~ Community Workshop Offering by IDHHC ~

ASL Interpreting & Captioning Provided

Presenters / Facilitators:

Patricia Cochran (Faculty Member, UVic Faculty of Law)
Kathryn Costain (JD Student, UVic Faculty of Law)
Mark Dunn (SVIAD and IDHHC Board Member)

A workshop with an objective where participants may leave empowered and informed with respect to their human rights.

Session will include presentations as well as the opportunity to ask questions.

Areas of information presented:

• Increasing basic knowledge of Canada’s constitution and BC’s human rights law
• A sense of both the potential and limits of law as a way of advancing the interests of Deaf individuals and communities
• Handouts identifying resources for further information

Date: March 10th 2018
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Quadra Room, Comfort Inn Hotel, 3020 Blanshard St. Victoria

March 8, 2018 – American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided at this event.

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first​ ​March 8​ ​IWD gathering supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Prior to this the​ Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom’s Suffragists and Suffragettes, and further groups campaigned for women equality. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organisation specific.​ Make IWD your day! – everyday!

February 15, 2018

Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre (IDHHC) is a non-profit, social service agency serving the needs of d/Deaf, Deaf Blind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing individuals and their families on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. We are currently seeking an experienced, dynamic and energetic person for an Employment Counselor / Case Manager position based out of our Victoria office serving the Victoria regional district area.

Under the WorkBC Employment Program of BC (EPBC), IDHHC Employment Counselor / Case Manager assess client skills and career goals and provide one-to-one support in developing a detailed action plan to reach employment objectives. This position will assess vocational and training opportunities and supports clients with life skills that lend themselves to obtaining and retaining employment. Duties will also include development of customized employment, employment planning, job search, job placement on site support and job maintenance.

This position is supervised by the Manager – Community Services and Executive Director.

Qualifications include: CCDP or RRP is strongly preferred. Degree or diploma or certification in a related social service field; completion of college/ vocational or technical training or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Three to five years’ recent experience in the area of employment counseling and case management; or three year’s previous direct program delivery experience with a target client group with a demonstrated working knowledge of specific community based programs / vocational counseling / placement experience with individuals with disabilities required. Must have proficient written and spoken English as well as strong computer database skills and ICM experience is a strong asset. Preferred candidates will have knowledge of Deaf culture, hearing loss and its implications; as well those with American Sign Language skills are strongly preferred. A valid BC Driver’s License is required.

Read Job Description.

Remuneration will depend on experience.

Closing date: Applications are being accepted and will remain open until the position is filled.
Only those short listed will be contacted.

Please submit resume with cover letter to:
Executive Director, Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre
#201-754 Broughton St, Victoria, BC V8W 1E1
or fax: (250) 592-8199 or email: idhcc@idhhc.ca

February 15, 2018

The CHHA-BC Online Mentoring Program (OMP) is a joint initiative of CHHA-BC Chapter and CHHA-Vancouver Branch. We are inviting applications from qualified persons to serve as volunteer mentors on our newly created Online Mentoring Program.

Through the medium of a confidential Chat Room, each mentor will hold one-to-one dialogue with a person seeking mentoring (mentee), for the purpose of assisting the individual to acquire and practice those coping skills which assist them in living successfully with a hearing loss, in everyday life.

For further information about the CHHA-BC Online Mentoring Program, and expectations of mentors, view the website

Here is an exciting opportunity for you, if you are a member of CHHA; a resident of B.C., have a hearing loss; have experience living with a hearing device such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant; experience using assistive communication devices; have training or experience in coping strategies for managing hearing loss; are comfortable with using the internet and social media; have secure access to email and the web; mastery of the English language; can commit to a full year of mentoring; and can attend a one day training workshop for mentors, in Vancouver in early May, (exact date to be set).

Apply in confidence to OMPmanager@chha-bc.org providing resume, at least two references, and statement of why you are volunteering for this program. In your statement please include specifics to indicate that you meet all of the criteria listed in this ad.

Deadline for applications – February 28, 2018 – 5:00 pm.

January 1, 2018

Your support helps make what we do possible. On behalf of staff, members and the community, thank you.

Thank You to Our Past Supporters
In previous years, our supporters have included:
• Vancouver Foundation
• United Way of Greater Victoria
• Greater Victoria Savings Credit Union Legacy Fund
• Lions of BC Hearing Conservation Society
• Evening Optimist Club
• Community Gaming Grants/Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
• Victoria Foundation (Community Grants)
• Tom Harris
• Hamber Foundation
• Sarah Spencer Foundation

July 6, 2017

Good news for Deaf or hard of hearing people who are receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) or Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment (PPMB) benefits or receive Income Assistance and live in a special care facility!

This spring the BC Government (the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation – MSDSI) introduced a new $100 monthly ‘Alternative Hearing Assistance’ supplement. This is available to eligible people with permanent profound hearing loss in both ears.

This supplement was implemented following a human rights complaint supported by lawyers at the BC Public Interest and Advocacy Centre (BC PIAC).

If you receive PWD or PPMB benefits, have a permanent profound hearing loss in both ears, and cannot benefit from a hearing instrument (such as a hearing aid) to understand speech, you can apply!

Here are the steps to take:
1. Go to the Income Assistance (PWD) office to request the ‘Alternative Hearing Assistance Supplement’ form.
2. Book an appointment with an Audiologist at an Island Health Clinic or a private hearing clinic.
3. If you need an interpreter, ask the clinic to request an Interpreter by contacting IDHHC.
4. The Audiologist will give you a hearing test, and complete the form to show that you cannot benefit from a hearing aid (or other hearing instrument) to understand speech.
5. Fax or mail the completed form back to MSDSI Health Assistance Branch (info on form).
6. Wait for MSDSI decision.

More information and how IDHHC can help:

1. Contact Leslee (leslee@idhhc.ca) in Victoria, or Alex (alex@idhhc.ca) in Nanaimo if you need support or more information.
2. IDHHC has confirmed that the following Island Health Clinics will provide this one-time-only free hearing assessment for adults on PWD or PPMB:

– Island Health Clinic at 1665 Grant St in Nanaimo: 250-755-6269 or nanaimohearing@viha.ca
– Island Health Clinic at #104 – 501 4th St. in Courtenay: 250-331-8526 or courtenayhearing@viha.ca
– Victoria Health Unit Hearing Clinic at 1947 Cook Street in Victoria: 250-388-2250 or Hearing_Clinic@viha.ca
– West Shore Health Unit Hearing Clinic at 345 Wale Road in Victoria: 250-519-3490 or Hearing_Clinic@viha.ca

3. You can also take your form to a private hearing clinic if you’ve received hearing aids or services from them, or if you live far away from Victoria, Nanaimo or Courtenay. Please know that private clinics may charge for their services.
4. IDHHC has confirmed that MIS will cover the interpreting costs for these hearing tests at Island Health Clinics only. When you contact the Island Health Clinic to make your appointment, please ask them to contact IDHHC to book an interpreter. (Leah at IDHHC at 250-592-8144 or email interpreting@idhhc.ca).
5. Bring your ID and Personal Health Number (care card) to your appointment.

Please note: if Income Assistance has purchased a hearing aid for you in past 36 months, you may not be eligible for this supplement, but if you have a permanent profound hearing loss in both ears, you can still apply. The final decision about who receives this supplement is made by MSDSI.