‘Tis the Season for Financial Planning Over the past month many families have been focused on learning more about financial planning for the individual with disabilities.  To respond to this need, MAPCL hosted a free workshop on the RDSP.  The feedback that I received indicated that some families would like to meet again to learn more about financial planning. A workshop on wills, estates and trusts will be scheduled in May. I welcome you to contact me at (604) 299-4001 if you are interested in participating in this workshop, or have any other comments or suggestions. In addition to MAPCL workshops, there are a variety of free or low cost supports available to families working on financial planning.

As I hear of opportunities, I will post them to the calendar of events that regularly appears in this column.  For more information, please contact me at (604) 299-4001 or by email mnelson@mapcl.org

Tax Time -  Tips and Resources for Families!

Reminder - Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a Community Volunteer Income Tax Program that offers free tax preparation to individuals with low income and simple tax situations. For more information, please see: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/volunteer/

Did you know that the children's fitness tax credit lets parents claim up to $500 per year for eligible fitness expenses paid for each child who is under 16 years of age at the beginning of the year in which the expenses are paid? If a child qualifies for the disability tax credit, parents can claim up to $500 per year in eligible fitness expenses paid for the child who is under 18 years of age at the beginning of the year. Here is the link for more information: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness/

Persons with Disabilities: The disability amount is a non-refundable tax credit used
to reduce income tax payable on your tax return. This amount includes a supplement
for persons under 18 years of age at the end of the year. All or part of this amount may
be transferred to your spouse or common-law partner, or another supporting person.
For more information, visit the web site at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/disability.

Community Bulletin Board

Vancouver School Board Seeks Volunteer Interpreters - If you speak English and another language, and can read and write in both languages, we would be pleased to have your help during parent-teacher and report card conferences at Vancouver schools.  Parent-teacher conferences, goal setting and other meetings with school personnel are opportunities for parents to meet with teachers to talk about their children's education. These sessions take place throughout the year but certain times are particularly busy - late September to early December and January to March. Schools normally need assistance between 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and between 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The heaviest demand for interpreters is on Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and to a lesser extent, Tuesdays.  If you can interpret for parents and teachers during any of these time periods, please call the Volunteer Coordinator at the District Reception and Placement Centre at (604)713-5836. If the Volunteer Coordinator is not immediately available, please leave a message so your call can be returned. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. NOTE:  Parents who volunteer would not necessarily be assigned to their children's school, but would be assigned to a school near their home.

Media Reports

Community Living Advocates Applaud Government for Investing in the Lives
of People with Developmental Disabilities
New Westminster, B.C., February 18, 2009 - The BC Association for Community Living (BCACL) applauds the Government of BC for investing in the lives of people with developmental disabilities. The $73 million new investment for adults with developmental disabilities announced in yesterday’s budget is the first step needed to begin to address the crisis being faced by individuals and families across BC… For more information, including budget highlights, the budget speech and the PowerPoint presentation, visit the Government of BC's Budget 2009 website:
http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2009/default.htm.

Teenager with mental disability awarded $20,000 -Ministry should have assigned a youth worker to him in junior high school, tribunal rules…(By Neal Hall, Vancouver Sun, February 17, 2009.) http://www.vancouversun.com/article

Community Living was recently featured in the National Post. 
Please visit  www.nationalpost.com  to view the articles. The can be found by clicking on the option under “hot topics."  

Community Living BC has released their 3 year Strategic Plan. To vies this document,
http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/article

A Calendar of Events
please contact me to post events in your community!