Welcome to our comprehensive resource directory for people with disabilities, seniors, caregivers, and families in Richmond and throughout British Columbia. This page provides links to a wide range of services and supports—from accessibility resources and advocacy services to financial assistance, healthcare, housing, legal aid, recreation programs, tax information, and transportation options. Whether you’re navigating government benefits, looking for assistive technology, seeking employment support, or connecting with local community programs, you’ll find helpful information organized by category below. Resources are updated regularly, but we encourage you to contact organizations directly to confirm current availability and eligibility requirements.
Accessibility & Disability Resources
Advocacy Services
- Cerebral Palsy Assoc. of BC Advocacy Services
- Announcing the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPABC)’s Advocacy Services
- Living with a disability often means that you have to deal with government ministries and other bureaucracies to have your basic needs met. If you have been having difficulty with applications, dealing with funding issues or need help wading through eligibility requirements, help is available at the CPABC office. Their volunteer, Jeanne Morton, has many years of experience advocating for persons with disabilities. She will be available on Wednesday afternoons from 1-3 pm to assist you to find your way through governmental systems. You can leave a message for Jeanne at the CPABC office at 604-408-9484, or call her there on Wednesday afternoons.
- Announcing the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPABC)’s Advocacy Services
- Inclusion BC FREE Advocacy Support to Families of Children and Youth with Disabilities
City of Richmond Snow Angel Program
Community Support Workers & Home Care
- Angels There for You Senior Care
- Comfort Keepers
- Comfort Keepers™ offer our services to seniors and people who need temporary support and help like new Moms, children, adolescents and adults with special health care needs including disabilities. They are a Registered Veterans’ Affairs provider and service insurance clients.
- Services offered are: Companionship; Bathing & Grooming; Meal Preparation; Mobility; Incidental Transportation; Transferring & Positioning; Light Housekeeping; Incontinence care; Grocery Shopping; Medication Reminders; 24-Hour Care; Feeding; Emergency Monitoring; Oral Hygiene.
- For more information or to schedule a free in-home consultation, call 604-689-8609
- Email: vancouverwest@comfortkeepers.ca
- 300-3665 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC. V5R 5W2
- Tel: 604-689-8609 | Fax: 866-573-8537
- Website: www.comfortkeepers.ca
- Comfort Keepers™ offer our services to seniors and people who need temporary support and help like new Moms, children, adolescents and adults with special health care needs including disabilities. They are a Registered Veterans’ Affairs provider and service insurance clients.
- Family Support Institute’s Support Worker Centre
- Nurse Next Door Home Care Services
Disability Related Resources
- Getting to Know Dementia: A Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Care
- Managing Learning Disabilities as a Teen and Young Adult
- Nidus Representation Agreement Fact Sheets:
- Real Talk: A Sexual Health Initiative for People Living with Cognitive Disabilities
Emergency Preparedness
- Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities / Special Needs
- Disaster Preparedness for Seniors from Canadian Government
- Prepared BC Emergency Guides and Resources
- Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities and Their Support Workers from Disability Alliance BC
- Prepare Your Pets Guide from PreparedBC
- Resources for People with Disabilities from PreparedBC
- Sign up for Richmond BC Alert to Receive Emergency Alerts
Employment & Education
- Career Guide for People with Disabilities
- DABC Publication – Disclosing Your Disability
- National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
- STEP Forward – The BC Initiative for Inclusive Post Secondary Education
- Vancouver Island University Offers Online Entrepreneur Certificate Course for People with Diverse Abilities
- WorkBC Employment Services Centres
- On April 2nd 2012, the Provincial government launched a new system of employment programs for British Columbians. Under this model, all employment services are centralized and consolidated into WorkBC Employment Services Centres, which are operated by various organizations.
- People who want help finding employment through WorkBC will need to contact an Employment Services Centre. The model differs from the previous system in that the Centres provide help to people from all communities including people with disabilities, immigrants, youth, women and people receiving basic social assistance.
- Please note no changes have been made to the rules about seeking employment for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefit recipients or for people receiving the Persons with Persistent and Multiple Barriers to Employment benefit (PPMB).
- About Accessing the Centres
- Job seekers should go to the WorkBC website workbc.ca or phone at 1-877-952-6914 between 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm for answers to job, career or labour market questions.
Energy Conservation
Equipment & Assistive Technology
- Adaptive Solutions Wear
- BCITS “Opening Doors to Independence” Helps Give Power Door Openers
- Have you ever thought about what it means to be able to open a door? Watch BCITS new video “Opening Doors to Independence” to find out what it really means for people with disabilities.
- BCITS, along with the Kinsmen Foundation of BC and the BC Rehab Foundation, are in partnership to help to provide people with disabilities in need with power door openers.For more information, visit technologyforliving.org or call 604-326-0175
- CanAssist develops innovative technologies to make life easier
- Enabling Technologies Braille Products in Canada
- HumanWare is pleased to announce a new partnership with Enabling Technologies. Beginning January 1st, 2016, Humanware will become the exclusive North American distributor for all Enabling Technologies products.
- As Humanware’s Canadian distribution partner, Aroga Technologies will become the exclusive distributor for Canada, excluding Quebec.
- Enabling Technologies is a recognized leader in Braille printers. They are best known for their incredibly robust Romeo and Juliet embossers as well as production embossers such as the BookMaker, Braille Express 150 and the Braille Place.
- For more information about the Enabling Technologies line of Braille printers, or any other Humanware products, please contact Aroga Technologies at 1-800-561-6222.
- Hangin’ Out Bag for Wheelchair
- Rear Window Captioning® / Descriptive Video Service® Information
- Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) Locations in Lower Mainland
- Richmond Public Library HOME Services for people with disabilities
- University of Victoria’s CanAssist Program New CanPlan Software App
- University of Victoria’s CanAssist Program New CanTune Software App
- CanAssist at the University of Victoria has launched a free software app that helps people with disabilities in supported employment situations. CanWork is an app designed to promote independence and build confidence by helping people with cognitive challenges manage shifts, prepare for work and complete work-related tasks successfully.
- Virtually any task can be broken into a sequence of easy-to-follow visual steps. The app can also prompt the user the day before a shift, the morning of, and shortly before a shift to complete the tasks necessary to effectively work. Contact information for important helpers – job coaches, co-workers or caregivers – can also be programmed into the app for easy reference.
- Web site for specialized phone features – Wireless Accessibility
Funding Resources & Financial Assistance
- City of Richmond – Recreation Fee Subsidy Program & Recreation Access Card
- Disability Alliance BC CPP-D Guides
- Disability Tax Credit: Online Application with New Digital Form
- Disability Tax Credit: Digital Application for Medical Practitioners
- Endowment 150 to Help with RDSP
- Financial Empowerment Website: Prosper Canada
- Guide to the DTC & RDSP for Newcomers with Disabilities
- Plan Institute Launches Canada Disability Benefit Website
- “Safe & Secure” PLAN Publication – Free Copy
- Simplified PWD Application by Youth with Developmental Disability
- Social Development Ministry Additional Assistance & Benefits for People in Need
- Social Development Ministry Health Supplement & Programs
- Telus’ Internet for Good Program for Persons with Disabilities
- Vehicle Insurance Disability Discount
Housing
- BC Housing Application Form Download
- BC Housing On-line Application
- BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) for low-income seniors and people with disabilities
- City of Richmond Affordable Housing Guide
- City of Richmond – Finding Affordable Housing
- How to apply for “Subsidized Housing”?
- Metro Vancouver Shelter Lists and Homelessness Resources
Legal Resources & Rights
- Applying for Welfare On-line – by Legal Services Society
- CSIL Employers Free On-Line Workbook – 2015
- New Resource for Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) Employers
- Spinal Cord Injury BC’s Module 4 of the CSIL Online Workbook is now available for free download. This Module, How to be a Lawful CSIL Employer, looks at the key legal issues and responsibilities for CSIL employers as identified by the employers themselves. Understanding these issues will help CSIL users to prevent problems and to know the next steps if or when problems do develop in your workplace. The intention of the Workbook is to educate and empower Choice in Supports for Independent Living employers, so they can enjoy the control and independence CSIL can provide.
- Download all the Workbook modules from: https://sci-bc.ca/resource-centre/choice-supports-independent-living/
- DABC Launches Videos for Victims of Crime
- Legal Right & Resources for People living with Cerebral Palsy & other Disabilities
- Office of Ombudsperson of BC
- If you think you have been unfairly treated by a provincial government ministry, public agency, or local government body – the Office of the Ombudsperson can help.
- Have a complaint? Call: 1.800.567.3247. The Office of the Ombudsperson provides confidential telephone interpretation services in more than 150 languages.
- All services are free of charge. You do not need to be a B.C. resident.
- About the Ombudsperson
- An independent statutory office of the provincial legislature, the Office of the Ombudsperson impartially investigates individual complaints about unfair administrative actions of more than 2800 B.C. public authorities.
- For information direct from the Office of the Ombudsperson, please subscribe to e-news at https://www.bcombudsperson.ca/
- Power of Attorney Use & Abuse: A Guide for Seniors and their attorneys
- Public Guardian & Trustee of BC
- Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre: FREE legal education & advocacy for BC tenants
Medical Services & Healthcare
- Accessing Health Services not Covered by MSP
- BC Disability Information – Find Low Cost Dental Services
- BC PharmaCare: Get help paying for medications and medical supplies
- BC Epilepsy Society Info Sheet
- Locate Walk-in Clinics in BC: Medimap
- Medical Services Plan (MSP) of BC
- VCH – Getting Fair Pharmacare Coverage
Mental Health Resources for Children & Youth
Recreation
- Adapting Dances Instructional Videos
- Agur Lake Camp – Wilderness Barrier Free Camp Site
- BC Parks Accessibility Information
- City of Richmond Community Centres Program Registration
- City of Richmond Recreation Access Card for Disability
- Easter Seals Canada’s Access 2 Card Application/Renewal
- Health Recovery Programs – Modified Tai Chi
- Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism offers specialized Tai Chi programs for people with chronic illnesses or those recovering from injuries, with a purpose to be used as complementary therapy in aiding and speeding recovery. Movements can be adapted for people with reduced mobility.
- Click here to view more info about the Health Recovery Programs.
- Richmond Therapeutic Riding Association
- Special Olympics BC Sports & Programs
Settlement & Newcomers
Support Groups
- Alzheimer Society Family Caregiver and Early Stage Support Groups
- BC Epilepsy Society Peer Support Groups
- Brain Resource, Advocacy & Information Network (BRAIN)
- Delta Family Alliance Network – a family support network for families of people with developmental disabilities
- Prostate Cancer Support Canada – Support Group & Event Calendar
- Prostate Cancer Support Group – Richmond, available in Mandarin, Chinese & English
- Richmond Autism Parents Support
- Richmond Parents for Transition Group – Contact Aspire Richmond Family Resource Manager, Darcie Domes
Tax Information
- Application for Refund of Federal Excise Tax on Gasoline
- Canada Revenue Agency’s “Protect Yourself Against Fraud for Vulnerable Canadians”
- CRA Web Info for Persons with Disabilities
- Disability Alliance BC’s Tax AID Program
- Disability Tax Credit Application Form (T2201)
- First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit
- Fuel Tax Refund Program for Persons with Disabilities – General Info
- Fuel Tax Refund Program Application for Registration
- Fuel Tax Refund Program Application for Refund
- Stay On Top of Your DTC Eligibility
- If you have been found eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), there is a good chance you may need to reapply at some point to retain your eligibility. Check your Notice of Determination letter, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 or visit your My Account to find out.
- Use an Operator-Assisted Relay Service when Communicating with the CRA
Transportation & Travel
- A Guide for Special Crosswalks in Richmond
- Accessible intercity bus services for persons with disabilities – Code of Practice
- Accessible Travel – Travel for All
- Annual Bus Pass for People with PWD Designation Application and Renewal Info
- Autism Friendly Cruise Line
- BC Ferries – Ac
- BC Ferries Accessible Fare Identification (AFI) card application
- BC Ferries – Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities
- Accessibility, Evacuation and Safety on BC Ferries
- The BC Ferries has added the C-MIST form to its emergency information on the accessibility section of its website. Now the C-MIST information is in the safety brochures for each of the BC Ferries’ vessels.
- C-MIST stands for Communication needs, Medical needs, Functional Independence, Supervision needs and Transportation needs. Individuals can fill out the form and carry it with them when they travel on BC Ferries.
- Click here to BC Ferries’ website and click on any of the vessel names to see the safety brochure for that vessel.
- Click here to download the C-MIST form of BC Ferries.
- Canadian Travel Assisted Society – Travel Info & Funds for Attendants Travel Expenses
- Easter Seal’s Disability Travel Card
- GF Strong – Driver Rehabilitation Program
- Handy Card Special Needs Transit ID Card
- HandyDART Visitor’s Temporary Application Form Download
- Resource Tool for the Carriage of Mobility Aids
- Road Safety Tips for Mobility Scooter Users
- Skytrain Door Guide Map
- Take Charge of Your Travel – A Guide for Persons with Disabilities
- Transport Canada’s Accessible Transportation Complaints: A resource tool for persons with disabilities