Access 2 Entertainment
The Access 2 Entertainment card provides persons with a disability to receive either free admission or a significant discount for their support person at member movie theatres across Canada. This program was developed by an advisory group of nine national disability organizations, in conjunction with Famous Players and Cineplex Galaxy.
Persons with a permanent disability who require a support person when attending a movie theatre are eligible for the card. The applicant must agree to follow the terms and conditions for use of the card (see below).
A support person is an individual who accompanies a person with a disability to provide those services that are not provided by theatre employees, such as assisting the person with eating, administering medication, communication and use of the facilities.
To download the form go to www.access2.ca
Several Regional Libraries offer Home Library Service
Click the name of the library nearest you for complete details regarding; services, phone numbers and other information.
The Home Library Service delivers materials free of charge to:
Burnaby residents of any age who are confined to home for 3 months or more because of ill health, frailty, visual or physical disability.
Senior Citizens who cannot use the library because of a lack of transportation.
borrowers who live in private residences, care facilities, private hospitals and seniors’ housing throughout Burnaby.
They can bring you:
- books in regular and large print
- paperbacks and magazines
- videos
- music cassettes and music CDs
- audiobooks on cassette
- audiobooks on digital daisy disc and MP3
- spoken word cassettes
Once you tell the Home Library Service staff what you enjoy reading, a selection of material which was chosen especially for you will be delivered to your home. Specific requests for bestsellers or books of special interest are always welcome.
Address
6100 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4N5
Hours open to public
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 4:30
Saturday & Sunday closed
Telephone hours
Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00
Saturday & Sunday closed
General Inquiries: 604-436-5423
Email: bplhomes@bpl.bc.ca
Special Services - Daisy reader
Low Vision Resources
The library offers the following resources for people with impaired vision:
Large Print Materials
Many popular fiction and non-fiction titles are available in large print. The library also carries Reader's Digest in large print format.
Audiobook Collection
The Poirier Branch of the library has an Audiobook collection on cassette tape and Daisy format CD available to users who are visually or physically challenged and cannot read regular print material. This collection is funded by the provincial government and Public Library InterLINK, and users must sign an eligibility form to use this collection. A second collection of books on tape and CD is available to the general public.
Deposit Collections
The library provides large print collections for residents at care facilities and nursing homes.
Homebound Services
The library provides free pick-up and delivery of books, magazines or audiobooks for individual Coquitlam residents who are temporarily or permanently homebound. Homebound patrons may choose to let the Library select materials for them, file a profile of reading interests, or keep a list of materials read or desired. This information is confidential and available only to Homebound Services staff.
For more information, please contact Barbara Weston, Community Services Librarian
at (604) 937-4140.
Home Library Service provides a free and convenient way for homebound customers to borrow library books and other library materials.
Arrange for Home Library Service by contacting Outreach Services:
(604) 859-7141 or 1-888-668-4141 (toll free in BC).
Any patron living within a community of the Fraser Valley Regional Library Service, who is not able to access the library themselves due to a disability, injury, illness, or infirmity, is able to use the Home Library Service. The Home Library Service is a free and convenient way for homebound residents to borrow library books and other items. For more information or to register go to www.fvrl.bc.ca/
HOME LIBRARY SERVICE
If you are unable to get to the library because of a physical disability and you live in the District of North Vancouver, you can request Home Library Service. The Home Library Service Librarian can choose a selection of large print or regular print books and audiovisual materials based on your interests or you can request specific titles. Deliveries are scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday afternoons.
NVDPL also schedules monthly Library Afternoons on Wednesdays and Thursdays to bring books to homebound residents at each of the following complexes:
- Capilano Lions House (in conjunction with the Capilano Community Services Seniors’ Hub)
- Cedarview Lodge and Cedar Garden
- Churchill House
- Kiwanis Care Centre
- Lions Manor in Deep Cove
- Lynn Valley Care Centre
- Sunrise Lynn Valley
- Woodcroft
- Zajac Norgate House
A deposit collection of Large Print books is delivered to Evergreen House at Lions Gate Hospital each month and the Evergreen House library volunteers take a tailored selection around to the residents each week.
To find out more about our Home Library Service, please call the Home Service Librarian, Heather Goodwin, at 604-990-5800 Local 8124 or email: heatherg@nvdpl.ca
If you are unable to read print because of a visual, perceptual or physical disability, you can register for the Talking Books Service and have talking books delivered.
Talking Books
The Talking Books program is for people who are unable to read print material due to visual, physical or cognitive disabilities.
We have a large selection of fiction and non-fiction books on cassette, CD, MP3-CD and the DAISY format. Cassette tape players and DAISY players are available to borrow.
We also request Talking Books from other libraries. To find out if you are eligible, and to learn more about Talking Books, call the Coordinator at 604-925-7437.
Large Print Books
Our library selection of Large Print Books is constantly updated. We offer fiction and nonfiction bestsellers. You can also find mysteries, romances, westerns and the Reader’s Digest Large Print Edition.
Accessibility in the Library
The library has automatic entrance doors and elevator access to all levels.
Adaptive Technology in the Library
To assist patrons who have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard, the library has glide pads at some computers. The glide pad allows you to control the cursor by sliding your finger over the device and tapping it to enter.
Home Services & Audio Books
We provide home delivery service of library materials to disabled, elderly, and homebound customers who are unable to visit the library.
We can provide you with regular and large print books as well as audio books and DAISY discs. We also have a limited number of Victor Readers (DAISY machines) that may be borrowed for up to one year.
Who Is Eligible For Home Services?
Home delivery service is available to any person in Richmond, regardless of age, who is confined to a private residence, other residential facility or hospital because of a physical or visual disability, injury or illness lasting more than three months.
How Does Home Services Delivery Work?
Deliveries are made once a month to each customer on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending upon the area of Richmond in which you live. Home Services will provide you with reading material based on your reading interests. We can provide you with large print, regular print, audio books, and/or DAISY discs.
How Do I Register?
To register with Home Services, you or a family member, friend or health care professional can call the Home Services department, located at the Brighouse Branch at 604-231-6406 from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Wednesday to Friday.
Audio Books
The Library’s Audio Books service provides special library materials such as books on CD and DAISY discs of full-length books.
Who Is Eligible For Home Services?
Audio Books are available to those Richmond residents who are unable to read regular print due to a physical or visual disability. You just need to register with us first by calling 604-231-6406. Audio books can be borrowed in the library or we can arrange for Home Service delivery if you are homebound.
Library Home Service
The Home Delivery Service offers delivery of library materials directly to eligible patrons. Persons confined to home, hospital or care facility because of illness, disability or age are eligible. Seniors without transportation also qualify. Patrons are invited to phone the department for reference service as well. Materials that can be delivered include:
- books on cassette, regular CD, MP3 CD & DAISY CD
- books in regular or large print
- books in many languages
- magazines
- music CDs
- descriptive videos
- videos
To register or find out more about the
Home Delivery Service, please call
the Outreach Services Department at
Guildford Library, 604-598-7399
Outreach Branch Location
302 - 345 Robson Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6B3
Phone: 604-331-4100
E-mail: info@vpl.ca
Outreach Services collection includes:
- Talking Books, Large Print, DVS (Descriptive Video Service) videos, and regular print collections.
- The collections provide service to a broad range of readers including juvenile patrons although the majority are seniors.
- Collection is largely popular fiction and general interest nonfiction, with emphasis on authors and subjects of greater appeal to the older reader.
- Home Delivery and Institutional Delivery Services are available for Vancouver residents.
Talking Books Program
The Talking Books program is for people who are unable to read print material due to visual, physical or cognitive disabilities.
We have a large selection of fiction and non-fiction books on cassette, CD, MP3-CD and the DAISY format. Cassette tape players and DAISY players are available to borrow.
We also request Talking Books from other libraries.
To find out if you are eligible, and to learn more about Talking Books, call the Coordinator at 604-925-7437.
Large Print Books
Our library selection of Large Print Books is constantly updated. We offer fiction and nonfiction bestsellers. You can also find mysteries, romances, westerns and the Reader’s Digest Large Print Edition.
Accessibility in the Library
The library has automatic entrance doors and elevator access to all levels.
Adaptive Technology in the Library
To assist patrons who have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard, the library has glide pads at some computers. The glide pad allows you to control the cursor by sliding your finger over the device and tapping it to enter.
Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disability
Individuals with mobility impairments are eligible for a refund of the provincial tax they pay on gasoline or propane used in their vehicles. You may claim a maximum refund amount of $500 per calendar year. You must be the registered owner of the vehicle in which the gas is used. To claim the refund, you must first register for the program. Once you have registered, you will be issued a registration number. Once you have your registration number, you can submit your claim. Be sure to obtain and save receipts for gasoline purchases - you must submit receipts with your claim application.
Registration forms (PDF format) are available here.
Federal Excise Gasoline Tax Refund Program
There is a federal gas tax refund program. Receipts for gasoline purchases are required. The federal program rebates 1.5 cents per litre, or 1.5 cents per 10 kilometers of driving distance. (You can base your claim on litres purchased, or distance driven).
Applications and instructions (PDf format) are available online here.
ICBC Auto Insurance Discount
Individuals with a permanent mobility impairment are eligible for a 25% discount off the cost of basic automobile insurance. You must be the registered owner, joint owner or lessee of the vehicle. The discount can only be applied to one vehicle. To apply for this discount, you must first register for the BC Fuel Tax Refund program. When your registration for the fuel tax program is approved, you will be issued a Motor Fuel Tax Act claim number. Take this number along with your owner's certificate of insurance and vehicle license documents to your insurance agent to apply for the Disability Discount.
Seniors are eligible for a 25% discount on their automotive insurance. If you are 65 years or older, and have a disability, you may be eligible for both discounts.
BC Ferries Discount
If you have a permanent disability, discount fares (approximately 50%) are available for you and your escort, when you travel on BC Ferries. The discount applies to passenger fares only, not to vehicle rates. You must obtain a BC Ferries Disabled Status Identification Card, in order to obtain the discount. Applications (PDf format) are available online here.
Annual Bus Pass
If you have Persons-with-Disability status with the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (formerly the Ministry of Human Resources, or MHR) you are eligible for an annual bus pass, for price of $45. Contact your worker at the Ministry for application details.
Taxi Saver Program
The Taxi Saver program allows individuals with permanent disabilities to purchase taxi coupons at half their value. You can purchase a book of $40 worth of taxi coupons, for $20. In order to use the Taxi Saver program, you must have a HandyPass. The application for the HandyPass is the same as the application for HandyDART. For more information call (604) 462-8522
The Red Book Online: The Complete Online Guide to Community, Social and Government Agencies and Services Across the Lower Mainland
The Red Book Online (the most complete online guide to community, social and government agencies and services across the Lower Mainland) provides immediate access to detailed descriptions of over 4,500 agency listings offering a variety of services, including: counselling, health, financial, housing, employment, educational, recreational, cultural, legal, political, business and transportation.
Who's listed in
The Red Book Online?
* Non-profit agencies
* Self-help groups
* Advocacy groups
* Hospitals, health clinics, continuing care facilities
* Social clubs offering a community service
* Professional associations
* MPs, MLAs, councillors
* Private companies providing a free service, or with a sliding scale of fees
* Commercial organizations offering services not available in the non-profit sector . . . and more
Each listing includes:
* Overview of the agency
* Details of its programs and services
* Additional sites attached to the main agency
* Address, telephone and fax numbers
* Web site and e-mail addresses
In addition, the information is updated monthly, ensuring it's always current.
The Red Book Online is the internet version of The Red Book: Directory of Services for the Lower Mainland. The directory is the recognized standard reference work on human services available on the Lower Mainland.
To visit the online version of Red Book go to http://www2.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/redbook/
Go to the Red Book search page or, for assistance, contact an Information and Referral Specialist.
BCPA Leisureship Program
If there is a leisure activity you would like to pursue, but lack of money is holding you back, BCPA offers the Leisureship program. You may be granted up to $100 per year in order to take a class, purchase equipment, or join a club, etc. Contact your BCPA Rehab Consultant or BCPA Resource Consultant for additional information.
PWD Dietary Need Supplement
People who are on provincial disability (PWD) are eligible for up to $40 extra a month to help pay for medically needed foods. If you have a disease that requires a special diet you are eligible for a special diet supplement. A doctor has to fill out the form to confirm that there is a medical need. Contact your worker for more information
Property Tax Deferment Program
You may qualify for a deferment of property taxes if you have a disability. Taxes may be deferred for as long as you continue to own and live in the home. The deferred taxes must be paid when you sell the home. Interest will be charged. To be eligible, you must have a minimum of 25% equity in your home. For more information, contact the Tax Deferment Program at 250-387-0555 (Victoria number). You may use the toll-free number, 1-800-663-7867 and request a transfer to 250-387-0555.
Building Contractor
BCPA maintains a list of contractors who have completed accessibility renovations for our clients. If you are looking for a contractor, feel free to request this list from your BCPA Rehab Consultant (604) 324-3611. Note that the list is not an official recommendation from BCPA - it is merely a resource list.
Canada Revenue Agency – Disability Tax Credit
If you have a mental or physical impairment that is severe and prolonged, you may be eligible for a non-refundable tax credit to reduce your federal income tax. You can apply for the tax credit certificate before you file your annual income taxes, or when you file your next annual income tax return. For more information, contact Revenue Canada at 1-800-959-8281, or view the Disability Tax Credit Certificate (PDF format) here.
Registered Disability Savings Plan Website
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a savings plan designed specifically for people with disabilities in Canada. The first of its kind in the world, this new tax-deferred savings vehicle will assist families in planning for the long - term financial security of their relatives with disabilities.
Find out everything you need to know about the new Registered Disability Savings Plan at http://www.rdsp.com
Find out how to qualify and set up a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
Find out where to get a Registered Disability Savings Plan and how it affects your Federal and Provincial Disability Benefits.
BC PARAPLEGIC ASSOCIATION Rehab Consultants & Employment Counsellors
A BCPA Rehab Consultant can help you adjust to your disability, find accessible housing and transportation, complete disability benefits applications, get the rehab equipment you need, connect with peers and community resources, and get on with your life. BCPA also has employment counsellors that can get you going in the educational program or career of your choice. To become a BCPA member, if you are not already, call 604-324-3611. Counsellors are located throughout the province.
Vancity Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (ABLED)
Entrepreneurs with disabilities have traditionally had difficulty
accessing business services and securing capital for their businesses.
The ABLED loan program at Vancity was established in recognition of
these barriers and to address this issue by encouraging opportunities
for self-employment among entrepreneurs with disabilities who
demonstrate the capacity to operate their own businesses.
Eligible loan applicants can receive funding for:
* Business planning training
* Business coaching or mentoring services
* Business counseling
We work with entrepreneurs in several ways during the application
process by:
* Path-finding to appropriate business planning, business
coaching,
business mentoring resources
* Identifying training needs, training and adaptive
technology resources
* Locating other business resources
* Referring members to a Vancity branch for eligible loan
applications
For more information on the ABLED loan program at Vancity, we encourage all interested entrepreneurs to contact Tanny marks, Program Manager, Community Business Banking at 604-709-6965, tanny_marks@vancity.com, or to visit their Vancity branch.
Information on this loan program is available in alternate format. For Deaf TTY telephone services call 604-871-5408.
www.vancity.com/MyBusiness/BusinessFinancing/CommunityBusinessLoans/ABLED/
