Thank You To River Rock Resort & Casino

For many years, the River Rock Resort and Casino has sponsored our Respitality program. Each year, more than twenty families receive a complimentary night stay so they may rest and relax. Often the daily demands of caring for someone with an intellectual disability deplete a family member’s energy so a night of soaking in a …

Thank You To E&E Global Foundation

E&E Global Foundation held a summer Wellness Walkathon and donated 40% of the funds to Child and Youth Services. Many staff and their families participated in the starting laps at the new Minoru Centre for Healthy Living with an additional group who trekked the extended route from Richmond to the Olympic Village in Vancouver (approximately …

DDA Declutters for United Way!

This year, our staff, children, adults and their families came together in October to support our annual United Way campaign. We collected 255 full bags of used clothing and unwanted items for our fifth annual Cash4Clothes initiative – our largest collection ever! This added $765 to our ongoing efforts to benefit the United Way. Thank …

Tap For Change

We have been continuing research and development towards creating an alternative accessible communication device using the Tap™ Wearable Keyboard over the past several months. September marked the beginning of a new stage in this project when we partnered with UBC’s Code the Change Foundation to create an iOS/Android app that would allow the Tap™ device …

Attending The Climate Action Strike

On September 27, several clients and staff from the Community Apartment Program hit the streets to attend the Climate Action Strike, a global event with millions of people in attendance, all with the shared interest and concern for our planet. First, we took the Skytrain to City Hall where we attended the rally and listened …

Deanne Receives David Hutson Leadership Award

Congratulations to our own Deanne Ziebart for receiving the David Hutson Leadership Award from The Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT) BC. The David Hutson Leadership Award is awarded to an individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership in the community-based training sector. Deanne has been a long-time member of ASPECT, and even …

Actualizing Fantasy with Marie

When Marie’s grandfather used to tell her stories through songs, Marie wondered if one day she could create the same kind of magic for other children. She has been pursuing her passion to write and share stories for much of her life. “It’s a dream,” says Marie, “you put a dream in your head and …

Star Newsletter – Fall 2019

Our Fall edition of the STAR Newsletter is here! In one of our longest editions to date, find stories on a variety of topics including: Creekside Welcomes Premier Horgan and Mayor Stewart for Child Care Announcement Reviewing The Reviews Creativity Without Barriers: Art Class With Kim DDA Partners With Tech Company On New Assistive Technology …

Teaching For Technology

By: Keegan Newberry Technology has become part of every aspect of our daily lives, from electric toothbrushes to smart TVs. For individuals with developmental disabilities, skill attainment in this area can support increased independence, community participation, and enhanced communication. This summer, we had the opportunity to offer iPad and assistive technology classes for residents taught …

DDA Awards Annual Scholarshpis To Richmond & Vancouver Students

By: Kevin Chan It is important to invest in the future of our youth! This is why we award the Developmental Disabilities Association Scholarship to students with disabilities in every Richmond and Vancouver secondary school. Successful recipients are those who most embody our mission of overcoming obstacles in pursuit of maximizing their potential. This year, …

Annual General Meeting 2018-2019: Recap

By: Kevin Chan We held our 67th Annual General Meeting on June 19, 2019, and were joined by members of the Association, Board of Directors, staff, family and other interested parties. To kick-off the meeting, we welcomed back Aether, a collaborative service robot developed by JDQ. Through an ongoing partnership with JDQ, Aether has taken …

Looking Back At An Amazing Summer With Our Summer Staff & Students

By: Marianna Every year, we offer a variety of summer positions that appeal to the interests of students and youth looking for work experience. Our summer staff have highlighted that they’ve enjoyed working with amazing people, making meaningful connections, and having exciting and dynamic workdays. Here is what some of our summer students and staff …