BC People First Society

Disability Services Anti-Racism Arts and Culture Children, Youth, Family Community Development Employment and Career Mentorship Food Security Health and Wellness Literacy, Libraries, Learning Poverty and Homelessness
227 6th Street New Westminster BC V3L 3A5
604-245-1012
https://bcpeoplefirst.com

BC People First Society (BCPF) is a non-profit provincial organization that is part of the international PEOPLE FIRST movement. BCPF has been the independent voice of self-advocates in BC for over 40 years. We are a society made up of a group of BCPF Members from across British Columbia who want to make sure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are included and respected in our communities as full citizens. We do this by supporting each other to speak up for ourselves and by sharing advocacy skills with each other.

Our vision is a diverse community where all people are:
-included and involved
-honoured and respected
-seen for their abilities
-supported to participate

At BCPF we work to stop the stigma surrounding intellectual and developmental disabilities and unite our Members' voices in the fight to be considered People First. The fight to not have people speak for us or down to us and to help everyone in society understand what "nothing about us without us" really means and why it matters.

Self-Advocates Supporting Self-Advocates. We write letters, do presentations, and advocate with governments about issues affecting people with disabilities. We advocate for all people to be seen as equal citizens and for issues that matter to our Members.

These are just some of the things that matter most to us:
-Employment and fair wages - equal work for equal pay and closing Sheltered Workshops in Canada.
-De-institutionalization - getting people out of institutions and into the community.
-Affordable housing - everyone should have a good, clean home and choice in where they live.
-Equal disability benefits and a livable income - everyone deserves a guaranteed liveable income!
-Access to quality services - all government services should be individualized, person-centred, helpful, and hopeful.
-Accessible transportation and passageways - society should be made for everyone not just some.
-Inclusive, non-segregated communities - everyone should be part of the community on their own terms not segregated based on labels.

BC People First is run by a Board of (5-10) Directors, all Self-Advocates, representing the province by region and the Executive Board. Director positions are usually 3-year terms. Executive positions are voted on every year, with the President taking a 2-year term. BCPF Members who want to get more involved are invited to join Committees chaired by a member of the Board.