A B.C.-wide non-profit organization that advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is hosting a series of free sessions this week in Richmond.
You can still sign up for sessions today (Thursday) and Saturday.
Inclusion BC is inviting families, caregivers and service providers to attend conversations either in person or virtually until Nov. 18 to share their thoughts and ideas about the services and supports available for children and youth with disabilities or support needs.
“Our intention was to create safe, inclusive, accessible spaces where people can come and express their ideas,” said Erika Cedillo, director of public policy and programs at Inclusion BC.
“So, what we want to hear (from) families and caregivers and service providers in their respective sessions (are) what are the things that are going well, what are things that are not going well and what would an ideal network of services and supports for children and youth with disabilities could look like.”
Examples of services and supports include therapies, out-of-school activities and respite care for parents, she added.
The Richmond School District, City of Richmond, Aspire Richmond and Developmental Disabilities Association are among some of the agencies who partnered with Inclusion BC to deliver the conversations.
Cedillo said the sessions will be led by a facilitator from Apostrophe, a Vancouver-based communications agency.
The conversations will take place at the Richmond Caring Place, Hugh Boyd Secondary, East Richmond Community Hall and Seedlings Early Childhood Development HUB, but they will also be accessible via Zoom.
There are three sessions for youth, families and caregivers and two for service providers. The Nov. 15 conversation was in Mandarin, while the rest are in English. Each in-person session will also provide either lunch or dinner.
Richmond is the last stop in a series of sessions Inclusion BC has run since May. Campbell River, Castlegar, Kamloops and Port Alberni were the other locations.
Cedillo said there are many elements that make Richmond a great community to learn from, including that it is culturally diverse and an urban centre.
From the previous conversations, Cedillo said the common topics raised by attendees have been around families looking for guidance on services they need and the impact of long waitlists in accessing them.
The conversations are a part of Inclusion BC’s Community-Led Collaboration Project, a two-year initiative where the results of the sessions will be compiled into a report and shared with the public and Ministry of Children and Family Development to inform future services in B.C.
The project also involves giving up to 25 grants to organizations across B.C. to host their own engagement efforts in their communities that are similar to the ones Inclusion BC is running.
Inclusion BC will provide the organizations with an engagement guide, which will include what was learned from the sessions in Richmond and the other locations.
Cedillo also said while registration is appreciated, it is not mandatory.
“If people can attend, just join, drop in and come and join the conversation,” she said. “Really that is the message.”
To view the different session dates and times as well as register, click here.
For more information about the Community-Led Collaboration Project, click here.
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