DDA Blog

The new school year is underway and for most kids and youth, there are still several years before they take the next big plunge – life after high school. Many students, on the other hand, will be wrapping up their final school year in 2024 with their sites on bigger plans. However, for students with developmental disabilities, the future isn’t always as easy to navigate.

What is an Enabled Garden? And how can it improve your life? Using gardening as a means of managing your mental health is an idea that has existed for a long time, and in recent years has been gaining scientific credibility; but as a physically demanding activity, it can seem daunting to people with disabilities. …

A word from Executive Director Alanna Hendren I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news but the challenges facing people with developmental disabilities these days are the same challenges facing everyone else. Housing is a huge obstacle to inclusion – for everyone. Finding affordable housing in a safe community is getting even more …

It can be challenging to know what tax benefits are out there – but we’re here to help If you are someone with a disability, or you support someone who does, there are a number of ways to alleviate some of the financial pressure you might be under. The disability tax credit (DTC) is a …

Some tips on how to take the edge off of seasonal affective disorder and depression We may be past the darkest day of the year, but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. We’re still looking at weeks of cold and wet weather, during the darkest months of the year. Taken with the …

A Return to Normal in 2022 If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the last few years have been a challenge, to say the least. But with the tireless efforts of our incredible staff and community, we’ve kept each other safe and supported. To everyone who rose to the occasion and …

DDA has provided childcare since the 1970s and participated in discussions with the early pioneers of affordable, safe, regulated childcare in Vancouver for longer than that. It’s hard to believe now, but childcare was generally unavailable in the 1960s and 1970s because women were expected to stay home – many were terminated from their jobs …

Kevin has been working part-time at Real Canadian Superstore since June 2022. He was hired following a successful work experience placement through Jobs West. Some of his duties include compacting cardboard, organizing crates, and more. Kevin is very hard-working and demonstrates great time management skills. As well as working at Superstore, Kevin also attends Vancouver …

If we learned anything from last year’s heat dome, it’s that we need to pay attention to friends, family, and loved ones who have special needs when weather patterns change and make moving around more difficult. We need to check in on them and assist wherever possible. We need to ensure the heat is on, …

Seeking Out a Spooky Time It can be a difficult task to find thrilling Halloween scares that are family-friendly and accessible. Spooky mist and jack-o-lanterns are great, but an outing can be disrupted by sudden noises or people in masks bursting from a doorway, especially if you tend to become overstimulated. To help you plan …