Folks with extreme communication disabilities will have the ability to entry the augmentative communication know-how {and professional} assist they should construct independence and totally take part of their communities.

With $3,162 million in provincial funding, the Communication Help for Youth and Adults (CAYA) program can proceed supporting individuals in BC with communication limitations to fulfill their day-to-day communication wants.

“A number of us take as a right the flexibility to say straight what we’re pondering,” stated Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Growth and Poverty Discount. “Assistive and augmentative communication know-how, like a talking assist, is significant to creating certain each voice is heard and that individuals with disabilities have the possibility to specific their selections and take part in their very own care.”

CAYA was established in 2005 and the provincewide program helps individuals 19 and older entry and implement different and augmentative communication know-how and techniques in order that they will take part extra totally in schooling, work and group, and make unbiased private selections. This consists of offering programs, methods and instruments that assist communication corresponding to image boards, keyboards and alphabet charts or speech-generating units.

Greater than 926,000 individuals in British Columbia live with a incapacity and encounter limitations every day. With the passing of the Accessible British Columbia Act final 12 months, authorities is working to enhance the lives of individuals dwelling with disabilities and improve alternatives to take part of their communities.

Quotes:

Dan Coulter, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility –

“Having the ability to talk your ideas and desires is a useful a part of constructing each independence and connection. That’s the reason we’re so proud to have the ability to proceed our assist of CAYA as they assist give voice to individuals dwelling with communication disabilities corresponding to ALS or autism.”

Lois Turner, program supervisor, CAYA –

“The Accessible British Columbia Act endeavors to take away limitations in society and the lack to speak is a devastating barrier for adults in British Columbia whose speech does not meet their day by day wants. They rely completely on the providers that CAYA gives, and we stay up for working with the provincial authorities to make sure that these providers proceed to be accessible to all who want them for years to return.”

Ivy Pang, mom of CAYA shopper –

“Curtis just lately obtained an iPad with the Predictable communication app from CAYA… Curtis can specific himself extra clearly to anybody who does not know him in order that he could make new associates and voice his must new individuals. He also can speak about extra summary matters and specific his feelings extra broadly and deeply. Curtis is happy to have this software to reinforce his communication with new individuals and to broaden his social circle through Zoom or at church.”

Fast Information:

  • Since 2005, the CAYA program has served roughly 3,228 shoppers at varied phases of buying and deploying assistive and augmentative communication know-how.
  • Through the previous three years, CAYA has supplied new or substitute communications know-how to roughly 830 shoppers yearly and has obtained greater than 460 new service requests annually.
  • CAYA is run underneath an settlement with the Vancouver College Board. Program features and administration are executed by CAYA members employed by the varsity board and underneath native contracts with every well being authority.

Study Extra:

Communication Help for Youth and Adults (CAYA): https://cayabc.org

CAYA shopper tales: www.cayabc.org/client-stories

Accessibility in BC: www.gov.bc.ca/accessibility

See a video selling AccessAbility Week: https://youtu.be/A4AXJ4ZE7yg