Joy Success Birds painting with logo
 Pos-A-Bits                                    October 2012
In This Issue
Can you help?
EATI: New Partnership
Port Mann Bridge
 
         Visit our Website!

Website Update
  • how to purchase the DVD Try on a Disability 
  • to listen to the interview Zosia had with Co-op radio 
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Your Comments 
  

Tell us what you think! We'd love to hear your feedback.

Do you have a story to tell? Please let us 
know!

It's as simple as hitting 'reply' or emailing us here.

Calendar 

 

Keep current with all our upcoming events by checking the calendar on our website!

 

November: 

The Craft and Gift Show scheduled for Saturday Nov 10th has been cancelled because we did not have enough volunteers who could set up the room and man the kitchen etc. We will try again another time.

Try on a Disbility  

We are looking to put some snippets of our DVD on You Tube and when we do that we hope you will notify all your friends to go and check it out.

 

We also want to put sign language on the video for those who are hearing impaired to be able to understand the film and we are also looking to make a 15 min how to video so people can Try on a Disability in many settings. 

 

In order to do that we need some funding so that we are asking you to donate to the society. You can do this through PayPal, or mail it to 

 

#80 - 2270 - 196th Street, Langley, BC V2Z 1N6 or by credit card at 604 961-0117. 

 

Thank you so much for your help!

 

The video "Try on a Disability" is now on sale for $20!

 

The CD of inspirational songs called D.I.M.E.S. by Lance King who composed and sang the two songs in our film is also available for $20. (We will be updating our site so you can download the songs. Stay tuned!)

 

Please go to our website for both of these purchases!

 
Equipment and Assistive Technology Initiative (EATI)

 

EATI is the latest iteration in the collective effort that all of us have been making since 2006 to implement the Participation Model for Personal Supports as the best way to enable people with disabilities to access some of the disability supports that they need to overcome functional barriers to participation.

 

The BC Personal Supports Network, of which the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities is a proud member, has taken on the responsibility for co-managing EATI with the Ministry of Social Development. The Network's hub organization, the BC Association for Individualized Technology and Supports (BCITS) has been an unsung hero in going beyond the call of duty as the operational headquarters for EATI.

 

To read the annual report, you'll find it here.

To read more about EATI, please go to their website.

 
Can You Help?

 

We are an organization entirely staffed by volunteers; we need to raise money and attract volunteers to staff our events. 

 

If you like what we do and feel that this organization is of benefit to our community and can donate money and/or time we would welcome either or both.

 
Langley Pos-Abilities Board Members

 

Zosia Ettenberg - President Email 

 

John Hubbard - Vice President and working with our equipment donations Email

 

Ruth Austin - Secretary / Treasurer Email

 

Ken Hinton - Director Email 

 

Toni-Anne King - Director and print designer Email 

 

Tracy Boyd - Director and working with communications and photography and internet Email 

 

Travis Moore - Director Email 

 
Contact us:
 
Langley Pos-Abilities Society
#80 - 2270 196th St
Langley, B.C. V2Z 1N6
Email
604-961-0117
 
Greetings! 

 

There are so many things that are happening in the area of helping people with disabilities. Some are good and some fly in the face of common sense. For example on first glance the new information of the tolling of the Port Mann bridge (see below), appears to be giving relief to people with disabilities recognizing that for most of us, it cost us much more money to live. However when you look at it in detail, there are very few people who can take advantage as the people who are registered under this program do not own or lease vehicles. The majority of people with disabilities do not qualify. Where is their relief?

 

This is a personal story of my own. Even though I am of retirement age I still work as I want to maintain my independence and pay off my bills etc. What happened to me this year is that my business is starting to pay a little and I have made $3000 in the year above the arbitrary baseline for subsidies that is set by the provincial government. Because of that I now have to pay for homemaking services, MSP, income tax and my Pharmacare deductible has increased. So because I have made $3000 above the poverty line I now have to pay back to the government $6000. Can someone tell me how I am helped by this. Why am I working?

 

We need to make our voices heard. Don't be afraid to talk to your elected officials. Let's see if we can make our lives better.

 

Zosia

Port Mann Bridge Update
Portmann Bridge
 PortMann

Here is some information for you that I was able to obtain from my MLA, Mary Polak, Minister of Transportation about the new Port Mann Bridge:

 

People with disabilities will be exempt from paying tolls on the Port Mann Bridge if they meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • They must be a British Columbia resident
  • They must be a person who is designated under the British Columbia Employment and Assistance for Persons With Disabilities Act as a person with disabilities
  • The vehicle must be owned or leased by the person applying for the exemption
  • The person with disabilities must be registered as exempt with the TReO tolling system and a tolling decal must be properly installed on their vehicle

People with disabilities are exempt from tolls on the Port Mann Bridge because many people with disabilities find they have extra costs because of their disability. The Province of British Columbia is committed to improving employment and assistance programs for persons with disabilities and providing resources to those most in need.

 

For more information about accessibility on the RapidBus service, you may want to contact TransLink by telephone at 604-953-3333. They would be pleased to assist you.

 

The Port Mann Bridge TReO decals will work on the Golden Ears system and Golden Ears bridge transponders will also work on the Port Mann Bridge.

 

However, Golden Ears users will need to register for a TReO account to receive the low introductory toll rate and any discounts or promotions that they may be eligible for.

 

Once they do that, they will be able to travel on both bridges with one device and also be able to view, manage and pay trips and transactions for both bridges through a single, easy to use online account. This service will be available in early 2013.

 

Drivers are encouraged to register early for a TReO account to take advantage of introductory rates and a 20 Free Trips incentive.

 

Registered accounts help TI Corp operate a lean, efficient tolling system, reducing the number of invoices mailed and associated administration costs. This keeps operating costs low, which in turn keeps tolls low.

 

In order to qualify for available discounts and incentives, vehicles must be registered with TReO and have an account in good standing. Registration requires the use of windshield or headlamp decal (available at no charge) and an account with a payment mechanism on file - credit card or banking information, or a pre-paid account with automatic replenishment.

 

All vehicles will qualify for the introductory toll rates for the first three months, until February 28, 2013. Vehicles registered by February 28, 2013 will continue to enjoy the introductory rate until November 30, 2013. Unregistered vehicles will pay the non-discounted rate as of March 1, 2013. 

 

Registered TReO account holders will receive a $30 credit (equivalent to 20 free car trips) when they register their vehicle for a TReO account before November 30, 2012. The free trips must be used by May 31, 2013.

 

Whether you register early or not, it's important to note people with disabilities must register with TReO to qualify for a person with disabilities exemption.

 

TReO staff can guide you through a person with disabilities registration either on the phone or in person at one of our customer service centres.

 

You can call TReO at:

  • 604-516-TREO (604-516-8736)
  • 1-855-888-TREO (1-855-888-8736)

 

The Customer Service Centres are open in both Coquitlam and Surrey to serve you.

 

Coquitlam

2nd floor, 1500 Woolridge Street

Coquitlam BC

 

Hours

Monday to Friday: 6am - 9pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9am - 6pm

Holidays: 10am - 6pm

 

Surrey

Unit 102 - 14815 108th Avenue

Surrey, BC

 

Hours

Monday to Friday: 9am - 8pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9am - 6pm

Holidays: 10am - 6pm

 

 

Here are some of my comments:

 

I am really disappointed that one has to be on PWD benefits to qualify for an exemption, because that means if they are on CPP disability benefits, they do not qualify, if they are a senior with a disability they do not qualify and if they are receiving private disability benefits they do not qualify.

 

It seems to me that if they qualified for the provincial disability gas tax credit that should be sufficient for them to qualify.

 

The question I have to ask is that if your income is $900 a month, please tell me how you can afford to own or lease a vehicle, license and insure it and pay for gas on that income and still have enough money to pay for a place to live and the necessities of life.

 

It looks to me that the government is paying lip service to those of us with disabilities.

I have submitted this to Steele On Your Side and would love to have others ask a few of these questions to see if we can get some changes made.

 

IT'S TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!