Adult Sevices & Resources List which includes a listing of available adult supports including:
- affordable housing registries/placement services
- residential service providers
- home support services
- vocational training & job placement services
- educational/college programs
- day programs
- life skills programs
- respite services
- health, counselling and behavioural consultant services
- sports and leisure and social programs
- legal resources
- advocacy resources
- parent/family education resources and support groups.
Government Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
The Ministry of Children and Family Development's (MCFD) Community Living Services for Adults provides services to adults with developmental disabilities to enhance opportunities to live in the community. For details contact a Community Living Services office near you (link to follow shortly).
Other provincial government ministries who also provide services to persons with disabilities:
- Ministry of Human Resources
PO Box 9058 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Phone: (250) 356-7750
Toll Free: 1-800-337-3531
Fax: (250) 356-7292
Website: http://www.mhr.gov.bc.ca
- Ministry of Advanced Education
PO Box 9059, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Telephone: 1-888-664-2256
Fax: 250-356-2598
Website: http://www.gov.bc.ca/aved/
This info is also available directly from the Autism Spectrum Parent Resource Directory
Residential Services - A variety of residential options are available so individuals and their families can select the one that best suits their needs. Residential options include the following:
- Community Residences vary from small family homes to larger residential facilities. All residences provide care and support for adults with developmental disabilities.
- Semi-independent Living assists adults with developmental disabilities to live either alone or in small groups in homes or apartments. People live as independently as possible with the help of in-home support as required. Services are tailored to the needs of the individual.
- Respite and Relief Services provides emergency or short-term care for adults living in community residences. Respite care provides for temporary care out of the home, while relief services provide for alternative in-home care. These services allow service providers and families periodic relief from their responsibilities .
- Intensive Adult Care provides short-term community-based care for adults with challenging behaviour or unique needs that cannot be served by existing respite or temporary care facilities.
Social housing provided by B.C. Housing or non-profit organizations (such as Gateway) can be suitable for eligible adults with autism that are able to live independently and meet income requirements. Individuals with autism receiving B.C. Disability Benefits may also be eligible for social housing. To contact B.C. Housing phone:
- In Victoria: (250) 475-7550
- Vancouver: (604) 433-1711
- Housing Inquiries: (604) 433-2218
- Elsewhere in B.C., call toll free: 1-800-257-7756
Training and Support Services - The Ministry of Children and Family Development provides funding for societies, agencies or private individuals to operate programs that offer training and support for adults with development disabilities, to assist them to become as independent as possible. Training and support programs provide opportunities for people to achieve their personal goals and participate in community life. The following programs offer a range of supports for people in their own communities. For more specific information, please contact your local MCFD office.
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Self Help Skills - This program provides training to help people develop their personal and social skills necessary to function well in the community and become more independent in their daily lives. Services can include training in personal care, use of public transportation, community access, use of money and socialization and employment readiness skills.
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Home Support Programs - These programs assist adults with developmental disabilities to maintain independent or semi-independent living arrangements through direct homemaking or household management, or training in these skill sets.
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Supported Work - This program provides a combination of work experience, training and support to help individuals find and maintain work experience placements and employment.
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Professional Support - These services provide assessment, support, consultation and planning to individuals, or those who support them, to ensure continued success in community placements. They also help service providers, ministry staff and families to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate programs and services related to community living, including training for caregivers.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) - Vocational Rehabilitation Services are delivered by VRS Consultants in the Ministry of Human Resources (MHR) offices throughout the province (main contact info, listed above). For services look in the Blue Pages of the local telephone directory for the closest ministry office.
The assistance includes:
- assessment and career planning
- interventions required to prevent job loss
- technical and vocational training
- restorative goods, such as hearing aids
- on-the-job training assistance, and
- workplace and vehicle modifications.
To be eligible for VRS, you must:
- be a British Columbia resident
- be age 16 or older
- have a permanent disability that prevents or hinders you from participating in training and in the labour market, and
- be assessed as having a realistic potential to benefit from VRS.
MHR Disability Benefits, How to Apply & Receive the PWD Designation - please check back for more information
Adult Special Education (ASE) Programs and Special Needs Services at Post Secondary Institutions
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Adult Special Education Programs - Adult Special Education (ASE) programs are offered at public post-secondary institutions across British Columbia. ASE programs and courses provide students with an opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge to lead to increased independence and the ability to participate fully in society. ASE programs provide flexible learning opportunities for adult learners to acquire the skills they need to be successful in academic or employment-related programs or to move directly into the workplace.
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Services for Students with Disabilities - Targeted grant funding is provided to colleges and institutions in British Columbia to support students with disabilities. The purpose of this funding is to support successful participation for people with disabilities, to assist the institutions in providing services and supports for students with disabilities and to provide equal access to training across the province.
For more information about the ASE programs and support services available in the province, visit the Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED) website.
For specific information about available ASE programs see the B.C. Opportunities website at or the website for Opening Doors .
Leisure and Recreation - many municipalities throughout the province offer programs that facilitate inclusive recreation and leisure opportunities for children, youth and adults with disabilities. Services may include leisure planning, leisure assistance (one-to-one volunteer assistance), training and education of recreation facility and parks staff, referrals and assistance in overcoming barriers to participation. Volunteers are given free passes to attend the recreation facility when accompanied by a person with a disability. To locate resources in the community, check the Blue Pages of the local telephone book. Resources available include:
CCRA Disability Tax Credits - please check back for more information
CPP Disability Benefits - please check back for more information
Community Resources - for community resources or more information about income support for people with disabilities in British Columbia, please check out the following:
- BC Association for Community Living
3rd floor, 30 East 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 4P4
Phone: (604) 875-1119
Fax: (604) 875-1119
Website: http://www.bcacl.org
- BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
#204 – 456 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1R3
Phone: (604) 875-0118
Fax: (604) 875-9227
Website: http://www.bccpd.bc.ca
- PovNet
800 – 1281 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3J7
Phone: (604) 876-8638
Fax: (604) 685-7611
Website: http://www.povnet.org
- Canadian Mental Health Association – BC Div.
1200 – 1111 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3V6
Phone: (604) 688-3234
Fax: (604) 688-3236
Website: http://www.cmha-bc.org
- Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
#700 – 808 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3
Phone: (604) 660-4444
Fax: (604) 660-0374
Website: http://www.trustee.bc.ca
- Advocate for Service Quality - Jane Holland
Ste. 320 – 1818 Cornwall Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 1C7
Phone: (604) 775-1238
OR call Enquiry BC at: 1-800-663-7867& asked to be transferred to 775-1238
Fax: (604) 660-1505
- www.creativeresistance.ca – this is a website run by community advocates who focus on disability related issues, among other social justice topics
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