This is My Family...
My family is small and my sister lives in another province. I needed more people committed to helping me have a good life in my community.
... and This is My Microboard
Now I have a Microboard™ and more people that I can count on to help me plan my life; advocate for what I need; and access funding to provide supports if I need them.
Yes, you can have a Microboard for a child
When extra funding is required your Microboard can manage funds from the Ministry for Children and Families and, if you child cannot attend school, from the Ministry of Education.
Individualized Funding is another way to access funding
If traditional services don't work for you, Individualized Funding allows you to access support dollars for adults eligible for Community Living B.C. services.
Individualized Funding offers 2 ways to access funding
Alone or in combination, Direct Funding (Simplified or Standard) and/or Host Agency Funding gives you choices.
You are in the driver's seat
With a Microboard or Individualized Funding services can happen when, where and how you need them. Creativity is the key to opening the door to new ways of support.
We are here to assist you
We will provide you with the information you need to decide if a Microboard and/or Individualized Funding is right for you.
Future Planning
We can help you plan for the future using techniques like PATH or MAPS. Whether you choose a Microboard and/or Individualized Funding we can facilitate your plan.
Forms, reports, checklists... no problem
We can assist you with all of the paperwork that is required of your Microboard or Individualized Funding contract.
We can help you keep up to date
Join us on facebook where we share key issues; inspirational stories; and connect you with others. The menu item "Resources" on our website also contains helpful information.
Quotes from our Network
"Our friend is learning to look to others, not just her parents for help and relationships."
"Vela is a Godsend. I couldn't have accessed Individualized Funding without them - I would have walked away from it!"
"Growing up, I wasn't very involved in my sister's life. I see the Microboard as a major blessing in the sense that it allows me to be directly involved in the planning and evaluation of my sister's goals for her life. My love, respect and admiration for her have grown as I have."
"Vela is like gravity - I don't always think about them, but I am so grateful they are always there."
"I've come to realize that with the opportunity to be effective comes the responsibility to be closely involved with the person whose board I sit on. The Board has taken more of my time, but has been more satisfying than I had imagined."
"A lot of people ask me WHY am I willing to devote so much of my life to caring for my 40+ year-old son who has so many labels. But even more often people ask me HOW I can do this. Yes, it is challenging...but it is simple. LOVE is WHY!" "VELA is HOW."
How We Can Help You
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We are a non-profit society that provides information and mentoring to individuals with disabilities and their trusted others to take greater control of his/her life by exploring ideas and options that can lead to customized, inclusive and creative supports and services. This can be done by:
- forming a Microboard™; and/or
- accessing Individualized Funding.
We are available to assist you to learn about and explore your options. If you decide to move forward, we are also available to assist throughout the process with information and guidance. Our Microboards & Individualized Funding Brochure, is a good place to start.
There is no charge for our services in British Columbia, but we do appreciate your support by joining Vela and through your donations.
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A Microboard™ is a small group of committed family and friends (a minimum of 5 people) who join together with the individual to create a non-profit society. It is a formal support group that may also access funding the individual may be eligible to receive.
Read our More About Microboards Brochure for general information and visit our Microboards page for more detailed information.
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Individualized Funding is a payment option through Community Living British Columbia (CLBC) using either:
- Direct Funding; or
- Host Agency Funding.
Individualized Funding (IF) lets you use money given to you by CLBC to create new, different kinds of services that will support you in your community.
Read our More About Individualized Funding Brochure for general information and visit our Individualized Funding page for more detailed information.