Resources
Resources
Our resource page offers additional information on the services you are interested in learning more about.
On November 8, 2025 the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) shared that as of October 8, 2025, Under-Six Non-BCAAN Autism Funding applications no longer require a pediatrician’s report. This is a temporary measure aimed at reducing processing delays for families applying for Autism Funding.
Barriers removed for couples in B.C. receiving disability assistance
Starting Dec. 1, 2025, couples where both members receive disability assistance will receive the same support allowance as they would if they were two single people.
In addition, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, couples where one partner has the Persons with Disabilities designation will also benefit from an increased annual earnings exemptions, allowing them to keep more of the money they earn.
Special Olympics BC – Victoria is a local nonprofit organization offering year-round sport, health, leadership and other community engagement opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities. We are seeking your support in further developing our programming. To learn more about Special Olympics BC – Victoria, please visit our website at: https://sobcvictoria.ca/about-
We know that there are potential participants in our community who have not heard of us, and we want to ensure that everyone with an intellectual disability knows that we exist and that we offer services that may be of interest to them, whether they have participated in sport before or not.
We are also always looking to expand upon our volunteer network and have some great roles that give people the chance to contribute meaningfully to our community as well as learn, develop and grow new skills. These volunteer opportunities branch beyond the field of play into the boardroom, so all are welcome.
Our Barrier-Free Benefits Program is Live!
Inclusion Canada’s Barrier-Free Benefits program offers FREE, one-on-one help with disability benefits. Our Navigators are here to help you apply for benefits like:
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC), including help with the medical certificate
- Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
- Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
- Filing Your Income Taxes
- Other Provincial and Territorial Programs
We can also provide information and advice on filing your taxes and links to free services. We’ll walk you through the process — from start to finish.
Our Navigators serve five regions across Canada. They can help you apply for benefits, gather documents, appeal decisions, and answer your questions – all specific to your region.
If you or someone you know would benefit from this program, please share this with them.
Learn more about this free program and book a free consultation here:
Many know how vital mental health awareness is — this Lean in and Listen guide, by CMHA, takes you one step further.
It’s a resource to help you deepen conversations. Conversations that can help save lives.
Inside your guide, you’ll find:
- What to say (and not say) when someone reaches out for help
- How to be a “trusted person”
- How to help create a plan to keep yourself or your person safe
By downloading this guide, you’re helping ensure no one struggles alone.
National Exclusion Tracker (NET)™
Use the Exclusion Tracker to share your child or youth’s story.
If you are a parent or guardian of a child or youth with disabilities and/or complex learning needs in Canada, this is a place to document their experiences of exclusion and ensure they are counted.
Fill out the survey each time your child or youth experiences exclusion.
Exclusion can take many forms—being sent home, not being included in class activities, field trips, extracurricular programs, or being denied access to child care/out-of-school care. If a child or youth feels excluded, it counts. Read more about what exclusion is.
Limited Spots for No-Cost Customized Assistive Technology
CanAssist at the University of Victoria is offering an exciting opportunity to provide custom-tailored assistive technology solutions for British Columbians, at no cost. These solutions can be a mix of hardware, software and/or customized modifications to equipment. This initiative is for situations where there are no commercially available solutions. However, CanAssist does modify commercial technologies when they do not meet an individual’s specific needs.
Who is eligible:
- BC residents who need customized assistive equipment or technology to support or enhance their workplace, educational or volunteer experiences*
- Individuals who require a custom assistive technology to enhance their employability and employment prospects.
- Full-time students not in their final year of high school nor final year of post-secondary education
- Participants under 16 years of age are welcome!
This initiative is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, and actively recruiting participants. Please note that the current application intake closes on October 31, 2025. Future intake dates may be scheduled, subject to the availability of resources.
If you know or are an individual who might benefit from customized assistive technology, you are encouraged to apply here or share this opportunity with someone who could benefit from this opportunity.
Watch a brief 5-minute YouTube video explaining the initiative and the application process.
*BC residents who require assistive technology to start work or avoid losing their current work should contact WorkBC.
Get Free Employment Support For Youth Aged 15-30
CanWork BC is a free online career preparation tool created to support youth (aged 15-30) with disabilities in BC. No formal diagnosis is required to sign up, and the tool is fully self-paced. It can be used independently or with support.
The tool is accessible by design, with plain language and built-in supports like text-to-speech. Try it out now!
Extreme Heat Resources
By: City of Victoria
Places to Cool Down
If you are unable to stay cool at home, identify places in your community with air conditioning, such as a friend’s house, a mall, community centre, or library. Click here to view the map that shows some cooling resources.
For more tips on how to stay cool, visit Victoria.ca/ExtremeHeat .
Water Safety Starts with You
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Make Your Emergency Ready Plan
By: Government of British Columbia
Knowing what to do, where to go and who to contact will reduce stress and help keep you focused and safe during a disaster.
We’ve made it easier than ever to complete a home emergency plan – just follow the prompts! You can choose to save your plan as a PDF to your computer, tablet or device, or print it out.
Alternatively, you can download and print off a fill-in-the blanks PDF template instead.
Review and update your plan yearly, or if there is a change in your situation, such as a different job or school, getting a pet or moving to a new town.
We also suggest keeping a copy in your home emergency kit and grab-and-go bag(s).
Translated emergency plans are available in PDF format: Français (French), 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese), 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)
No fields in this form are mandatory. Any information provided is not saved, stored or shared by any government agency.
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is available to eligible individuals, who can either apply for themselves or have a legal representative (such as a guardian, trustee, or someone with power of attorney) apply on their behalf. The application can be submitted online, by phone, in person at a Service Canada office, or by mail, with the online method being the fastest and most recommended option.
The specific requirements for the application depend on whether you have received a letter from Service Canada containing a unique application code.
If you received a letter with an application code:
- Applying for yourself: You will need your unique application code and Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- A legal representative applying for you: They will need your application code and SIN, along with a copy of their proof of legal authority and a valid government-issued ID.
If you did not receive a letter with an application code:
- Applying for yourself: You will need your SIN and mailing address. Including your net income from your 2024 notice of assessment is optional but can speed up the process.
- A legal representative applying for you: They will need your SIN and mailing address, their own mailing address, a copy of their proof of legal authority, and a valid government-issued ID. Providing your 2024 net income is also optional but recommended.
In all cases, you will need to provide information on your status in Canada, and you have the option to set up direct deposit for the benefit payments
Indigenous people with disabilities in BC can request support applying for federal and provincial disability benefits with the National Indigenous Navigation Services (NINS). NINS is a new program by Indigenous Disability Canada/B.C Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (IDC/BCANDS). The service is free and is available for all First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants, Status or Non-Status, living in any community.
Fill out the online form on their website, or contact them directly by calling 250 381 7303, 1 888 815 5511 (toll free), or emailing nins@bcands.bc.ca
Hold the line on inclusion with REA-L Conversations
REA-L is a provincial non-profit organization building a network of families across the province who are actively exploring and choosing alternatives to traditional services for their loved ones with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The organization offers a space where families can connect, share information, and learn from each other’s experiences.
Through honest conversations and personal stories, families share how they support their loved ones in being fully included in community life—learning, working, and living just like everyone else.
Key Resources & Support
General Information
Employment
Housing
Inclusion
Mental Health
Recreation
Rights
Social Services
General Information
Canada wide
- Anxiety Canada
- Autism Canada
- Brain Injury Canada
- CanadaHelps For Charities
- Canadian Down Syndrome Society
- Canadian Red Cross – British Columbia
- CanFASD Research Network
- CanFASD – Substance Use and Treatment in FASD online course
- CanFASD – Moving Towards FASD-Informed Care in Substance Use Treatment Guide
- CanFASD – Mental Health Resource and Practice Guide
- Research Summary – Increasing Capacity to Identify Individuals with FASD in BC
- CanFASD – Genetic and Epigenetic Perspectives on the Rold of Fathers in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- CanFASD – The Role of Partners in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention
- CanFASD – Alcohol, Pregnancy and Prevention of FASD | What Men Can Do To Help
- CanFASD – Sensory Processing and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- CanFASD – Broad Approaches to Psychotherapy for Individuals with FASD
- CanFASD – Parenting with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities for Support and Research
- CanFASD – Identifying Best Practices for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Centre For ADHD Awareness Canada
- Learning Disabilities & ADHD Network (Calgary Region)
- ScienceDirect – An updated systematic review of the literature on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the criminal legal system
- ResearchGate – The Invisible Struggle: Parents with FASD, the Courts and the Child Intervention System
- Toward Healthy Outcomes – A Framework for Integrated Community Intervention
- Whole Family Psychotherapy
- Wiley Online Library – Parenting by individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and neurobehavioral outcomes in their offspring
British Columbia
- AutismBC
- Autism Support Network
- British Columbia Schizophrenia Society
- British Columbia Schizophrenia Society Youth (BCSS YOUTH)
- BC Hydro – Free Portable Air Conditioner
- Borderline Personality Disorder Society of BC
- Developmental Disabilities Association
- Diverse Family Roots Society
- Down Syndrome BC
- Family Support Institute of BC
- Fortis BC – Free Portable Air Conditioner
- Health Connect Registry – Register to get a family doctor or nurse practitioner
- MDA – Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia
- Link! Safety, Relationships and Sexuality
- Parenting Support Group
- Provincial Health Services Authority – Deaf, Deaf-Blind & Hard of Hearing
- RocketDoctor – Virtual Comprehensive Care
- tia health – Online appointments with Canadian doctors
- WELL Health VirtualClinics+ – Book an online appointment with a Canadian doctor
Campbell River
Courtenay
Duncan
Nanaimo
Parksville
Sooke
Vancouver
Victoria
Employment
- AKG Canada
- British Columbia – Employment Accessibility Standard
- BC Centre for Ability
- BC Centre for Employment Excellence
- CanAssist
- CanAssist – Job Journey for job seekers aged 15+ who self-identify as having a disability and/or mental health barrier to employment
- Canadian Association for Supported Employment
- CCRW – Promote and Support meaningful and equitable employment of persons with disabilities
- CERIC – Advancing Career Development in Canada
- Co-operative Entrepreneur Training program
- Disability Foundation
- People Working Well – Recognizing The Signs: Early Indicators of Bullying in the Workplace
- Reducing Poverty Initiative
- VIVRS – Vancouver Island Vocation and Rehabilitation Services Ltd.
- Work BC
Housing
British Columbia
- BC Builds homes for people
- BC Housing
- BC Rent Bank – Stay housed when times get tough
- Home Sharing Support Society BC
Courtenay
Nanaimo
Vancouver
Victoria
Inclusion
Canada Wide
- abilities
- Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
- Defeat Duchenne Canada
- Families Canada
- Fighting Blindness Canada
- Finding Our Power Together
- Inclusion Canada
- Independent Living Canada
- Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
- Muscular Dystrophy
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- NeilSquire
- Treat Accessibly
British Columbia
- BCACDI (The BC Association for Child Development and Intervention)
- BCAAFC – BC Assocation of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
- BC Disability
- BC Law Enforcement Diversity Network – Decal Project
- Canadian Institute for Inclusion and Citizenship
- Developmental Disabilities Association
- disability alliance bc
- Foundry
- Inclusion BC
- Library of Lived Experience
- posAbilities
- posAbilities – Laurel Behaviour Support Services
- Spinal Cord Injury BC
Courtenay
Duncan
Nanaimo
- Nanaimo RCMP offers decals for neurodivergent and autistic people
- Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Parksville
Vancouver
Victoria
Mental Health
Canada Wide
British Columbia
- AVI.org – Community-Led Crisis Response Team (CLCR)
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
- BounceBackBC
- Canadian Mental Health Association – British Columbia Division
- Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use
- DiverseCity – Mental Health and Substance Use Servcies
- FamilySmart Together Centred
- Foundry
- Heretohelp – Mental Health and Substance use
- Human Nature Counselling Society
- Mental Health for Children & Youth
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
- Seniors & Mental Health
- Stigma Free Mental Health
Campbell River
Nanaimo
Vancouver
- Family Smart – Together Centred
- The AOK project (Acts of Kindness for
- Mental Health Foundation)
- Mindfulness for Teens
Victoria
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- City of Victoria – Accessibility & Inclusion
- Courtnall Society
- Developmental Disability Mental Health Team (DDMHT)
- Island Community Mental Health (ICMH)
- Mental Health Recovery Partners – South Island
- Mental Health Recovery Partners – South Island | six FREE supportive counselling
- Need2 – Suicide Prevention Education & Support
- PSR – Psychosocial Rehabilitation
- Umbrella Society
- Vanouver Island Y – Mental Wellness
Recreation
- BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association
- Federation Of BC Youth In Care Networks
- BC Wheelchair Sports
- City of Victoria – Bike Parking & Borrow a Bike Lock
- City of Victoria – Festivals & Events
- EMBRACE – Artistic Opportunities for Individuals of All Abilities
- GoodLife Fitness – Teen Fitness
- Neuromotion
- MT Respite Adventures
- Planet Fitness – High School Summer Pass
- Power To Be
- PiSE – Give the Gift of Play
- RAD Society
- Special Olympics BC
- Sportability BC
- Victoria Conservatory Of Music
- Victoria Disability Arts Collective
- Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association
- Victoria Wheelchair Sports
- West Coast Reach Association
- Wheelchair Basketball Canada
- Zajac Ranch For Children
Rights
- BC Human Rights Clinic
- BC Human Rights Commission
- British Columbia – Accessible Service Delivery Standard
- British Columbia – Accessible BC Act Standards
- BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
- Canadian Human Rights Comission
- Discrimination Against People with Physical or Mental Disabilities
- Elections Canada – Accessibility Services
- Gender Equality Week
Social Services
Canada Wide
British Columbia
- BC CEO Social Service Leadership Network
- Cssea – Community Social Services Employers’ Association of BC
- Connect – An attachment based program for parents and caregivers
- Family Support Institute of BC
- Family Support Institute of BC – Toolkit Resources
- Foundry
- Kids Help Phone
- Nidus – Personal Planning
- People Working Well – Three Key Strategies for Leaders to Manage Reactivity
- People Working Well – Strategies for Psychological Detachment
- People Working Well – Speak Up While Staying Connected
- Transition Planning for Youth & Young Adults
- United Way BC – Helpline Services
Campbell River
- Campbell River Hospice Society
- Campbell River Family Services Society
- Campbell River & North Island Transition Society
- North Island Survivors’ Healing Society
Courtenay
Duncan
Nanaimo
Parksville
Vancouver
Victoria
- Beacon Community Services
- Boys & Girls Club (bgc) – South Vancouver Island
- Hulitan Family & Community Services Society
- Little Steps Therapy Services
- Pacific Centre Family Services Assocation
- The Federation of Community Social Services of BC
- Thrive Victoria
- Victoria Disability Resource Centre – Peer Support
Reasons to Choose Osanis
First and foremost, our goal at Osanis is that our services respect and support your rights for safety, well being, dignity and self-determination.
We appreciate and welcome that you and/or your family, and in some instances your support team, have the greatest levels of knowledge and understanding about your unique situation.
Read More
Every client is special and every circumstance is exceptional to us. Being born with special needs has its unique set of difficulties. Similarly, acquiring a special need as a result of an accident or illness can have heavy physical, emotional, social and financial strains for all concern.
Family members and caregivers who love and support those with special needs take on great responsibilities. Osanis is mindful that those caring helpers are often very busy people who likely must balance multiple competing priorities. We understand that those responsibilities can be overwhelming at times.
Our services are designed to bring to light, and make use of, your individual abilities, strengths, relevant life experiences and resources in order to help you create new opportunities for change that you have identified as meaningful and desirable.
Life’s journey holds difficulties, and sometimes the challenges are too great to face alone. Osanis is here to help you in every way possible.
