BC People First

"Most employment services in BC suck because they only assume we can and will do the 'dirty' jobs, they don't care about the career goals or interests of disabled people...or our need for professional development and our right to learn more". ~Jo-Anne, BCPF Member #EndAbleism

"We disabled persons DO NOT want to be talked to like babies!!!" ~Chace, BCPF Member

"I like being a People First member so I can be a part of others' advocacy campaigns for human rights and lead my own campaigns with help from the team, such as my debit machine accessibility advocacy campaign." - Chace, BCPF Member

"People First has given me a sense of belonging I haven't found before and structure to rise to the top and be successful and has added so much pride and love in my life". -M.Y., BCPF Member

Shout out to @VPL and other libraries across #BritishColumbia for being a safe place to meet, for small local #nonprofit groups like our BCPF Chapters and Committees. Thank you libraries for all that you do in our communities!

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we launched a #ILoveMyHumanRights video ft Lorie Sherritt, a self advocate who has done advocacy work with @BCPeopleFirst. Learn about their work at bcpeoplefirst.com and check out our video at bchumanrights.ca/love/ #IDPD

According to a recent poll, 25% of British Columbians with a disability said they’ve experienced discrimination at some point in the past year. BC's human rights commissioner says the province has a long way to go to achieve real accessibility. vancouversun.com/news/local-new…

#Equality and #Diversity are great in theory, but #Equity, #Acceptance, and #Belonging should be the goal. This also includes understanding some people don't need or want "shoes" to begin with.

"I feel like nothing ever changes and people with disabilities are trapped in this system designed to keep us depressed and poor". -A.S., BCPF Member

"Who the heck decided eyes and teeth and mental care are separate from our health?" -BCPF Member

"I'm 30 now and realizing all the caregivers throughout my life, family and paid, actively worked to keep me from learning self-advocacy skills and from meeting self-advocates so that their lives would be easier and I wouldn't notice when my rights were violated". -BCPF Member

@ScottRinehartSJ @Disability_WP You're so right.

@BCPeopleFirst @Disability_WP And yet, so very many of us do. When my disability ultimately forced me out of my job, my income security virtually vanished. Income, food and housing insecurity among Persons With Disabilities generates additional anxiety and stress, compounding any difficulties already extant

"Just because someone has a disability does not mean they should be expected to live in poverty without food security." - Jo-Anne, BCPF Member

Treating people equally does not mean treating everyone the same in every situation. It means everyone gets to make their own decisions and demand their human rights. #Equality means we all get to be a part of society and have access to justice.

"I am sick of not getting the help I need. Mental healthcare and counselling should be a disability benefit because most of our mental health issues come from our ableist systems, lack of disability support, and lack of community accessibility to begin with." -BCPF Member

"The recent discovery at the #KamloopsBC Residential School makes me sad and angry and ashamed to be Canadian. It's up to all of us to make sure this type of racism, segregation, and forced conformity never happens again in our society!" -David J., BCPF Member

"Expecting people to live on $1000 a month when the minimum needed for a decent (not good) life is $2000 shows exactly how much the government and our society cares about people with disabilities." -BCPF Member #endpoverty #accessiblecanada

"Dealing with #Ableism means that a person will quite often not get the help that they need." - BCPF Member

"We all have the right to be treated equally. Equal access to choice in our daily lives and equally deserving of respect by others. Stop judging people with visible and invisible disabilities!" -Jo-Anne, BCPF Member