Aging Caregivers
2025-07-16 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-30 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Event
We cannot slow the aging process in ourselves or in the people we care for! As we get older, our ability to care for our family member becomes more and more difficult. Planning our own future, and the future of our loved ones can be a terrifying process. Will we be able to provide the necessary care? Will they be well cared for in the future, after we are gone? What can we do to make the future easier? Connecting with other families in similar situations is the best way to problem solve and figure out what will work best for our specific situations. Join our call with other “mature” parents and caregivers and we can problem solve together!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
You are invited to join FSI CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS, a private Facebook Group intended to continue conversations of support or provide an alternative platform for support. www.facebook.com/groups/fsicontinuingconversations/
After the session you are encouraged to share your feedback. This helps FSI improve our content to better serve the needs of families.
All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

Parenting ADHD Group
2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
We believe that every parent & kinship caregivers are the expert of their own family. Sometimes it just takes a bit of space to hear yourself and the voices of other parents to find your way through. Parenting Support Groups provide a safe, supportive place to share ideas, information, concerns, challenges, etc., with others who are also parenting.
The online event occurs bi-weekly on Wednesday at 7 pm and is FREE to join.
Our groups are free and confidential and open to those in a parenting role who live in British Columbia, Canada.
If you are completing this form after hours or over the weekend, please note that we will make every effort to contact you the following business day.
Please note that our initial contact is via Email, kindly ensure that you check your junk/spam mailbox.

Thank you,
PSS
Office@parentsupportbc.ca

Parenting Neurodivergent Children Support Group
2025-07-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
We believe that every parent & kinship caregivers are the expert of their own family. Sometimes it just takes a bit of space to hear yourself and the voices of other parents to find your way through. Parenting Support Groups provide a safe, supportive place to share ideas, information, concerns, challenges, etc., with others who are also parenting.
The online event occurs weekly on Thursday at 6:30 pm and is FREE to join.
Our groups are free and confidential and open to those in a parenting role who live in British Columbia, Canada.
If you are completing this form after hours or over the weekend, please note that we will make every effort to contact you the following business day.
Please note that our initial contact is via Email, kindly ensure that you check your junk/spam mailbox.

Thank you,
PSS
Office@parentsupportbc.ca

FASD - Thinking Outside of the Box
2025-07-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-07-24 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-07-31 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
This family hangout is all about empowering conversations for individuals affected by FASD and those that support them. Join us for a family hangout that provides a safe place to share and connect.
CLICK TO REGISTER
WE ASK ALL REGISTRANTS TO PLEASE REVIEW FSI’S ZOOM MEETING GUIDELINES BEFORE ATTENDING
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base.
FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY
You are invited to join FSI CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS, a private Facebook Group intended to continue conversations of support or provide an alternative platform for support. www.facebook.com/groups/fsicontinuingconversations/

After the session you are encouraged to share your feedback. This helps FSI improve our content to better serve the needs of families.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/52ef23e13270439d9d97d32a0b229bbc

All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

Dads Matter
2025-07-20 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
What is it? Dads supporting dads ! A place where dads can share their own experiences and get guidance and support from other dads. Dads with kids with disabilities.
When: Every Sunday. Attend one, three or as many as you want.
Where it Happens: Zoom online, Register Here
Ages: Dads of Children – All Ages
Cost: Free

Get in Touch: For more information, please call Ben Postmus at 250-231-7712
Website: https://diversefamilyroots.ca

Fed Skills Workshop
2025-07-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Interested in expanding or developing your skills?
Join a Fed Skills workshop to connect with other youth from care and learn about subjects like: Peer Support; Justice, Equity Diversity and Inclusion; Leadership, and much more!
Participants will receive a certificate of completion for each workshop, which can be used for job or school applications or go towards SAJE life skills hrs.

Who can attend:
Youth in and from care in BC between the ages of 14-28
When: Tuesday, July 22, 6-7 PM
Where: Virtual – Teams

After completing this training you should:
Understand what contributes to effective facilitation
Know how to build safer spaces
Learn how to manage group dynamics
Understand how to support diverse participant needs
Learn tips to troubleshoot challenging situations

Sign Me Up

Substance Use Recovery: A Personal Account from the Front Lines
2025-07-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Brian Dean Williams brings years of frontline experience supporting individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Like many in this field, his early career took a personal toll—leading him to face his own struggles with substance use as a way of coping with stress and moral injury.

In this session, Brian offers a heartfelt and honest account of that journey: the challenges he faced, how his work intersected with his personal struggles, and the path he took toward healing. His story is one of resilience, insight, and hope—for himself and for other frontline workers navigating similar experiences.

In the second half of the session, Brian will share practical strategies that have supported not only his own recovery but also the well-being of dozens of frontline workers he’s guided through therapy, clinical supervision, workshops, and retreats. He’ll introduce a compassionate framework to understand the full spectrum of substance use and offer tools to respond skillfully—whether supporting ourselves or others.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Recognize the unique risks that frontline service workers face in developing problematic substance use
Identify early warning signs that may indicate personal struggles with substance use
Develop a deeper understanding of the spectrum of substance use and learn how to respond skillfully and compassionately—both to themselves and others
Become familiar with practical resources and evidence-informed models for addressing problematic substance use

About the presenter

Brian Dean Williams is a registered clinical counsellor and approved clinical supervisor. Brian has worked on the frontlines for 28 years with folks struggling with mental health, substance use, housing, and marginalization. He has worked in the downtown eastside in Vancouver, and in small First Nations (Indigenous) communities. Brian’s main modalities are narrative therapy and Buddhist psychology, although he also draws from other collaborative forms of counselling and community work. He has taught at Correctional Services of Canada, Raincity Housing, Vancouver Coastal Health, the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation, and many more. Brian lives on the traditional unceded territories of the shíshálh Nation with his wife and three kids, where he loves mountain biking, playing hockey / basketball, and singing with his community. www.briandeanwilliams.com
Register Here

Reactive Behaviours
2025-07-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Sometimes our loved ones communicate their needs in ways that are hard to understand — through what we often call “reactive behaviors” or behaviors that challenge us. These might stem from things like sensory overload, limited language, anxiety, or other unmet needs.
As caregivers, it can feel overwhelming — but you’re not alone. Join our bi-weekly Family Hangout where caregivers come together to share experiences, support one another, and explore tools and strategies that others have found helpful. These conversations are rooted in the belief that all behaviour has meaning and that, as trusted adults, we can model self-regulation, adapt our environments, and work toward meeting the needs behind the behaviour.
This call now brings together families from two former groups — Complex Behaviours and Non-Speaking Autism. We welcome all who are navigating this journey and want to learn and connect in a supportive, non-judgmental space. Let’s come together, listen, share, and build a more inclusive and compassionate path forward — one where everyone’s needs are understood and valued.
CLICK TO REGISTER
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base.
FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

You are invited to join FSI CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS, a private Facebook Group intended to continue conversations of support or provide an alternative platform for support. www.facebook.com/groups/fsicontinuingconversations/
After the session you are encouraged to share your feedback. This helps FSI improve our content to better serve the needs of families.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/52ef23e13270439d9d97d32a0b229bbc
All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

Become a Certified Mental Health First Aider: Virtual Training on July 24th & 25th
2025-07-24 08:30 - 2025-07-25 12:00 | Virtual Event
Join us for an engaging and impactful virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course, designed to equip you with essential skills to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or decline in well-being. This interactive training will take place virtually, from 8:30AM to 12:00PM, on July 24th & 25th, providing you with hands-on techniques to recognize, support, and guide individuals toward recovery.
Throughout the course, participants will learn how to:

Recognize early signs of mental health declines or crises
Encourage open discussions about mental health and well-being
Guide individuals to appropriate professional or community supports
Offer support in mental health or substance use crises
Use MHFA actions to maintain your own mental health

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certificate from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).
Before attending the virtual training, participants must complete a self-directed online module (Module 1), which introduces key concepts and strategies to be explored in the live training (Modules 2 and 3). The online module takes approximately 2 hours to complete, and proof of completion is required prior to the start of the virtual modules. Completion of Module 1 is mandatory to participate in the virtual course. Failure to complete the online module by the specified deadline will make the participant ineligible for a refund or transfer of registration.
Important Note: A minimum of 8 participants is required by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for the training to proceed. If fewer than 8 participants are confirmed 48 hours prior to the session, the course will be rescheduled in accordance with MHCC’s group size policy.
Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations must be submitted via email (training@csshsa.ca) at least 5 business days before the scheduled course to receive a refund or reschedule.

Late cancellations or no-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.
Register Here

Mental Health First Aid
2025-07-24 08:30 - 2025-07-25 12:00 | Virtual Event

Real Talk Pride Season 2SLGBTQIA+ Zoom Hangout
2025-07-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
LGBTQ folks with cognitive disabilities (or folks with cognitive disabilities who are questioning or curious about their gender and / or orientation) meet over Zoom, watch some Real Talk videos, and participate in a conversation facilitated by a certified sexual health educator.
Everybody has questions about dating, love, relationships, and sex. Things like:

How do I meet a boyfriend / girlfriend / partner?
How do I let my family know that I want to date?
How can I make sex safer?
What is consent?

It’s totally normal. But sometimes it can be hard to know where to get good information. At this event, we’ll watch some Real Talk videos, and have a conversation hosted by a Certified Sexual Health Educator. We’ll talk about where to get good information, who can support us with this stuff, and how to figure out confusing situations. People are welcome to talk about things, or to just listen if they don’t want to talk.
If you want a family member, friend, or staff member to come with you to the event, that’s great. They don’t need to register, they can just show up with you.
Register Here

Access to Justice Position Statement
2025-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Did you know that people with an intellectual disability face significant barriers when interacting with the justice system?
Inclusion Canada has developed a position statement on access to justice. On Thursday, July 31st from 3-4 PM EST, we’ll be hosting a webinar to review our priorities, our calls to action, and our vision for an inclusive justice system.
Join us, learn from self-advocates, family members, and legal professionals, and prepare to be part of the solution.
Live French interpretation and ASL/LSQ will be available during the webinar.
To view Inclusion Canada’s Access to Justice position statement ahead of the webinar, you can do so here: https://bit.ly/3GBl6TO
Panelists include:

Kory Earle-Morrow: Kory is the Provincial/Territorial Coordinator at People First of Canada. Kory has been a huge advocate for people labelled with an intellectual or developmental disability. He lives with his husband, mother-in-law and 4 cats in Carleton Place. Kory will moderate the webinar.
Bluesette Campbell: Bluesette is the President of Inclusion Saskatchewan and a member of the Inclusion Canada board of directors. Bluesette chaired the Access to Justice Position Statement Committee. She will provide an overview of the position and commentary as a parent.
Elsie Tellier Caballero: Elsie is a Staff Lawyer at ARCH Disability Law Center. Elsie co-coordinated the Canada Civil Society Parallel Report Group. Elsie will comment on the significance of Inclusion Canada’s position, including as it relates to the rights claiming process.

Register for free now!

Children In Care
2025-08-05 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-09-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
A support group for those with kids in care, considering care, or feeling pressured to place their kids in care.
Only families who have experienced this unique journey truly understand the challenges it brings. Whether due to removal, a special needs agreement, or a voluntary care agreement, placing a child with extra support needs into the Ministry’s care is an incredibly difficult and emotional decision. Families often face feelings of guilt, judgment, and isolation during this process. You’re not alone. Join us for an open and heartfelt conversation with other families who share your experience.
This is a space for parents and caregivers to connect, share, and support one another without fear of judgment. Let’s come together to find hope, resilience, and connection.
** PLEASE NOTE: This meeting is reserved for families with a member with a disability and self advocates only **

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base.
FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

You are invited to join FSI CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS, a private Facebook Group intended to continue conversations of support or provide an alternative platform for support. www.facebook.com/groups/fsicontinuingconversations/

All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

Kindergarten Transitions
2025-08-12 12:30 - 14:30, 2025-08-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Transitioning from preschool or childcare into school can be particularly challenging for parents and their children when extra supports are required.
Additional care is needed to ensure a smooth process and understand how to navigate the school system This workshop is designed for parents of preschoolers and kindergarteners to learn what to expect during those first months of Kindergarten.

CLICK TO REGISTER

Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grass roots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base.
FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY

After the session you are encouraged to share your feedback. This helps FSI improve our content to better serve the needs of families.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/52ef23e13270439d9d97d32a0b229bbc

All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

You are invited to join FSI EARLY YEARS TRANSITIONS, this online forum was created by The Family Support Institute of BC aimed to support families navigate the journey of transitioning into Kindergarten for their loved ones through peer-to-peer support and shared experiences. https://www.facebook.com/groups/fsitransitiontok

Deaf and Autistic - Affirming Intersections of Experience
2025-08-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
This webinar will focus on people who are Deaf and
Autistic. The presenter will be Elle Livengood. Elle is
Deaf and Autistic herself and will share her journey to
understanding autism, being Hard of Hearing and
becoming Deaf, experience through a cochlear implant,
and about other parts of the life lived til now. Elle will
talk about understanding language, understanding
autism, affirming Deaf Autistic children, how to
navigate the systems that don’t always support
marginalized families, and more!

BIOGRAPHY

Elle is a professional educator of many years and many
hats. Elle has taught Deaf and hard of hearing students
across the country, in Deaf schools, mainstream settings
and now runs a DHH middle school center program in
Portland, Oregon. As well, Elle has hosted a variety of
workshops on the Disability experience for adults. They
are Deaf, Autistic and chronically ill and have a
plethora of lived and learned experience in the
Disability Community.
These days you can find Elle loving their little home and
family life filled with love, animals and nature.

Fed Family Chat
2025-08-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
This virtual event is an opportunity to hang out with other youth in and from care and have fun. Together we can shape how we want to spend our time together.
This Fed Family Chat will be taking place on
Tues, Aug 12, 7-8 PM

Sign Up for Fed Family Chat

We are so excited to share space and connect with you!

The ADHD Growth Summit
2025-08-18 07:00 - 2025-08-29 17:00
In celebration of our new ADHD community, we are throwing a party and you are invited. Join us virtually for two weeks of body doubling, interactive workshops, breakthrough moments, and finding your people.
This Summit brings together over 30 extraordinary ADHD voices and experts ranging from coaches, creators, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and educators.
They represent the full richness of ADHD culture. It’s innovation, honesty, adaptability, and depth. They’re here to answer the questions you’ve been wanting to ask and the keys to their success.

Personal Planning Stories + Q&A with Nidus and Family Support Institute
2025-08-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Virtual Event
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and FSI are hosting a joint webinar on personal planning and Representation Agreements. This webinar will help you understand how to arrange for future support needs or potential incapacity while you’re still living.
The webinar offers a screening of two videos featuring personal, real-life stories from people across BC, highlighting the usefulness of personal planning and Representation Agreements. After the screening, there will be time for a short Q&A period.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Register Here

Accessibility Projects Grants Applications Now Open!
2025-08-21 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-03 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
As part of the Province’s goal to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in BC, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) was selected by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR) to distribute funding to community based “Accessibility Projects” beginning in 2018. Since then, over 95 projects have been funded.
This year the grants have reopened again with a total of $450,000 available. BC-based not-for-profit organizations may apply for up to $40,000 for year-long community engagement projects that will support lasting change for people in BC living with disability. Projects will focus on one of the following objectives:

Accessible employment;
Accessible emergency planning and response;
Accessible arts, culture and tourism;
Accessible sports and recreation;
Accessible education and learning;
Accessible community participation.

The deadline to submit applications is September 12th, 2025, at 12pm Pacific Time. Successful applicants will receive funding in December 2025 in order to implement their project in January 2026.
Eligibility criteria includes:

Projects must be focused on community engagement rather than large capital costs such as accessibility improvements to buildings and outdoor spaces.
Eligible organizations must be not-for-profit organizations with a volunteer Board chosen by its membership, based in BC or with a base of operations in and sufficient capacity to deliver services in BC. They must operate primarily for community benefit and have services open to the public rather than restricted to their membership.
If an organization has received a grant in the past, they can reapply 5 years after their application was submitted (for example, if an organization applied in 2020 for a grant and did their project in 2021, they can reapply in 2025 to do a project in 2026).
Conflicts of interest with DABC must be declared on the application form to be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please see our Conflict of Interest Protocol here.

For more information about eligibility please see the Call for Proposals, which can be found here: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (dabc.ca)
Online information sessions will occur on Thursday August 21st at 1:00pm-2:00pm and Wednesday September 3rd at 11:30am-12:30pm. At these sessions, potential applicants will be invited to learn about the application process and ask questions. Live captioning will be available. With two weeks advanced notice, ASL interpretation can be booked on request and other accessibility requests will be accommodated whenever possible.
– To register for the August 21st session, please click here.
-To register for the September 3rd session, please click here.
To learn more and download the Call for Proposals (CFP) and application forms please visit: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (dabc.ca). Screen reader friendly versions of the document and ASL interpretations explaining the application process are also available.
If you have any questions, please contact the Accessibility Projects Grants Coordinator at ap@dabc.ca.
Download the press release here.

BC Summer Institute 2025
2025-08-25 - 2025-08-27 | Virtual Event
The BC Summer Institute: Partnerships for Inclusive Learning conference, organized by the Family Support Institute, is happening in August, and the early bird registration deadline is coming up soon!
This virtual conference for educators, paraprofessionals, and members of school-based teams in BC provides a professional learning experience around facilitating inclusive practice in the classroom.
Monday, August 25 to Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Early Bird registration is by Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Early Bird pricing – $395
Regular pricing – $450

Journey Through Grief
2025-08-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of a child or family member with a disability who journey through aspects of grief are invited to come together in a safe space for connection, understanding, inspiration, capacity building, and non-judgemental support. Whether your experience is a new diagnosis, life stage, or loss, we welcome you to join the conversation circle. We are inclusive of diverse perspectives and belief systems.
CLICK TO REGISTER
Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not-for-profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability. FSI is unique in Canada and the only grassroots family to family organization that has a broad volunteer base. FSI SUPPORTS AND SERVICES ARE FREE TO ANY FAMILY
You are invited to join FSI CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS, a private Facebook Group intended to continue conversations of support or provide an alternative platform for support. www.facebook.com/groups/fsicontinuingconversations/
After the session you are encouraged to share your feedback. This helps FSI improve our content to better serve the needs of families.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/52ef23e13270439d9d97d32a0b229bbc

All FSI Zoom sessions can be accessed by telephone only if access to computers and/or internet is a barrier. If you need assistance registering for any session, please call our office at 1-800-441-5403.

Mental Health First Aid Course
2025-09-04 08:30 - 2025-09-05 12:00 | Virtual Event
Join us for an engaging and impactful virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification Course, designed to equip you with essential skills to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or decline in well-being. This interactive training will take place virtually, from 8:30AM to 12:00PM, on September 4th & 5th, providing you with hands-on techniques to recognize, support, and guide individuals toward recovery.
Throughout the course, participants will learn how to:

Recognize early signs of mental health declines or crises
Encourage open discussions about mental health and well-being
Guide individuals to appropriate professional or community supports
Offer support in mental health or substance use crises
Use MHFA actions to maintain your own mental health

Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certificate from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC).
Before attending the virtual training, participants must complete a self-directed online module (Module 1), which introduces key concepts and strategies to be explored in the live training (Modules 2 and 3). The online module takes approximately 2 hours to complete, and proof of completion is required prior to the start of the virtual modules. Completion of Module 1 is mandatory to participate in the virtual course. Failure to complete the online module by the specified deadline will make the participant ineligible for a refund or transfer of registration.
Important Note: A minimum of 8 participants is required by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for the training to proceed. If fewer than 8 participants are confirmed 48 hours prior to the session, the course will be rescheduled in accordance with MHCC’s group size policy.
Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations must be submitted via email (training@csshsa.ca) at least 5 business days before the scheduled course to receive a refund or reschedule.

Late cancellations or no-shows are not eligible for refunds or rescheduling.

Accessible Social Media and Email Marketing for Job Seekers with Disabilities (CCRW)
2025-09-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Interested in Accessible Digital Marketing?
This workshop will help in understanding how to make digital resources inclusive and accessible. Through examples and group discussions, attendees will learn key accessibility principles, practical strategies, and tools for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and email marketing. A takeaway toolkit of resources will be provided for continued learning and implementation.

Learning Outcomes:
Design Accessible Content
Implement Alt Text
Image Descriptions & Captions
Tools for Accessibility

Find more information on the CCRW website. or Register Here
