Welcome to the BC Personal Supports Network

Paul Gauthier
Network Coordinator

What is the BCPSN?

We're a network of organizations, launched in the fall of 2009, who want to improve access to personal supports for people with disabilities–everything from equipment and assistive devices, to sign-language interpreters and attendants.
We use a person-centered approach that begins with a person’s goals and offers assistance to find the supports to reach them.
We are just starting out, but click here (http://www.bcits.org/bcpsn/partners.htm) to read more about us and our plans for the future.

What can the BCPSN do for me?

Our first project is called EATI–the Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative. If you're a person with a disability who has employment-related goals (or volunteer goals leading to employment), please read on to learn more and to see if you are eligible for the project.

EATI provides a source of funding for assessment, trialing, purchasing and/or training with equipment and assistive devices that:

relate directly to your disability needs and
will help you reach your employment-related goals.

To be eligible for EATI, you must be:

A person with a disability who has an employment-related goal. Remember, volunteering can be an important step toward employment.
18 years of age or older
A BC Resident
Unemployed OR employed with low skills (for example, low English literacy, incomplete high school) and looking to upgrade
Ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI)

Have not received an EI benefit in the past 3 years

Have not received an EI maternity or parental benefit in the past 5 years

Able to demonstrate a need for assistive technology
Unable to access funding through other programs

Part-time students who are available for work may be eligible for EATI. People over the age of 65 who are available for work are also eligible.

See us on YouTube

Who applies for EATI? Click on the images or links below to see two short videos on people with employment goals who have applied for EATI.

Laurie is a person with a developmental disability living in Keremeos. She has applied for a GPS system and Intel Reader which will help her be more effective in the work force! Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3hS49lw6rA

Rachel is a volunteer at Science World in Vancouver. She has applied for a power wheelchair from EATI to be more independent and effective at her job. Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RM-PNVYvAU

How do I apply?

There are 3 ways to apply for EATI:

Download the BCPSN Personal Strategy Tool (http://www.bcits.org/docs/personal strategy tool-new.pdf) and the Key Points for Completing the Personal Strategy Tool (http://www.bcits.org/docs/keystocompletingpersonalstrategytool.doc) Then, complete and return the Personal Strategy Tool form, or
Contact one of the organizations on our Network Partners (http://www.bcits.org/bcpsn/partners.htm) page, or
Call our EATI Toll-Free line at 1-877-333-7554 or email us at EATI@bcpsn.org and we will help you connect with a Network Partner.

If you qualify, someone will assist you with the rest of the process.

What if I don't qualify?
We need your help to compile information on people with disabilities' unmet needs for all types of personal supports, including equipment.

If you need personal supports, but do not qualify for EATI and cannot find funding for the supports you need, please take a minute to fill out the BCPSN Unmet Need Form (http://www.bcits.org/docs/Unmet Need For Clusters.pdf). It will take just a few minutes and we will include your information in a database of unmet needs. This will help us to understand gaps and to seek better funding supports in the future.

Click here (http://www.bcits.org/bcpsn/partners.htm) to learn more about us.

The BC Personal Supports Network is supported by the Kinsmen Foundation. Funding for the EATI project is provided by the Province of British Columbia, through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.