
• Children & Families: Mary McNeill: [email protected]
• Adult Community Living: Harry Bloy: [email protected]

Opposition critics

• Opposition leader: Adrian Dix: [email protected]
• Children & Families: Claire Trevena: [email protected]
• CLBC/Adults: Nicholas Simons: [email protected]

Parent advocacy

• BCACL Inclusive Education Parent Handbook
• Effective Parent Advocacy: Wrightslaw
• ACT parent advocacy training workshops

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Information:

• BC Autism Facts : MCFD presentation on stats, programs & challenges (2009)
• BC's EIBI programs (cancelled due to funding cuts in September 2009)
• National Standards Report summary of evidence base for autism treatment (2009)
• 2006 Ontario study cost/benefits of providing intensive early intervention
• 2009 US study benefits of intensive early intervention (Early Start Denver Model)

Resources & support:

• BC Children's Ministry: Autism information & services
• BC Ministry of Education guide: Teaching Students with autism
• Provincial Outreach Program for Autism & Related Disorders ( POPARD ): (Support for schools/staff on effective strategies for teaching students with ASD).
• ACT: Autism Community Training
• Autism Society of BC ( ASBC )
• Families for Early Autism Treatment ( FEAT )
• Fighting Autism Intervention Reductions ( FAIR )
• Fraser Valley Autism Society ( link )
• ABA Support Nework ( link )
• Medicare for Autism Now ( link )
• Victoria Society for Children with Autism ( link )

Down Syndrome

• BC Down Syndrome Centre
• Lower Mainland Down Syndrome Society
• Fraser Valley Down Syndrome Support
• National Down Syndrome Society (US)

Children & youth w/ special needs

Ministry for Children & Families (MCFD): Programs & services for special needs

• Information on out-of-school programs, supports & services

MCFD special needs programs & policies (eligibility, access, procedures, etc)

• At Home program
  • Eligibility - At Home program
• Autism Funding programs
  • Eligibility - autism programs
• Behavioural support services
• Child & youth care worker
• Early intervention - general
• Rehabilitation therapies
• Respite relief
  • At Home respite
  • Contracted respite
  • Direct funded respite
  • Use of respite funding
• Professional support
• Parent support services
  • Eligibility - Family Support Services
• Homemaker Home Support Services
• Associate Family Program (discontinued Nov. 09)
  • Eligibility - Associate Family Program
• Other General policies
  • Microboards
  • Service provision by family members
  • Determining Parental Contributions
  • Determining Priority for Children's Services

Adults & youth in transition

• Community Living BC ( CLBC ): services for adults with developmental disabilities, including autism
• November 2009: Eligibility for adults with IQ over 70 - ** New Policy **
• MCFD Transition planning page: ( youth to adulthood )

Early Intervention - general

MOMS Fact Sheets

• IDP (Infant Development Program) Fact Sheet
• EIBI (Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention for Autism) Fact Sheet

Ministry programs: MCFD Information Page

• Infant Development Program
• Aboriginal Infant Development Program
• Supported Child Development
• Aboriginal Supported Child Development
• Early Intervention Therapy Program

Education: K-12

BC Education Ministry: Special Education

• Provincial polices, information about IEPs, teaching guides for students with special needs, links to provincial resource programs etc

MCFD School-age therapy progam: Information

Vancouver Parents for Successful Inclusion ( VPSI )

• Advocacy & information for families

BC Association for Community Living: Inclusive education

• Resources, history, links, current issues, advocacy

BC Education Coalition - Special Education

• News about education funding, special education cuts and advocacy

Education: Post secondary

Steps Forward Inclusive Post-secondary Education Society ( Steps Forward ):

• Information, advocacy and support for post-secondary students

Family Support

Ministry Supports:

• MCFD information page

Other community organziations that offer family support and/or advocacy

• BC FamilyNet
• Family Support Institute

Other disabilities

Disabilities - general

• BC Coalition of People with Disabilities ( BCCPD )

Acquired Brain Injury

• MCFD programs & supports: Information

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

• Teaching students with FAS: Resource Guide (Sorry the most up-to-date info from BC's Education Ministry in BC is 14 years old!!!)
• MCFD information section

Severe/complex special needs

• MCFD programs and supports: Information

Learning Disabilities

• Learning Disabilities Association of Canada: BC Chapters
• BC Education Ministry Resource Guide: Teaching students with learning & behaviour differences