Supports and services for people with disabilities
Last updated on February 13, 2024If you are living with a disability in B.C., there are programs and services available to you. These programs and services get funding of more than $5 billion each year. They are offered through government, crown agencies and corporations.
On this page:
- Adults with developmental disabilities
- Advanced education
- Assistive technology and supports
- Children and youth with support needs
- Early childhood intervention
- Employment
- Financial programs
- Health
- Housing
- Indigenous families
- Interpreting services
- K-12 education
- Legal supports
- Seniors
- Sports and recreation
- Transition planning
- Transportation
- Other information from B.C. and Canada
- Other international information
Adults with developmental disabilities
- Advocate for Service Quality
- Community Living BC
- Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services – Fraser Region
- Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services – Interior Region
- Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services – Northern Health
- Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services – Vancouver Coastal Health
- Developmental Disabilities Mental Health Services – Vancouver Island Health Authority
- Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities (STADD)
Advanced education
- Adult Special Education
- Centre for Accessible Post-secondary Education Resources BC (CAPER-BC)
- Grants and Scholarships
- Post-Secondary Communication Access Services – BCIT
- Program for Institutional Loan of Assistive Technology
Assistive technology and supports
- Assistive Technology BC
- Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults
- Communication Access Now - Communication Disabilities Access Canada
- eSSENTIAL ACCESSIBILITY
- Federal Disability Supports Deduction
- Provincial Auditory Outreach Program
- Special Education Technology-BC
- WorkBC Assistive Technology Services
Children and youth with support needs
- At Home Program – Respite and Medical Benefits
- Autism Funding
- Child Development and Rehabilitation Resource Directory
- Child Protection Mediation Programs
- Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN)
- Community Brain Injury Program
- Key Worker and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)-related Supports and Services
- Mental Health Services
- Nursing Support Services
- Post-Adoption Financial Support for Children and Youth with Special Needs
- Provincial Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
- Special Education Services
Early childhood intervention
- Assessing and Supporting Your Child's Development
- Autism Assessment Programs
- Early Childhood Health Screening and Therapy Programs
- Early Intervention Therapy
- Infant Development Program and Aboriginal Infant Development Program
- Supported Child Development and Aboriginal Supported Child Development Program
Employment
- Accessibleemployers.ca
- Assistive Technology BC
- Training Tax Credit
- WorkBC Employment Services for People with Disabilities
- Workers' Advisers Office – WorkSafeBC Disagreements
Financial programs
- Access RDSP
- Applying for Disability Assistance
- Canada Student Loan Forgiveness – Permanent Disability Benefit
- Canada Student Loan Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability
- Disability Assistance General Supplements
- Endowment 150
- Federal Tax Credits and Deductions for Persons with Disabilities
- Gaming Grants
- Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP)
- Information on Income and Disability Assistance
- Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) toll-free RDSP hotline
- Tax AID DABC – Tax Assistance and Information for Persons with Disabilities
- Tax Benefits for People with Disabilities – Medical Supplies and Equipment
Health
- Child and Youth Mental Health Services
- Choice in Supports for Independent Living
- Fair Pharmacare
- Foundry – Mental Health Services for Young People (Ages 12-24)
- Health Supplements for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Designation
- HealthLink BC
- Home and Community Care
- Kelty Mental Health Centre
- Medical and Health Services After You Leave Disability Assistance
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- Mental Health Services for Adults in Custody
- Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)
- Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program
- Specialized Pharmacare Plans
Housing
- 2014 Building Access Handbook (PDF, 3.6MB)
- Accessible List of Housing Resources (PDF)
- Assisted Living
- BC Housing
- Building Act
- Home Adaptations For Independence
- Home Owner Grant for Persons with Disabilities
- Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
- Housing Matters BC
- Property Tax Deferment
- Rental Assistance
- Starting, During and Ending Residential Tenancies
- Subsidized Housing
- Supportive Housing Registration Service
Indigenous families
Interpreting services
- Accessing Interpreters for Legal Proceedings
- American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Services
- Understanding American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Service
- Information for American Sign Language (ASL) Service Providers
- Medical Interpreting Service
K-12 education
- Provincial School System Learning Support Services
- Special Education Policies, Procedures and Initiatives (PDF)
- Special Education Services
- Transition into School
Legal supports
Seniors
- B.C. Seniors' Home Renovation Tax Credit
- Better at Home
- Healthy Aging Toolkit
- Office of the Seniors Advocate
- Seniors' Supportive Housing
Sports and recreation
- Accessibility Sport Hub
- Accessible Travel in B.C.
- Angling Licence Fee Reduction
- BC Sport Participation Program
- Camping Fees for Persons with Disabilities
- Hunting Permit for Persons with Physical Disabilities
- Special Olympics BC Healthy Athlete Program
Transition planning
- Advocate for Service Quality
- Children with Special Needs: Starting School
- Disability Assistance Application for Youth with Developmental Disabilities
- Information for 17-Year-Old Youth with Disabilities Applying for Disability Assistance
- Teens with Special Needs: Entering Adulthood
Transportation
- Accessibility at BC Ferries
- Accessibility at BC Transit
- Accessibility at TransLink
- BC Bus Pass Program
- Driver Medical Fitness
- Fuel Tax Refund
- HandyDART Transportation Service
- ICBC Vehicle Insurance Reduction for People with Disabilities
- Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities
- Tax Reduction for Vehicle Modifications (PDF)
Other information from B.C. and Canada
- Access Awareness Day
- BC Centre for Ability
- BC Human Rights Protection
- Emergency Management BC
- Guide Dog and Service Dog Certification
- Human Rights Tribunal
- Jordan’s Principle
- National Network for Equitable Library Service
- The Community Against Preventable Injury
Other international information
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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Contact information
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