Disability

Surrey Libraries and Fraser Health have partnered together to run their Shifting the Story: Challenging Stigma event at different locations, with the Semiahmoo branch chosen for Saturday, May 6. (Google Streetview image)

Shifting the Story: Challenging Stigma happens at Semiahmoo Library May 6

Surrey Libraries and Fraser Health hold second ‘human library’ style event

 

Disability Without Poverty created bleakmarket.com, a landing page filled with listings meant to “evoke the dark web” to show how some Canadians have had to resort to selling essential items to make ends meet. (bleakmarket.com)

Canadians living with disabilities forced to sell essential items just to survive: Advocacy group

Website highlights lack of awareness, calls on government to pass Canada Disability Benefit Act

 

Maple Ridge author Randy Wagner will be signing copies of his new book, 4 1/2 Steps, at Bean Around Books and Tea on April 15. (Randy Wagner/Special to The News)

Quadriplegic Maple Ridge author hosts signing event for first book

Randy Wagner will be signing books at Bean Around Books and Tea on April 15

 

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Chilliwack man donates mobility scooter to senior who had his stolen

Chilliwack Progress story last week prompted 2 offers to help Wayne Pavich

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
Harman Singh Gill is getting trained for every role at Bandra Cafe, where he started working after graduating from a food service assistant program designed for people with diverse abilities. (Sobia Moman photo)

High demand for B.C. food service program for people with diverse abilities

Program that offers individuals cooking and safety skills once each year has a waiting list

Harman Singh Gill is getting trained for every role at Bandra Cafe, where he started working after graduating from a food service assistant program designed for people with diverse abilities. (Sobia Moman photo)
Mechanical engineering professor Nick Dechev talks about a prosthetic limb made from using a 3D-printer and polylactic acid for amputees and kids in Canada and the US part of the Victoria Hand Project in the engineering lab wing at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. group lends a helping hand to Ukraine, setting up prosthetic clinics

Victoria Hand Project provides low-cost, fully functioning 3D-printed prosthetic arms

Mechanical engineering professor Nick Dechev talks about a prosthetic limb made from using a 3D-printer and polylactic acid for amputees and kids in Canada and the US part of the Victoria Hand Project in the engineering lab wing at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
FILE - Judy Heumann, center, is applauded during her swearing-in as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Service by Judge Gail Bereola, left, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, June 29, 1993. Standing at left is Berkeley Mayor Loni Hancock with sign language interpreter Joseph Quinn, and Julie Weissman, right, in attendance with a large audience. Heumann, a renowned disability rights activist who helped secure legislation protecting the rights of disabled people, has died at age 75. The news of her passing on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Washington, was shared on her website and social media accounts. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)

Judy Heumann, disability rights activist, dies at age 75

Heumann contracted polio at age 2 and lost her ability to walk. She devoted her life to advocacy.

FILE - Judy Heumann, center, is applauded during her swearing-in as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Service by Judge Gail Bereola, left, in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday, June 29, 1993. Standing at left is Berkeley Mayor Loni Hancock with sign language interpreter Joseph Quinn, and Julie Weissman, right, in attendance with a large audience. Heumann, a renowned disability rights activist who helped secure legislation protecting the rights of disabled people, has died at age 75. The news of her passing on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Washington, was shared on her website and social media accounts. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan, File)
Dan Catarig (6th from left) and the rest of the Mission Blazers won first place in the green division of floor hockey at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Kasmath Photography - Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

Special Olympics athlete wins his first medal for Maple Ridge

Dan Catarig recently moved from Mission and won a gold medal at the BC Winter Games

Dan Catarig (6th from left) and the rest of the Mission Blazers won first place in the green division of floor hockey at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Kasmath Photography - Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
Matthew Bueschkens (#9) and Katherine St. Amand (#8) won medals in various alpine skiing events at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

PHOTOS: Maple Ridge athletes earn 5 medals at 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games

Katherine St. Amand led the group with 3 medals in alpine skiing events

Matthew Bueschkens (#9) and Katherine St. Amand (#8) won medals in various alpine skiing events at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, speaks during the second reading of the Canada Disability Benefit Act in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

New disability benefit would make ‘major difference’ in many Canadians’ lives

The Canada Disability Benefit Act is awaiting Senate approval

  • Feb 7, 2023
Carla Qualtrough, minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, speaks during the second reading of the Canada Disability Benefit Act in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Katherine St. Amand (middle) raced at the 2022 Special Olympics BC Alpine Skiing Regional Qualifier and earned a spot at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)

Maple Ridge athletes head to 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games

3 athletes will be representing the city at the Kamloop event this weekend

Katherine St. Amand (middle) raced at the 2022 Special Olympics BC Alpine Skiing Regional Qualifier and earned a spot at the 2023 Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops. (Special Olympics BC/Special to The News)
Snow falling in Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge. (Neil Corbett/The News)

IN OUR VIEW: Get a snow shovel, please

And consider how hard it may be for others to get around

  • Dec 10, 2022
Snow falling in Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge. (Neil Corbett/The News)
The free emergency training exercise will be held at South Bonson Community Centre on Saturday, Nov. 5. (City of Pitt Meadows/Special to The News)

Pitt Meadows puts emergency preparedness to the test

50 volunteers needed for emergency training exercise on Nov. 5

The free emergency training exercise will be held at South Bonson Community Centre on Saturday, Nov. 5. (City of Pitt Meadows/Special to The News)
Ridge Meadows Soccer Club is hoping that this two-day soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes becomes an annual event. (Ridge Meadows Soccer Club/The News)

Soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes coming to Maple Ridge

Ridge Meadows SC is hosting the free event from Oct. 29-30

Ridge Meadows Soccer Club is hoping that this two-day soccer camp for cerebral palsy athletes becomes an annual event. (Ridge Meadows Soccer Club/The News)
Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough smiles as she speaks to media after tabling a bill in the House of Commons Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Bill to create Canada Disability Benefit reintroduced but with few details

Canada Disability Benefit is to be modelled after the Guaranteed Income Supplement

Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough smiles as she speaks to media after tabling a bill in the House of Commons Thursday, June 2, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A report by the B.C. ombudsperson says the province kept federal money for almost three years that should have been passed along to the caregiving grandparents of a disabled girl. (Pixabay photo)

‘Disturbing’ case highlights inequity in disability benefit: B.C. ombudsperson

B.C. acted unjustly, delaying thousands of dollars in federal payments to disabled girl’s caregivers

A report by the B.C. ombudsperson says the province kept federal money for almost three years that should have been passed along to the caregiving grandparents of a disabled girl. (Pixabay photo)
A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The department is searching for witnesses in a March 31 assault on a visually-impaired man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Visually-impaired 69-year-old punched in Vancouver crosswalk

Police seeking witnesses in unprovoked March 31 assault

A Vancouver Police Department patch is seen on an officer’s uniform in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The department is searching for witnesses in a March 31 assault on a visually-impaired man. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Real estate agent Brian Cyr opens an elevator to the basement of what has been called the gold standard of homes for people with disabilities in St. Albert, Alta., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

‘About freedom’: A look inside an Alberta home adapted for physical disabilities

‘This is something I’ve never seen before in my 15-year career’

Real estate agent Brian Cyr opens an elevator to the basement of what has been called the gold standard of homes for people with disabilities in St. Albert, Alta., on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
B.C. minister of children and family development Mitzi Dean announced the new system on Wednesday, Oct. 27. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)

Advocates raise concerns as B.C. moves to new support model for children with disabilities

Individualized funding for autism to be phased out by 2025 and replaced with community service hubs

B.C. minister of children and family development Mitzi Dean announced the new system on Wednesday, Oct. 27. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)
A Beacon with the logo of the CNIB is pictured on a wall in the group’s hub in Toronto’s Yonge and St.Clair neighbourhood, Friday, July 14, 2017. The CNIB says the federal government’s new ArriveCAN app is inaccessible to some Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Advocate says ArriveCAN app technology is not accessible for blind Canadians

Travellers to Canada must use the ArriveCAN app or online portal to submit vaccine and test information

A Beacon with the logo of the CNIB is pictured on a wall in the group’s hub in Toronto’s Yonge and St.Clair neighbourhood, Friday, July 14, 2017. The CNIB says the federal government’s new ArriveCAN app is inaccessible to some Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young