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Province of BC Provides $5 Million to BC-SCI Network To Support People With Disabilities
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massive-dev | February 8, 2017
As part of its mandate to make BC the most progressive province in Canada for Canadians with physical disabilities, the Province of BC announced today that it will provide the BC-SCI Community Services Network with $5 million over 5 years.
The BC-SCI Community Services Network is made up of BC Wheelchair Sports Association, BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, Spinal Cord Injury BC, The Neil Squire Society and the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation. The funding will help support the growth and efficiency of the Network over the next five years, including:
- Providing supports and services to more individuals with physical disabilities throughout the province.
- Promoting and updating education and information resources covering all aspects of living with a physical disability, including housing, finding employment, and physical and mental health.
- Increasing services to enhance active living and community participation.
- Promoting best practices in care and support.
- And developing and providing assistive and adaptive technologies.
“What’s unique about these organizations is that they work together and support each other — they’re all helping the same people to become engaged on different levels,” said Teri Thorson, a BCWSA board member who’s also a Paralympian. “When I got injured, these partner organizations changed my life because of the opportunities they all allowed me to have. For twenty years, they’ve helped me form new peer connections and motivated me to stay fit and healthy. I’ve gained confidence in employment, sports, and community life. I’ve met other people with spinal cord injuries and who have given me confidence in how to live as a person who uses a wheelchair. Now, I take the things I’ve learned and give them back to the spinal cord injury community.”
To see more photos of the event, check out our Facebook page.
To learn more about today’s announcement, click here.
For all media inquiries, please contact Gail Hamamoto
Email: gail@bcwheelchairsports.com
Cell: 778-385-1531
About the BC SCI Community Services Network
The BC SCI Network provides access to information and services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Network offers an informative website, online support, training sessions, in-person meetings and one-on-one support that connect people with spinal cord injuries throughout the province. Since 2010, over 11,400 people have received services through the Network, and that number is expected to grow as it enhances and expands services even further.
