We’ve put together a list of community resources that might be helpful. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for extra support.
If you are in a crisis and require support, you don’t have to face your struggles on your own. Help is always available. Scroll down to the section “Crisis/Help Lines” for contact information.
An advocacy and information sharing organization for people with disabilities.
Non-profit federation working with partners to build community and to enhance the lives of children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
The Community Advocate Support Line (CASL) is a dedicated telephone support line exclusively for advocates and community workers in BC. It is staffed by a lawyer who can give advocates brief legal information and legal advice about family law and poverty law topics to support advocates’ work on behalf of clients. Help is offered primarily for matters involving income assistance, residential tenancy and housing issues (including foreclosure), family law, employment insurance, the Canada Pension Plan (including disability benefits), debt collection and bankruptcy, consumer contracts and judicial reviews.
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call one of the following numbers most applicable to your region: Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433; Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789; Online Chat Service for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com (Noon to 1am); Online Chat Service for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon to 1am)
Victim Support Workers offer trauma-informed support; safety planning; referral to resources; support navigating the criminal justice system; advocacy with various Ministries; and community education about sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic and gender-based violence. Victim Services is accessible to anyone in need, whether or not they have reported the crime to the police. There are no fees to access services.
An Indigenous not-for-profit charitable society serving the unique and diverse disability, health resource and support service needs of B.C.’s Indigenous population. If you are an Indigenous person living with a disability within the province of British Columbia, or are an on-reserve organization requiring health information, resources and support services, BCANDS may be able to assist. You can find details here about the BCANDS Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program and its partnership with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
A multi-service, multicultural agency that provides services in newcomer settlement, employment, community development, language training, family and youth counselling, affordable housing and seniors care. Programs are delivered in culturally appropriate ways to best meet the needs of their clients.
A province-wide service program that supports adults aged 19 years and older who require an augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) system due to a severe communication disability.
Highlights strategies and resources that libraries employ to create inclusive learning environments for individuals on the autism spectrum.
STEPS Forward’s BC Initiative for Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (BC-IPSE) – Provides inclusion support for students with developmental disabilities to access post-secondary education.
Assists job seekers with diverse abilities to prepare for, secure and maintain competitive employment.
A holistic life skills and employment program for youths transferring out of care programs.
Aid with getting disability supports and more for work.
A provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability.
FamilySmart is a non-profit organization that offers free support to parents and caregivers of children and youth facing mental health and/or substance use challenges. With lived experience at the core of everything we do, we help families feel seen, heard, and supported by offering connection, support, and practical tools when they need it most.
Working in collaboration, they build personal support networks, make plans to secure the future, and bring families together for mutual support, learning and community leadership.
To help those who learn and think differently discover their potentials, take control, find community, and stay on positive paths along each stage of life’s journey.
A resource for families and adults living with ADHD and related conditions, and for professionals who work with them.
AIDE Canada is an exciting, free, new resource developed for the autism and/or intellectual disability community in Canada. Our website includes: a free, nation-wide lending library, a database of articles and research summaries focused on autism and/or intellectual disability, a national map of autism and/or intellectual disability programs and services, a calendar of events, including on-demand streaming of past recorded webinars, and several other features that we hope will be very valuable to our community.
After Your Child’s Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Quick Start Guide for Ages 0-5
After Your Child’s Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Quick Start Guide for Ages 13-18
After Your Child’s Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder – A Quick Start Guide for Ages 6-12
Specializes in providing information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC.
View the calendar to see the many available FREE Burnaby programs and drop ins! There are resources for to support parents/caregivers too.
A World Health Organization management guide for coping with adversity. This illustrated guide supports implementation of WHO’s recommendation for stress management.
Included in the BC Restart Plan, MCFD will continue to offer their interim measures in order to make sure children and youth with special needs and their families have the services and supports they need.
A Parent’s Handbook – Your Guide to Autism Programs
The Child Mind Institute has prepared free trauma resources to aid parents, educators, and other adults in talking to children and adolescents about potentially traumatic events and identifying those who might benefit from more focused professional attention.
A free online tool that families and people with disabilities can use to create a beautiful and personalized information booklet for a loved one or for themselves.
Resources on disability and income assistance, tenancy, and other income supports.
Learn about the RDSP, tax and estate planning and more.
Housing stabilization program with locations in Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and New Westminster.
Regular events for the disabled community that can be enjoyed through either Zoom, Facebook Live, or YouTube. Topics range from meditation, to cooking, to adaptive fitness.
Individual grants for children in BC and the Yukon for equipment and services including private autism assessments.
A free skill-building program for stress, depression, anxiety, and low mood.
An app that allows youth and their caregivers to access counselling, support, and groups.
Dedicated to empowering indigenous and marginalized communities through support programs and activities.
This website was made by self-advocates with DiversAbilities for self-advocates and their supporters worldwide.
An information and referral service that supports individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families across British Columbia.
A non-profit that is a parent based and directed society, providing support to individuals with autism and their families in BC.
Provides community-based services that enhance the quality of life for children, youth and adults with diverse abilities and their families.
Empowers individuals with Down syndrome to reach their full potential throughout life by pioneering and providing educational programs and services, grounded in foundational research. Working with researchers, professionals and families, they are a bridge between research and practice.
Brings together state of the art resources for research, information, learning, assessment, treatment and support; and building capacity to address the lifespan needs of individuals with ASD and related disorders.
Provides specialized development and rehabilitation services for children, youth and their families.
A non-profit society that provides information and mentoring to individuals with disabilities and their families by exploring ideas and options that can lead to customized, inclusive and creative supports and services. This can be done by forming a Microboard and/or accessing Individualized Funding. Find a great summary of these supports, as well as links to more information, in the “How we can help you” section of their website.
Register for recreational activities in Burnaby! Has categories for people with disabilities.
Dedicated to providing programs to individuals with autism and their families, while promoting acceptance and inclusion through community engagement and training initiatives across BC and beyond.
Recreational programs for disabled youth and adults.
Free Burnaby Spring Programs
Searching for one-on-one support to assist your child in thriving at summer camp? Start here!
BC Tech is a registered charity that collects donated computers (and all types of other tech devices), trains and hires youth to refurbish the computers, and then distributes the computers to schools, non-profits, libraries, Indigenous groups, and students.
Offering resources and information to keep families, schools, child-serving organizations, and, most importantly, children safe during this unprecedented time.
Video chatting is a great way for young children to stay in touch with long-distance family and friends. Here are 5 ways to help your child get the max from screen-time conversations.
ICanBeSafeOnline.com was created as Community Living BC’s online safety website. The website serves as an important tool to help people learn how to be safe online while still having fun with their friends and family, and connecting with their community.
Access to a phone can be a lifeline for youth aging out of foster care and low-income seniors, helping them stay connected to loved ones and vital support networks. Mobility for Good® supports these in-need community members with free or discounted phones and rate plans.
Telus has recently changed their Internet for Good Program allowing for persons receiving PWD to tap into the program. It provides internet service for $9.95/m for 24m & the option to purchase a low cost computer ($100-$120) through BC Technology for Learning.
Let’s Connect
Didn’t find what you were looking for, or have a resource to share? We’d love to hear from you.
