Inclusion BC recently announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Karla Verschoor as Executive Director.

Karla Verschoor has been with Inclusion BC since 2006, when she joined the organization as a volunteer coordinator. Since starting at Inclusion BC, Karla has worked in various leadership roles including advocate and Director of Strategic Initiatives. Karla has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta where she studied Political Science and Government and a Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from Simon Fraser University. She was appointed Associate Executive Director in September, 2017 and has been Acting Executive Director since June 1, 2018.

Karla has worked with countless community partners to develop ground-breaking local and provincial initiatives that have improved the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Just a few of these include:

• I am Voting campaign,
• Road to Inclusion provincial dialogue series,
• Self Advocates Seeding Innovation project, and
• Promoting our Abilities employment project.

Most recently, within her role as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Associate Executive Director, Karla led the development of Inclusion BC’s current strategic plan.

We congratulate Karla in this appointment and look forward to working with her and her team in the months ahead.

A Global News article highlighted that a mother of a West Vancouver boy with autism faced her insurance provider cancelling her policy after her teenage son had a meltdown and did about $4,500 worth of damage to her home.

Westland Insurance offered to cover the cost, as she’d only had one minor claim over her 20 years with them. However, the company then began questioning her about her child’s health. Then, this week, it announced it was ending their relationship with her as a client.

The incident is deeply concerning to Disability Alliance B.C.

Westland Insurance initially agreed to an interview with Global News. Then they backed out and contacted Angela. “They told me I would not be cancelled, but they would have to discus further about mitigating circumstances that caused the claim,” she said on Friday.

The mother of two is relieved her insurance isn’t cancelled, but she questions how she’ll be treated in the future and worries how insurance companies treat others with disabilities.

CVS is aligned with the concerns expressed by Disability Alliance B.C. It appears that the insurer is providing services to the family but it will be interesting to see how they are treated in the future. We\’re sure that the West Vancouver family and Disability Alliance B.C. will be keeping a close eye so it can ensure that the family is treated fairly.

This week it was announced that survivors of Woodlands who lived at the institution before 1974 have begun receiving compensation payments from the Province. This comes following the Province\’s announcement in March.

Residents who lived at Woodlands before 1974 (who were previously excluded from the settlement) will now receive $10,000. As well, all residents who lived at Woodlands (at any time) will receive a minimum payment of $10,000. The money is expected to be paid out by March 31, 2019.

For more information: news release from the Province of BC.

Inclusion BC responded to the announcement early this year: 

\”This is what real leadership is. Setting things right by providing common experience payment to ALL Woodlands survivors. In doing so righting the wrongs by the previous BC government that refused to recognize the harm done to former residents prior to 1974 and that also required proof of harm. Now we can say some justice has been served and we must never forget why institutions were and will always be places of abuse and a denial of human rights\” (then Executive Director Faith Bodnar).

At CVS we fully support this action by the Province and are pleased to hear that payment to all victims of this abuse is occurring at this time. This is a big step that is long overdue for the victims and their families.

Former residents or their guardians and caregivers who have not already been contacted can call toll free:
1 888 523-7192  
Or email: woodlands.care.facility.reside[email protected] 

The provincial government is funding a Complex Medical Dental (CMD) pilot project led by the BC Dental Association (BCDA). The pilot will create new opportunities to receive dental coverage for recipients of disability assistance, income assistance, and their families.

The CMD pilot funding will be available on a pre-approval basis for applications submitted to the BCDA between June 21st 2018 and January 31st 2019. Eligible people accessing the pilot will receive one-time coverage of up to $1,000 for certain medical dental procedures and up to $500 for necessary sedation or general anesthetic. These amounts may be exceeded in exceptional circumstances with approval.

To apply, an application form must be completed by a person’s dentist. Please click here to access the application form. We have attached the application form for your reference and apologize for any confusion.

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) have stated that the CMD pilot represents a significant first step towards addressing this inadequacy. CVS supports this initiative and hopes that this is a success.

For more information, please read the information sheet prepared by the BCDA. This can be accessed by clicking here.

UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) recently made headlines about a new line of clothing specifically tailored for children with disabilities. The garments are made with extra space for casts and pockets for feeding tubes. They also are made of the softest materials with as few seams as possible and hidden care labels so that they won’t irritate sensitive skin.

The retailer has received much praise for this new line. While the line resolves some of the challenges with dressing and undressing kids with disabilities, the clothes are also stylish. So kids can get the best of both worlds.

To develop its line, M&S listened to parents of children with disabilities and designed clothing around these needs. At CVS, we think this is a great example of fostering an inclusive community. M&S is providing a great example of what can be done in our communities by businesses to make life easier for individuals with disabilities and enable them to feel comfortable in all the clothes they wear.

To read more about this new line of clothing from M&S, click here.

CBC Radio presents the powerful story of Ido Kedar – a 21-year-old man with autism, who has nonverbal autism. He was told from a very young age that he would never be able to communicate independently.

But when he was 7 years old his mother, Tracy Kedar, says Ido communicated with her for the first time in a way she knew for sure that he understood her.

They were making invitations for Ido\’s birthday party. He did not have the motor skills to hold a pencil on his own, and she was resting her hand over his. As they wrote, it seemed to her that he had a flash of recognition.

Fast forward to the present day and Ido now communicates via an iPad. He types out words and the software acts as a medium to communicate Ido\’s voice. It not only has helped Ido express himself but also given him a sense of his intelligence.

Ido\’s story is one of many who have found their voice in technology. At CVS, we know how powerful this can be. That is why we have committed to supply all individuals we serve with tablet computers so they can learn how to communicate. Ultimately this helps them to gain greater independence, confidence and enables them to communicate with others in their community.

To read more about Ido and listen to the full interview, click here.

Inclusion BC also noted in its message about the upcoming election that elections are also a good time to talk to others about disability rights and inclusion, to help people understand why these things are important and to grow support for our movement.

We can all help to advance inclusion through election activities:

1. Learn about inclusion barriers and solutions
2. Get Involved in election activities, and
3. Vote for candidates who support inclusion!

CVS urges its community to get out, learn about the policies up for debate, to get involved and – most importantly – vote. If you feel there is a need for change, make a statement and take a stance to influence change. As the election campaign progresses, we will do our best to keep our community up-to-date on a variety of topics related to the election.