Day Service

The North Shore Disability Resource Centre (NSDRC) is excited to announce the development of a new Day Service on the North Shore.  This service was developed with guidance from the Parents Transition Advisory Group (PTAG) to offer an alternative for people out of school and looking for suitable day time supports.  The service plans to lessen government funding dependence through volunteerism and an active fundraising plan.  As this service is unlike anything else currently being operated, we want to give you some information to assist you in deciding if this is the place for you or a family member or friend.

What makes this service different than others on the North Shore?

The program operates from 7:30 am until 6 p.m, every week day, except Statutory Holidays, all year long.  While we know not everyone wants to be away from their home for that long, some people have told us they would like this option. The staffing also allows more flexibility around supports, especially for vocational activities.

Participants and their families or support networks will have choices as to the activities undertaken by the whole group every 4 to 6 months. NSDRC has designed a planning tool that will help you define what you want form the service. Once the plan is done, then the NSDRC uses it to design the choices in the program. This allows each person to exercise as much choice as possible all through the day, week, month and year.

There are three activity “streams” to have choices in.  All streams will be part of a participants’ overall plan and will include outcomes designed by them and their support networks. For educational and vocational supports our goal is a ratio of one to one or one staff to two participants.  For recreational, leisure and social activities, the ratio will be a maximum of 4 people to 1 staff person.

We will be relying on volunteer hours. These can be from a parent, sibling or friend over the age of 19. These hours count as credits towards program costs. There are many types of volunteer support needed: program activities, receptionist, fundraising, advocacy and committee work.

We will be asking for participants’ families to provide money for materials or transportation costs. This charge is set at $100.00 per participant per month but can be modified upon review. We will be asking for people to assist the participants in travel costs or provide a ‘car pool’ to certain events. Volunteer hours also count against this fee. The NSDRC is also exploring the feasibility of this fee being considered a charitable donation.

The service is directed by an Advisory Committee comprised of participants, their family members and support network representatives, community members and NSDRC Senior Management. The activity plans and program outcomes as well as the quality of the service will be monitored by this volunteer group. Service on this committee and others will be counted as volunteer hours against the service fees. The Advisory and the participants will be asked to design a name and letterhead for this new service also.

Who do we think would want to participate?

 Who do we think would not like to participate?

How do we start?

The NSDRC has an application form which you will be asked to complete. It asks basic questions about the person applying for the service. It is used to look at the types of interests and gifts the person has, so we can determine if there is a good fit and if there are more questions we need to ask. The CLBC planner and the NSDRC office have these forms. There is also a planning tool that is used once you are accepted into the service. This plan will be developed by you and an NSDRC staff person to identify the activities you are most interested in. This plan is added to other peoples and used to design the next 3 or 4 months of activities and outcomes.

Contact:   Liz Barnett, Executive Director Contracted Services at 604-904-4086 or email her at  lizb@nsdrc.org

Information Services Program

The Information Services Program provides information and referral services. Our expanded resource library includes a collection of print, tape and video materials as well as two public access Internet work stations.

Public education programs are offered primarily by people with disabilities in areas such as adaptable building design, disability awareness, valuing diversity, vulnerability and abuse of people with disabilities.

Personal advocacy is provided to individuals seeking to access services or develop support networks.  The Information Services Program is open to the general public and does not require a referral.

Contact:  John Neumann, Information Services Coordinator at 604-904-4088.

Infant Development Programme (IDP)

The Infant Development Programme provides in-home consultation supports to 90 families with children under the age of three. 

All children served by the program are developmentally delayed in one or more areas due to a variety of causes, including premature birth, genetic abnormality, illness, injury, etc. 

Home visits are made on a regular basis by professional staff to assist the family in planning learning activities and to utilize appropriate community resources. Opportunities for parents to meet and support each other are provided through regular drop-in groups and classes organized on topics of interest to families.   

Resource library materials of books and toys are also available for loan to families. Referrals can be made directly to the IDP.

Contact:  Donna Colodey, Manager of the Infant Development Program at 604-986-1358

Community Based Services

Families with children between the ages of 3 and 18 are provided with a Child Care Worker to assist with skill development goals.

Each contract identifies specific goals for the Child Care Worker to address either in the home setting or in the community. Hours of service range from 5 to 15 hours a week.

This service requires a referral from the Ministry of Children and Families.  

Contact Kathleen Jessop of the Manager of Community Based Services at 604-904-4090.

Summer Program

Each year the NSDRC seeks funding through grants and donations to provide recreational assistants to enable children and youth with disabilities to participate in integrated summer recreation activities.

Children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been assisted to attend day camp programs at local recreation centres. The NSDRC provides recreation assistants who support the children and youth with disabilities for a minimum of 2 weeks each.  Applications can be made directly to this program. 

Teen and Pre-Teen Social Programs

This program offers youth, aged 9 to 18 years who have developmental
disabilities opportunities to learn social and life skills while enjoying recreational
interests with their peers. 

The program provides the youth with choices and opportunities to participate in small group activities. This program requires a referral from the Ministry of Children and Families.

Equipment Technician

Technicians in this program work with therapists to custom design and adapt equipment for children and adults with disabilities. Items are customized to meet the needs of the individual and equipment built for children has a built in growth allowance. Items built are those not commercially available. Commercial items can be adapted to accommodate an individual’s specific need. Technicians customize commodes, build change benches, repair slings, make desks accessible to wheel chair users, make easels and make or adapt anything that is required. 

The program specializes in the Wooding Comfy Chair, an alternate positioning chair designed to provide comfort and relief from wheel chair sitting. These are custom fitted and designed for adults and children. Referrals may be made directly to this program. 

Contact: Mary Smelko, Program Manager at 604-904-4080 ext. 506 or e-mail m.smelko@nsdrc.org

"Wooding Comfy Chair"

Residential Services

Residential supports are provided to adults and children in four-bed group home settings.  The individuals living in our 11 group homes require a variety of supports ranging from personal care only to 24-hour supervision and support. 

All of the group homes have been purpose-built or renovated to accommodate wheelchair access. 

Residents requiring professional supports access community resources for nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and nutritionists. 

The group homes are located in residential neighbourhoods throughout the North Shore. 

The NSDRC is committed to providing opportunities for each individual resident to maximize their independence, personal capacity, and participation in the community. 

Referrals are made through the Ministry of Children and Families and the North Shore Health Region.  

Contact:  Val Hebden, Manager of Unlicensed homes 904-4075 or
Trisha Marinakis, Manager of Unlicensed homes 904-4091

Community Based Day Programs and Life Skills Contracts

The NSDRC provides individualized Like Skills or Day Program programs designed to provide community based activities for people living in group homes or in the community. 

Activities include shopping, banking, busing, recreation and volunteering opportunities.   Group social activities and a Community Kitchen are also offered on a monthly basis.  

Life Skills contracts may be required on a limited time basis or may be ongoing.  The contracts range from 3 to 40 hours per week with an average of 10 hours.  

Referrals can be made through the Ministry of Children and Families, other funding sources, or privately.

Contact:  Steve Hall,Acting Manager of Life Skills at 604-904-4078

Social Kitchen

is located at St. Catherine’s Church,  1058 Ridgewood m        Ave. Children & Youth (8-15 years) are invited to attend from 3:30pm – 5:15pm.

Older Teens and Adults (16 + years) are invited to attend from 5:30 – 7:00pm.  Individuals will meal plan, shop, prepare and cook/bake, eat and clean up for themselves in a social setting. Individuals from the community are also welcome.  

There is a $5 drop in fee to cover the expense of the food. Meals will be sent home whenever possible.

Contact:  Steve Hall,Acting Manager of Life Skills at 604-904-4078

Day Service

The North Shore Disability Resource Centre (NSDRC) is excited to announce the development of a new Day Service on the North Shore.  This service was developed with guidance from the Parents Transition Advisory Group (PTAG) to offer an alternative for people out of school and looking for suitable day time supports.  The service plans to lessen government funding dependence through volunteerism and an active fundraising plan.  As this service is unlike anything else currently being operated, we want to give you some information to assist you in deciding if this is the place for you or a family member or friend.

What makes this service different than others on the North Shore?

The program operates from 7:30 am until 6 p.m, every week day, except Statutory Holidays, all year long.  While we know not everyone wants to be away from their home for that long, some people have told us they would like this option. The staffing also allows more flexibility around supports, especially for vocational activities.

Participants and their families or support networks will have choices as to the activities undertaken by the whole group every 4 to 6 months. NSDRC has designed a planning tool that will help you define what you want form the service.  Once the plan is done, then the NSDRC uses it to design the choices in the program. This allows each person to exercise as much choice as possible all through the day, week, month and year.

There are three activity “streams” to have choices in.  All streams will be part of a participants’ overall plan and will include outcomes designed by them and their support networks. For educational and vocational supports our goal is a ratio of one to one or one staff to two participants.  For recreational, leisure and social activities, the ratio will be a maximum of 4 people to 1 staff person.

 We will be relying on volunteer hours. These can be from a parent, sibling or friend over the age of 19. These hours count as credits towards program costs. There are many types of volunteer support needed: program activities, receptionist, fundraising, advocacy and committee work.

We will be asking for participants’ families to provide money for materials or transportation costs. This charge is set at $100.00 per participant per month but can be modified upon review. We will be asking for people to assist the participants in travel costs or provide a ‘car pool’ to certain events. Volunteer hours also count against this fee. The NSDRC is also exploring the feasibility of this fee being considered a charitable donation.

The service is directed by an Advisory Committee comprised of participants, their family members and support network representatives, community members and NSDRC Senior Management. The activity plans and program outcomes as well as the quality of the service will be monitored by this volunteer group. Service on this committee and others will be counted as volunteer hours against the service fees. The Advisory and the participants will be asked to design a name and letterhead for this new service also.

Who do we think would want to participate?

 Who do we think would not like to participate?

How do we start?

The NSDRC has an application form which you will be asked to complete. It asks basic questions about the person applying for the service. It is used to look at the types of interests and gifts the person has, so we can determine if there is a good fit and if there are more questions we need to ask. The CLBC planner and the NSDRC office have these forms. There is also a planning tool that is used once you are accepted into the service. This plan will be developed by you and an NSDRC staff person to identify the activities you are most interested in. This plan is added to other peoples and used to design the next 3 or 4 months of activities and outcomes.

For more information, you can call Liz Barnett
Executive Director Contracted Services at 604-904-4086 or email her at  lizb@nsdrc.org