Provincial
Strategy for
Coordinating
Disability

Issues

Province of
British Columbia

Provincial Strategy for
Coordinating Disability Issues
On June 2, 1994, Premier Mike Harcourt
announced; a new integrated strategy to
coordinate disability public policy issues
throughout British Columbia.

This strategy, or process, is the result of a
collaborative effort of the Premier’s
Advisory Council for Persons with
Disabilities and Government, in
consultation with communities of British
Columbians with disabilities.

Mission
To put in place, in partnership with the
community, an integrated strategy which:

Coordinates disability issues across
government
Ensures direct and open lines of
communication between government,
people with disabilities, their families,
allies, organizations representing people
with disabilities and support agencies;
Ensures direct and ongoing input into
decision-making on policy and program
priorities by persons with disabilities
Establishes disability issues as a priority
with the Provincial Government.

Why was the Strategy
Developed?
Vision
To support an environment where all British
Columbians with disabilities, regardless of sex,
age, race or socio-economic status, have
equal access in all aspects of their lives.

Mandate
the strategy’s mandate is to:

I leighten awareness of disability issues in
the province
Ensure open communications between
government, those with disabilities and
related agencies
Facilitate ongoing input into public
policy and program priorities of
government

Principles
The strategy is established on the basis of the
principles of respect for individual diversit)
and experience,self-determination; the rise
to achieve hill potential and growth;
community partnership, joint decision­
making; ongoing communication and
continuity of progress.

Past

Present

Appointment of a Regional
Resource Group
through ten representatives of
geographical locations throughout B.C.,
addresses unique community needs,
including the aboriginal community
♦ Priorized disability issues needing
resolution from the community
perspective

♦ Liases with the community to ensure
lwo-way Communication between the
community and government
Works closely with the Office for Disability
Issues and recommends priorities for action

Future

Office for Disability Issues (ODI)
Reviews policy and legislation which may
allect persons with disabilities, and
recoininends action across provincial
government ministries

Facilitates public education on disability
issues, attitudes and assumptions, and
reports on government policies, initiatives
and process in resolving disabilities
inequity

♦ Works with all other groups in the
process to address broad disability polit y
Issue's
♦ Does not have a program budget, does
not fund project, is not a committee

Contacts
OFFICE FOR Disability Issues

Frank Jonasen, Director
Office for Disability Issues
#100, 333 Quebec Street
Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4
Phone: 387-3813
Fax: 387-3111
FDD: 387-3555

Regional Resource GROUP
Arlene Ward (( chair)
c/o BC Paraplegic Association
51 I Wentworth Street
Nanimo, B.C. V9R 5E5
Phone: 750-0889
Fax: 750 3237

Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee
Paul Pallan (Chair )
Assistant Deputy Minister
students Services and Policy
Ministry of Education, Skills and Training
3rd Floor, 020 Superior Street
Victoria, B.C, VHX 2M’I
Phone: 35(F 2'187
Fax: 350 2001

Ministry OF Education skills and Training
Training
Debbie Andersen,Senior Advisory Policy and External Relations
Policy and External Relations
Ministry of Education,Skills and Training
1st Floor 818 Broughton Street
Victoria B.C, VNV I X I
Phone 3N7-3BMO
Fax: 387 0878
How to get further Information outside of Victoria, call Equity BC at 1-800-665-7867

Ministry of Edmonton skills and training
Minister Responsible for Disability issues

Coordinating Disability Issues
The strategy for coordinating disability
issues is operative (beginning June 1, 1995)
for eighteen months as a pilot project, and
will be evaluated after 9 months, and again
at 18 months. This evaluation will
determine the future directions of disability
policy in the province.
For the purposes of evaluating the success of
the strategy, the focus will be on action in
the following priority theme areas:
Education, training and employment

4- (Community living supports

Transportation
These priorities have been established on
the basis of extensive consultation with
persons with disabilities in British Columbia
The strategy is neither linear nor
hierarchical, but is composed of five
interdependent components that each have*
specific roles and responsibilities. These are

Communities of Persons
with Disabilities
Will continue Io advocate lor
improvement in rights and services lot
those with disabilities
Will set their own agenda and work towards
resolution of disability inequities, with
enhanced access to government through
the components of the strategies

Assistant Deputy Ministers’
Committee
Plays a key role in developing
cross-ministry budgets and the
coordination of disability issues within the
provincial government

Links with other related ADMs’
Committees and reports to the Deputies’
Council
Through working groups, examines
themes such as: aboriginal issues;
community living supports; education,
training and employment; developing a
“disability lens” to guide policies and
programs; transportation; and, travel and
accommodations policy

Designation of the Minister of
Education, Skills and Training
Responsible for Disability Issues
4 Ensures (hat disability issues are brought
to the Provincial Cabinet
4 Is accountable to the Premier and
British Columbians for demonstrated
commitment to resolving disability
issues, including involving persons with
disabilities in government operations