Resources
& Contacts

Looking for additional support? Explore LDS’s directory of professional support services across British Columbia.

Psychologists

Dr. Candice Murray

Dr. Murray has expertise in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She provides ADHD & Psycho-educational assessment and consultation services in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Dr. Sharon Arnold

Experienced Clinical Psychologist with a demonstrated history of working in the mental health care industry. Skilled in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Group Therapy, Clinical Research, and Crisis Intervention. Strong healthcare services professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University.

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Assistive Technology

LDS RISE Assistive Technology

LDS RISE Assistive Technology

At LDS we are using assistive technology to enhance best practice in our teaching and student learning and to further the accessibility and inclusiveness of our support. We are carefully identifying and assessing potential assistive technologies for specific use in individual student’s learning plans to maximize the benefit to each student.

We recognize the complex nature of each student’s unique learning difference and related social and emotional challenges and we are carefully incorporating select assistive technology in our customized RISE programming. We are employing assistive technology to help our instructors teach more effectively, promote greater student engagement, and provide all students with equal opportunities for success.

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Assistive Technology BC

Assistive Technology BC

Assistive Technology BC provides grants and loans to students and employees with disabilities who would benefit from assistive technologies.

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WorkBC Assistive Technology Services

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services

WorkBC’s Assistive Technology Services provide support to individuals to increase their access to assistive technology in the workplace. This includes individuals with learning disabilities.

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Neil Squire Society

Neil Squire Society

The Neil Squire Society provides individuals with disabilities access to assistive technologies and training in computer skills.

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Tax Information

Disability Tax Credit

Disability Tax Credit

The disability tax credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. An individual may claim the disability amount once they are eligible for the DTC. This amount includes a supplement for persons under eighteen years of age at the end of the year.

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Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) online workshop

LDS, in partnership with Disability Alliance BC (DABC), hosted a Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) online workshop on Wednesday, April 7th at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Pacific time. This free workshop helped guardians of children with a learning disability understand the DTC, a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. The RDSP is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and others save for the long-term financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC). Some families may be eligible for an initial RDSP grant through Vancouver Foundation.

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T.J. Firenze

It has become her passion to assist individuals and parents in applying for the Disability Tax Credit. The Disability Tax Credit is a federal program available for Canadians living with a disability or medical condition that effects their daily life.

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Disability Alliance BC

Provides help with Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). The RDSP introduced in 2007, is a powerful way for eligible people with disabilities to save for their long-term financial security. It also enables people to receive social assistance to protect assets and income.

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Adult ADHD Centre

Adult ADHD Centre

The ADHD Adult Centre specializes in assessing adults with ADHD and provides essential support in navigating Disability Tax Credit applications. Their dedicated services assist individuals in understanding and managing ADHD-related challenges. The assessment includes a review of past health, current symptoms, family history, and co-existing conditions. The diagnosis process, from evaluation to application completion, typically spans a few weeks. The official report serves as an official medical documentation of ADHD diagnosis and recommendations.

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Prosper Canada

Prosper Canada

Prosper Canada was created for people living in Canada with a severe mental or physical disability or if you have trouble with daily activities and require help from another person, assistive device or animal. It can be used by people with disabilities, caregivers, family members and organizations who provide access to benefits support.

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Assessments

LDS - Referrals for psycho-educational assessments

LDS – Referrals for psycho-educational assessments

LDS is thrilled to be able to offer referrals for psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations to some of our families! We are collaborating with the University of British Columbia’s Psychological Services and Counselling Training Centre (PSCTC). Qualifying LDS families will now be able to be referred for an affordable assessment over a time span that is potentially years faster than currently available via other means.

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LDS - Level B assessments (KTEA-3)

LDS – Level B assessments (KTEA-3)

The Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, third edition (KTEA-3) is a Level-B assessment, which provides detailed information on current student performance in the areas of reading, written expression, and mathematics. This can be useful for families who are waiting for a psycho-educational assessment or suspect that their child is not on grade level in certain academic areas. Please note that this is not a substitute for a formal psycho-educational assessment, as it does not assess cognitive performance.

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LDS - Executive Function Assessment

LDS – Executive Function Assessment

LDS is pleased to offer a standardized Executive Function Assessment for children, youth and adults that includes a thorough report and debrief session to plan next steps.

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Learning Disability Assessment Bursary

Learning Disability Assessment Bursary

The Learning Disability Assessment Bursary is a financial aid program created to help alleviate the financial burden of obtaining testing. The bursary provides up to $1800 in a one-time payment to make testing more accessible for adult students.

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Compass Clinic

Compass Clinic

Their Psychoeducational Assessments clinic in Vancouver will help diagnose ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Giftedness, other mental health concerns. The kinds of things measured may vary based on the referral questions.

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Variety BC

Variety BC

Offering insight into a child’s unique strengths and challenges, psychoeducational assessments empower parents and school administrators to work together to create a personalized approach to learning.

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Adult ADHD Centre

Adult ADHD Centre

The ADHD Adult Centre specializes in assessing adults with ADHD and provides essential support in navigating Disability Tax Credit applications. Their dedicated services assist individuals in understanding and managing ADHD-related challenges. The assessment includes a review of past health, current symptoms, family history, and co-existing conditions. The diagnosis process, from evaluation to application completion, typically spans a few weeks. The official report serves as an official medical documentation of ADHD diagnosis and recommendations.

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Mental Health Resources

Stigma Free Society

Stigma Free Society

The Stigma-Free Society is committed to combating stigma of all kinds. The Charity’s Vision and Mission foster programs that cultivate, encourage, and educate diverse communities to be inclusive and compassionate through awareness and understanding through education, support and leadership. Our Society helps people achieve personal empowerment by providing peer support for youth and adults and raising awareness through education in schools and the community.

The Society’s goal is to create AWARENESS of the various stigmas that exist in the world, develop an UNDERSTANDING of the challenges that numerous people face and encourage all people to foster ACCEPTANCE of themselves and others.

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Stigma Free Society - Student Mental Health Toolkit

Stigma Free Society – Student Mental Health Toolkit

The Stigma-Free Society Student Mental Health Toolkit is an excellent resource to learn more about the language that is most inclusive when referring to individuals from certain communities.

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Foundry

Foundry

Foundry makes it easy for young people to find youth-friendly, welcoming and appropriate services – by simply walking into their local Foundry centre, accessing Foundry’s virtual services, or by exploring the tools and resources online at foundrybc.ca. Foundry reaches young people earlier – before their health concerns have a severe impact on their health and well-being.

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Kelty Mental Health

Kelty Mental Health

They help families across the province navigate the mental health system, listen and offer peer support, and connect them to resources and tools.

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Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

Navigating big transitions, such as starting highschool or a new school year, brings added challenges for young people who are neurodiverse, have ADHD, or experience learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. For these groups of young people, executive functioning skills often require extra support to develop in a resilient way.

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Ocupational Therapy (OT)

WonderKids OT

WonderKids OT

The Society’s goal is to create awareness of the various stigmas that exist in the world, develop an understanding of the challenges that numerous people face and encourage all people to foster acceptance of themselves and others.

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Enable OT

Enable OT

Enable Occupational Therapy is a family centered rehabilitation practice that utilizes evidence based treatment and assessment to address the cognitive, physical, emotional and social needs of families. Our small, dynamic team consists of Occupational Therapists, Expressive Arts Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants/Kinesiologists.

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Advocacy

LDS Family Coaching

LDS Family Coaching

LDS Family Coaching pairs guardians and parents with our trained coaches to provide guidance, strategies, tools, and mentorship to help you best support the learning needs of your child.

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International Dyslexia Association

International Dyslexia Association

The International Dyslexia Association provides information on dyslexia to parents and professionals, as well as advocating for awareness of dyslexia.

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BC Centre for Ability

BC Centre for Ability

The BC Centre for Ability provides information about disabilities in both adults and children, as well as advocates for a society that is inclusive of those with disabilities.

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Dyslexia BC

Dyslexia BC

Dyslexia BC helps you advocate and get the IEP and resources you need.

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British Columbia Provincial Accessibility Services

British Columbia Provincial Accessibility Services

The British Columbia Provincial Accessibility Services provide a wide variety of fully funded resources for individuals living with a variety of disabilities.

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British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society

British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society

The British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society provides information for Indigenous adults with disabilities and provides laptops for adult students with disabilities in order to reduce barriers in continuing education.

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Decoda Literacy Solutions

Decoda Literacy Solutions

Decoda provides small group tutoring sessions for adults in 400 local communities in British Columbia, as well as professional development programs for educators.

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Dyslexia Canada

Dyslexia Canada

Dyslexia Canada provides information about dyslexia and advocates for the rights of individuals with dyslexia.

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Attention Deficit Disorder Association

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

The Attention Deficit Disorder Association provides information about ADHD, including informal screening diagnostics. The ADDA also connects individuals to support groups and advocates for the rights of those with ADHD.

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The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance

The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance

The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance provides resources and advocacy on behalf of individuals with ADHD. The CADDRA also conducts research into the best practices to improve the lives of those with ADHD.

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Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada

Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada

The Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada provides information about the diagnostic process for adults with ADHD, as well as raising awareness and performing advocacy work. The Centre also provides financial support for adult students in the form of scholarships and bursaries.

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ADD Vancouver Support Group

Working Together is a unique, comprehensive and participant centered program designed to help individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals.

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Family Support Institute of BC

Family Support Institute of BC

The Family Support Institute of BC (FSI) is a provincial not for profit society committed to supporting families who have a family member with a disability.

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Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us.

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Secondary Education Upgrading

Upgrade BC

Upgrade BC

Upgrade BC connects adult students who want to complete their secondary education to tuition-free adult upgrading programs. These flexible programs allow students to obtain their high-school diploma. Accommodations are provided for students with disabilities.

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Adult Upgrading Grant

Adult Upgrading Grant

The Adult Upgrading Grant is a non-repayable grant for low-income students who are completing adult upgrading courses at a public post-secondary institution. This grant covers registration fees, tuition, and other costs such as textbooks and other supplies.

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Post-Secondary Education

Centre for Accessible Post-Secondary Education

Centre for Accessible Post-Secondary Education

The Centre for Accessible Post-secondary Education provides students with accessible learning materials. These materials may be in the form of audiobooks or searchable PDF documents designed for use with assistive technologies.

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Learning Disability Assessment Bursary

Learning Disability Assessment Bursary

The Learning Disability Assessment Bursary is a financial aid program created to help alleviate the financial burden of obtaining testing. The bursary provides up to $1800 in a one-time payment to make testing more accessible for adult students.

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DRNBC - Disability Resource Network of British Columbia

DRNBC – Disability Resource Network of British Columbia

The Disability Resource Network of British Columbia is an organization that provides advocacy and support for post-secondary students with disabilities.

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Adult Employment

Neil Squire Society - Working Together Program

Neil Squire Society – Working Together Program

Working Together is a unique, comprehensive and participant centered program designed to help individuals with disabilities achieve their employment goals.

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WorkBC Resources for People With Disabilities

WorkBC Resources for People With Disabilities

WorkBC provides information for individuals with disabilities. This information is not specific to individuals with learning disabilities, but these resources are still applicable.

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WorkBC Assistive Technology Services

WorkBC Assistive Technology Services

WorkBC’s Assistive Technology Services provide support to individuals to increase their access to assistive technology in the workplace. This includes individuals with learning disabilities.

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British Columbia Work-Able Internship Program

British Columbia Work-Able Internship Program

The Work-Able internship program is designed to help individuals facing barriers to employment transition from post-secondary education to a meaningful career. This is a 12-month, paid internship program with supports in place to accommodate a wide variety of applicants.

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BC Centre for Ability Vocational Services

BC Centre for Ability Vocational Services

The BC Centre for Ability provides vocational services to individuals with disabilities who are seeking employment. The Centre for Ability assists individuals in securing paid positions, providing funding to launch self-employment careers, and matching individuals with disabilities with mentors.

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WorkSafeBC Workers' Advisers Office

WorkSafeBC Workers’ Advisers Office

The Workers’ Advisers Office is an independent organization that provides assistance and information to individuals who are navigating the WorkSafeBC system. They provide support to individuals seeking to appeal decisions made by WorkSafeBC, representation, and information on the WorkSafeBC claims procedure.

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Accessible Employers – Presidents Group

The Presidents Group is an organization of employers who are committed to providing accommodations for employees who have disabilities. The Presidents Group advocates on behalf of accessible workplaces.

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Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP)

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program provides financing, mentorship and, resources for individuals with disabilities who are seeking to launch a career as a self-employed entrepreneur.

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In Demand - Skill training and employment support

In Demand – Skill training and employment support

Douglas College’s In Demand program supports those with learning differences with skills training and employment support.

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ADHD Resources

Neurodivergent Parenting Tips: Best Advice for ADHD Families

Neurodivergent Parenting Tips: Best Advice for ADHD Families

ADDitude gives 14 of the best tips for ADHD families.

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Confusing ADHD with Learning Differences

Confusing ADHD with Learning Differences

Foothills Academy clearly outlines the differences between ADHD and LD’s and how they are not the same.

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ADHD Advocacy Society of BC

ADHD Advocacy Society of BC

The ADHD Advocacy Society of BC will champion equitable access to supports for individuals with ADHD. They will promote updated information and resources about ADHD to individuals with ADHD, their families, allies, professionals and the general population in British Columbia.

French Language Support

Lucile Denys - French Language Support

Lucile Denys – French Language Support

Lucile Denys is a reading and writing specialist who provides French language support for children ages 6 through high school.

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Behavioural Intervention (BI)

Canadian Mental Health Association, BC

Canadian Mental Health Association, BC

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a national charity that promotes mental health for all. CMHA responds to the unique needs of each community through experience and expertise on community-based services and supports. CMHA BC provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to promote mental health, support recovery and resilience, and enable all in British Columbia to flourish and thrive.

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Reach Child

Reach Child

Reach Child and Youth Development Society is a non-profit organization that has been providing programs and services to children and their families since 1959, currently serving the communities of Delta, Surrey and Langley, B.C.

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Sources Community Resources Society

Sources Community Resources Society

Sources Community Resources Society provides in-home behaviour consultation services to families throughout the Lower Mainland using a family-centred positive behaviour support model.

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Kelty Mental Health

Kelty Mental Health

Kelty Mental Health helps families across the province navigate the mental health system, connect with peer support, and access resources and tools to support well-being.

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Speech-Language Pathology

Mainland Speech Language Pathology

Mainland Speech Language Pathology

Mainland Speech Language Pathology Inc. is a private practice providing in home Speech and Language therapy services to all ages in the Lower Mainland / Metro Vancouver area (North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Downtown, Burnaby, Delta, Tsawwassen, Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Mission, Langley, Aldergrove, Abbotsford and Maple Ridge).

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We believe that every individual should be empowered to achieve greatness their way.