Could you imagine phoning a worker that knows your name, knows your disablility, and is happy to help you.
Well kiss that program goodbye!!! Put this program back, please!
BC The Best Supports in canada for the disabled, now that is just plain old brainwashing.
Alberta PWD rates are $1588. per month compared to $906. in BC.
In other Provinces you can walkin to an office and talk to a worker, just like what it was like in BC not that long ago.
(This is my opinion)
I think the real plan for welfare in the furture is to get every service done via the phone and computer, then the ministry will follow most canadian companies by outsourcing the entire welfare system to India. (in my opinion) based on reality.
2014-02-16
It is important for the government to allocate more money towards equal funding to all families with children with disabilities not just ones with a specific diagnosis. Also it is important that there be more funding available to be able to hire qualified respite workers for the needs of our complex children. Getting paid under $12 an hour is not enough to hire respite workers that need to perform medical care for our children.
2014-02-17
Great that Mr. McRae wants to make this the best Province for people with disabilities. So, a woman with spastic cerebral palsy, who depends on her electric wheelchair applies for a new one FOUR WHOLE MONTHS before she is eligible, because hers broke. The Ministry turned her down. She went public, the story aired onCBC, and now she gets her wheelchair! For shame she had to go through that. I am also spastic CP. I go through shoes faster than the average person, but cannot get them replaced. Ditto the inserts. I don't, can't walk like other people. I have one pair of shoes that I must wear for everything. Of course they wear out! AND it costs me between $25.00-38.00 to have a Doctor fill out yet another form so I can beg the Ministry for something I need.
These are easy fixes, Minister. You know this.
2014-02-17
Sadly, you are not alone, but part of a troubling pattern. Imagine what it would be like, if you woke up one morning and this was not a problem, not a reality. How would you know? What would be different?
Although social and financial transformation in the world will not rid us of pain and fatigue, changes would certainly make our lives more liveable.
2014-02-17
First off, I'd like to see a universal building code for BC that is fully accessible. Raise the PWD rates from $900. Keep EATI funding in place. Give us personal disability agents at the Ministry offices. Increase the number of hours each person get for homecare, and keep the CSIL program in place. Increase coverage for wellness and preventative health maintenance. Provide full coverage for alternative visits like physiotherapists, massage therapist, etc and pay the full hourly rate. Decrease wait times for applications to the Ministry for funding for things like shoes, wheelchairs, etc.
2014-02-18
The dental fee schedules need to be updated as they are falling too far behind and it is hard to get any dental work done at the fees set right now, as well as raising the rates to meet the cost of living in bc.
2014-02-18
Well it's almost time to get our checks, I wonder how many of us are having to choose between food or shelter, medication (not all is covered) or food. I wonder how many of us feel like we're being denied what we need for self respect. I wonder how many of us who are honest, declare everything, try to work or do work feel like they are wearing themselves out health wise just to get the basics. I'd like to see how many of those who have stipulated were only going to get $856 live like us. We need help, not hindrance. We need to have more bc housing or raise the amount we get for rent. You want us to healthier, then initiate a program or increase our living expenses to do so. It cost more to be healthy and I'm not just talking about organics. Inflation affects everyone, why can't they see this?
2014-02-19
I agree with the comment about EATI but my experience with it is that it took a long time to process the request; shorter wait times and more office in BC would help.
2014-02-19
Follow up to a comment about ?BC211. The phone number is 1 y604 857 6431. The website is www.bc211.
2014-02-19
I totally agree with the last person's comment !
2014-02-19
Today I would like to write about BCITS (formerly TIL). This is a great program - it's free to anyone who is eligible for this program. They are based in Vancouver. I would like to see this program stay.
2014-02-19
Most disabled people are still hungry due to extreme poverty prevents them from having anything near a full life - anyone who thinks the disabled of BC are well treated or have enough for food every month anyone who hasn't known a disabled person may believe the stories - Rent + food money must be increased to keep the disabled out of hospital Only a blind person would think the present amount is reasonable.
2014-02-19
It can' be said enough the disabled are still hungry due to extreme poverty prevents them from having anything near a full life - anyone who thinks the disabled of BC are well treated or have enough for food every month anyone who hasn't known a disabled person may believe the stories - Rent + food money must be increased to keep the disabled out of hospital Only a blind person would think the present amount is reasonable. Why not say it again
2014-02-19
Since people with disability have less access to financial resources and income due to their illness, it would be appropriate to let them have a home of their own. They are paying high amounts of rent to private section that does nothing for their well-being. If government can provide some homes that they can pay their rent as a mortgage and own it after 20-25 years, this action can end the big body of poverty due to disability. Their family could live better and be in more positive situation, mentally and financially. Why always disable people should be at the bottom of our society? This is a shame for our society and country.
2014-02-21
Notes:
Cut down cost/overhead of operation:
There are several umbrella organizations and agencies work towards health concern under donations or government grants. Bring them under one roof, renovate & implement overhead cost cutting measures and look how it’s possible to $ goes direct to consumers development rather than operational expense with chain of commands.
Discuss with families or consumer: direct one on one since each case may be different or unique @ age, mobility, kind of disability whether it’s physical, visual or brain disorder, income asset level, cultural difference, geographical area, transportation existence, ability, education level. Trust family and care-givers, cut down privacy barriers, and treat with dignity and sympathetically.
Use of mentorship: One on one mentorship would be help full and trustworthy with consumer & family and easy to navigate regarding education, employment, volunteering, independent living, homecare & hygiene, and day to day requirements.
Use of spirituality, exercise, sports, arts, discipline, yoga, mind control: This will help focus to achieve establish short and long term goals through concentration.
Study & Research: How different approach and ideas may help to encourage PWD into main stream with positive outlook. Explore other countries development and successful integration.
Local Government: has a big role to play since there is close face to face ties with family & consumers. All other government, agencies and organizations need to work one direction to improve living standard of PWD and to reduce the gap of rich & poor.
Stigma: Some governmental rules and red tapes with stigma attached and keep PWD and family with distance. The “not in my backyard” still norm in many places and community.
The accommodation needs (no jail): are different with PWD with brain disorder (bipolar, depression, schizophrenia) than physical or visual PWD and are yet to be establish and recognized into community. The many counter staff including VCH, condo managers, strata members, custodians, inspectors, some police force, store keepers, license holders dealing with public are not properly train to deal with PWD with psychiatric situation and effective communication to handle the situation. Mentally ill PWD often oppose family, caregivers, friends while experiencing symptoms of paranoia and delusions and therefore become isolated and helpless. The call for help from mentally ill are often treated as disturbance, aggression, misbehavior and usually results in police intervention and criminalization of an illness. These situations may filled with many police interventions, criminal files, court cases and stress may adversely affect health condition of PWD and family for long term and make rehabilitation impossible.
Policy change: In involuntary mental illness cases impose medication is not only requirement when certified but involuntary day program, talk therapy, continuous symptoms observation, family involvement without as much privacy retractions and outreach intervention to legislate & follow up is as much needed.
2014-02-21
River view hospital area: Modify this area into mental health research, residential treatment & vocational training centre:
All in one umbrella with focus toward independent living, personal development, employment or self employment same time it’s much easier research on individual cases & causes with treatment.
Mental health, drug addicted or anxiety patient may not fit into regular hospital or emergency or reception area, or general public ward or educational institutions. These people need secure observation, monitor treatment with reality check, ongoing training with discipline and counseling etc.
Mental health, drug addicted or similar patient can be admitted as many years until they are qualified to live independently with confidence.
The training facility would include & encourage individual interested field focusing toward independent living. These people comfortable working with:
2) Work with all sort of animals (since animals are most trustworthy) & product: breeding, dog training, bird sanctuaries etc.
3) Farming, gardening, landscaping, flower & fish farming.
4) Various artistic developments.
5) Entrepreneurship.
6) Fitness.
7) Cooking.
8) Auto repair.
9) Construction & building renovation.
10) Janitorial.
11) Land-scapping and development.
12) Toy, jewelry making.
13) Office administration
14) Seamstress
15) Food industry.
Etc.
This facility will save repeated hospital intake, homelessness, criminal behavior, drug addiction, police involvement, court cases, family care & guidance ( family will be more productive & would happily volunteer with the facility).
Understand the barriers case by case, age, gender and match employer, position, geographical area and requirement.
The PWD have lack of confidence, low self esteem and need lot of encouragement and one-on-one mentorship.
Entrepreneurship training & start up fund where possible. Encourage home base business.
2014-02-21
I have been on disability since 1997. Since then I have applied for the "Special Diet supplement" more than 5 times. Due to the limited amount of money we all receive or have left after rent and bills to buy food, I am unable to purchase the types of foods my Doctor says I need. I am morbidly obese and am at risk for heart attack or stroke. It is not a matter of if but when one of these will happen. My Doctor wants me on a low fat, low protein, low salt, low sugar, low carb. diet. Unfortunately, everything that is low fat, low sodium, sugar free etc. are far more expensive than the full fat, full salt and sugar items at the grocery store. Every time I have applied for the "diet supplement allowance" I have been denied due to the fact that I am not suffering from a "wasting disease ". This makes no sense to me at all. The extra $40.00 per month I am applying for is much less than a prolonged stay in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital after I have my first heart attack or stroke, or the cost associated with becoming a diabetic. Of course once I have a heart attack, stroke or develop diabetes, I believe at that point provided I am still living I will then qualify for the "diet supplement". My Doctor tells me to eat more so my body is not always in a constant state of famine so I can start to loose weight, but I cannot afford to do that after I pay my rent and bills. I am left to buy the cheapest possible items at the grocers. Of course we all know what those are. The fact that the Government would rather I have a heart attack or stroke or develop diabetes than to allow me an extra $40.00 a month for food is absurd to say the least. I believe that the Government is hoping that I die from a stroke or heart attack so they wont have to pay out anything to me at all. This of course does nothing for me. This kind of thinking by the powers that be must change. It is not fare that the government requires me to have a heart attack or stroke before giving me the diet supplement my Doctor believes I need in order to avoid said heart attack or stroke. I have friends in this same situation so I know I am not alone in this. It is very sad that our Government would rather we die than look after us and help us live a healthier life. To end my comments on this I would like whoever reads this to think about the cost to the Government that will be incurred when I have a stroke or heart attack that does not kill me but leaves me in the ICU or hospital or care home for the rest of my life.
2014-02-21
Now when you phone even once a year or two times a year for the $20 food allowance they give a difficult time...whereas before you could apply for this a few times a year. Gradually the govt. has been cutting everything. Need the monthly allowance increased not just for food, but so that we get medicine.
2014-02-21
When we have something that is not in the norm medically (so a rare genetic situation) hardly any medicines are covered. How does one pay bills, buy groceries and medicines? Not being able to get pain treatments, medicines, etc. causes us to go downhill. With medicines and pain treatments etc. I would have been a greatly contributing person to society (cos I was, in spite of my severe health things)...but when memory, mobility restricted because of pain etc. happens and us not able to get the help we need, we become more of a burden to society. No one wants to be in that situation. Some of us have come to a point where we are near suicide because of govt. cuts and no family or people helping. How does this Premier except us to survive? [Usually when it is genetic disorders more than one person in the family is suffering...most often many of them. How are they supposed to help others when they themselves are going through fiery trials?]. How are we to buy medicines, food, pay bills....and survive only on eight, nine hundred dollars a month?
2014-02-21
If government keeps cutting funds slowly to disability things like they have (taking away people's dignity), I would rather see them institute Euthenasia. At least that would give some dignity.
Even personal supports such as personal care help is denied when there is something out of the norm. Where/Who do we turn to?
2014-02-21
What is the White Paper?
2014-02-21
I have a number of health conditions, but am having trouble getting the nutritional supplement. Criteria needs to be widened, but, of course, the government will not do that, because, then, more PWD's would be eligible.
I need this because I am morbidly obese. Why? Because I cannot afford to eat the way I should. I also have increasing neurological difficulties and am losing muscle tone.
2014-02-22
I am quickly discovering that there are no resources available for people who are disabled, but who, for a variety of reasons, are not on PWD.
Why have governments gutted almost every program that was working?
2014-02-22
In addition, I'm wondering what BC's contribution to the Olympic games was. Since when is sport so much more important than treating people right? In five years time, will anybody even remember who won what? Why not take that money, plus training allowances, plus travel costs and put that towards our living costs?
2014-02-22
I go to a First Nations Dental Clinic in ******, ( I am white) but 80% of their clients are non First Nations I am told. They takes the welfare rates at par. They are funded by the Federal Gov. and the Dentists work on salary, fantastic service and they offer things that a normal dentist would charge extra for like white fillings etc. Of course most Dental items are not covered at all like crowns.
I am diabetic and need teeth to eat food, like everyone else, again our living rates are so low that a $1,500. crown may as well be a million dollars!!
The fact is extractions is the real dental plan. I have been with an anti poverty for 10 years now, the group is based all over BC I know that about 95% plus of Dentists do not accept the welfare Dental plan even in the case of pain, I know a few people that have ended up in the Hospital ER begging for pain meds because a local Dentist will not see them without putting all cash up before even looking at what is wrong. Cash...what is that?
I had 4 wisdom teeth out in the Hospital a few years back, under general anistics (spelling)
that program has been 100% canceled, not even Down Sydrome people in total fear can not get general anistics anymore.
We need the Dental plan that welfare workers get and why not???
Yes why not!!!
They want us to find work with a mouth full of rotting teeth caused by poor diet (unaffordable diet)!
End of todays comment, thanks.
2014-02-22
Need better services/medical coverage for people with rare genetic disorders and situations that are yet undiagnosed. No medicines, or personal supports are approved when your situation is not in the norm. At every turn to be told that your medicines are not covered, or that you cannot get oxygen easily, or that the extra pain treatment things you need are not covered (only 10 visits that you have to pay $55 out of pocket first time, and $30 each time after is discouraging. But when the 10 visits are done.....how do we get more visits?). Need better diagnostics covered such as genetic testing (which I had to get in the US...and had to get into debt greatly). And when we phone to ask for a food voucher or emergency help they make it very difficult now...because there have been major further cuts. What little there was is now taken away. How do we get medicines, food, pay for shelter etc when we are having to pay for medical things??
2014-02-24
It is not so much about reducing barriers as it is about the government TOTALLY REMOVNG ALL THE BARRIERS THAT THEY HAVE ERECTED, and putting back into place the services they have stripped over the years. It is about enough money to live like human beings. It is about not living in fear of authority. It is about being as healthy as possible regardless of our personal disability. It is about WANTING to include PWD's as equal members of society, which means finding out how each individual can best make a contribution to society. It is about honesty and dignity.
2014-02-24
Hello, I am a PWD recipient ($907.=/mo) and an OAP recipient (about $300.=/mo.). My OAP gets promptly deducted from my PWD and I also had to cash in all my savings before I even qualified for PWD. In other words I am stuck with a fixed income of $907.=/mo. for the rest of my life. I am allowed to earn $800.=/mo., but this is not easy as I wore out my back with vefy hard work previously. I keep busy and benefit the community with lots of volunteer work, but I do not get paid for that. I do not understand why my OAP should be deducted from my PWD. I believe I earned that and that it should not be considered different from any other income.
