Family Resources

Speech Language Pathology | SpeakSTRONG

Offers speech therapy for individuals diagnosed with neurological movement disorders (ex; Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, essential tremor etc.)

Location:
Parkinson Wellness Projects
202 – 2680 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC, V8T 5E1, Canada
Contact: info@speakstrong.ca

HandyDART Transit uses specially equipped vehicles to provide door-to-door service for people with disabilities who need assistance to use regular public transit.

For information on TransLink HandyDART services, see:

• TransLink HandyDART service

For information on BC Transit HandyDART services, select your region from:

• BC Transit: Choose a Community

Then click “Rider Info” and look for the HandyDART section.

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) focuses its funding on the Central Coast and Bella Coola Valley. Bella Coola Valley Health Services has established a local HandyDART bus service in the Bella Coola Valley to provide transportation to medical appointments, adult day programs, foot clinics, etc.

In addition, Bella Coola Valley Health Services covers 100 percent of medically required air travel for patients from the Central Coast through purchase of discounted tickets with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Escorts are required to pay for their own transportation.

Island Health distributes its funding to eight contracted transportation providers, creating a transportation network supporting people in many rural and remote regions, including multiple gulf islands, the north island and the west coast. These contractors provide door-to-door, non-emergency patient transportation services, primarily facilitating trips to and from Island Health appointments, facilities, or locations.

Website: Island Health patient transportation

IH Health Connections has developed bus services to link small communities with the regional/tertiary hospitals in all four health service areas. These are: Okanagan (links to Kelowna and Penticton), Thompson Cariboo Shuswap (links to Kamloops and Vernon), Kootenay Boundary (links to Trail) and East Kootenay (links to Cranbrook).

IH partners with regional districts and BC Transit to offer services to medical riders within health service areas, but routes don’t currently cross health service area boundaries.

Website: Interior Health Connections

Looks like they might just refer back to the Provincial Travel Assistance Program

The goal of BC Disability is simple: we want to help persons with disabilities and allies find what they are looking for!

Although this website has a British Columbia focus, much of the information remains useful regardless of location. Content on the BC Disability website includes:

• A directory of disability resources across BC

• Tips and information on securing BC disability assistance (BC PWD) and other funding

• Guides on accessibility, advocacy, community inclusion, and more

• A spot to showcase the work of disabled artists and entrepreneurs

• Fun, games, contests, and an interactive quiz on disability with new questions each time

If you have any input about BC Disability, want to learn more about a particular issue, have something to bring to our attention, or just want to say hi, please get in touch! We look forward to connecting with you =)

​Website: BC Disability 

Contact: Spencer van Vloten, Editor, BC Disability

Helps alleviate some of the transportation costs for eligible BC residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community.

Your physician, nurse practitioner, or specialty clinic will provide the TAP form and complete most of it for you.  They should be able to give you next steps and further information about this program.

You can also google Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC) and it will take you directly to the TAP BC government website with all the information about this program.

The NH Connections medical bus service (NHC) is a health transportation service established in 2006 to support people to access medical and health services not available in or near their home communities or location. Learn about passenger eligibility for the NHC service. The routes and schedules support typical patient referrals and is designed to allow for route and/or schedule modifications over time as services and referral patterns change. NHC has an active advisory committee in place that includes a patient, community representative (mayors), and FNHA representative.

Call 1-888-647-4997
nhconnections.ca

Provides free air travel for eligible families travelling for medical care.

You can go to their website at hopeair.ca and fill out a travel request form or call 1.877.346-HOPE (4673).

BC Family Residence Program

Provides accommodation assistance to enable families to stay together when their child requires medical care at BC Children’s Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children

Program through Variety.

Variety administers the BC Family Residence Program on behalf of the Government of BC/Provincial Health Services Authority to provide accommodation assistance for families while a child requires care at BC Children’s Hospital and/or Sunny Hill Health Centre, BC Cancer Agency (Vancouver location) and babies in the Neo-natal unit at BC Women’s Hospital.

(taken from BC Disability)