Welcome to ACPD

The Action Committee of People with Disabilities, or ACPD, is a charitable cross-disability society located in Victoria, British Columbia.

Our goals are

    • To promote awareness, acceptance and understanding of the issues and problems facing people with disabilities.
    • To work towards equal opportunity and full participation of people with disabilities in the community
    • Through Public and Individual Advocacy, to push for positive change in the areas of human rights, income assistance, transportation, integration, employment, education, accessibility, housing and better health care.

    ACPD has over 35 years of success in British Columbia

    Our History

    The following is a brief chronology highlighting ACPD's history over the last 35 years

    1975 January - The Handicapped Action Committee, soon to be knownSusan
    throughout the community, as "HAC" becomes a registered society.
    Signers to the original constitution are: Helen Austin, Elly Bowerman. Ken Abbot-Smith, Ronald Olfrey and Donna Pistell.

    HAC members support the establishment of Handicapped Recreation Society (now know as Recreation Integration Victoria) and members help start the local branch of Wheelchair Sports.

    1976 Discussion meetings with HAC members and
    residents in the Gorge RD. Hospital eventually lead to the construction
    of the first group home in Victoria at 1016 Falmouth Ave.

    1977 HAC sponsors an art exhibition the Emily Carr Gallery. This exhibition gives disabled artists in the community one of their first opportunities to display and sell their works.

    1978 HAC moves form its small office on Blanshard ST. to the "Central Building" at 620 View ST, The building is known throughout Victoria as a hotbed of social service agencies. Parking decals are issued by HAC to assist people in their parking difficulties.

    1979 Following the submission of a proposal to Victoria City Council, special parking exemptions are designated for people with disabilities. This designation results in a three hour parking privilege for those registered at City Hall.

    1980 Briefs are submitted to City Hall regarding accessible transportation. The brief leads to the formation of the Handy-dart Advisory Committee.
    HAC delegates attend the world Congress on Rehabilitation held in Winnipeg. This congress is preparing for the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYPD).

    1981 The International Year of Disabled
    Persons: HAC becomes heavily involved in IYDP submitting briefs to the
    Federal and Provincial Governments. HAC's recommendations are included in the Federal Government's ground breaking report on disability issues called "Obstacles."

    HAC begins
    its "Bus Buddy Program", a unique transportation assistance program
    that for the next fifteen years will enable people with disabilities to
    use the regular transit system through education and assistance.

    1982 HAC changes its newsletter "HAC-ING" to produce HACTION- which will become "The Newsletter of Victoria's Disabled Community". HAC establishes A.B.L.E. "abilities Benefiting Local Employers", a unique employment initiative that will provide job opportunities for many people with disabilities. Funded by CEIC and C-FAX radio donates thousands in advertising.

    1983 Consumer Discount Card program
    developed to give people with disabilities discounts at various local
    businesses.

    1984 HAC establishes an alternative home care program where consumers direct their own home care service, employing caregivers. Consultation with CRD in making local parks accessible. The Swan Lake Trail is designed to be accessible to people with mobility aids.

    1985 HAC offers a client service program that assists many people with advocacy issues. HAC celebrates its "Tenth Anniversary" at their new offices at ST. Ann's Academy. The United Way of Greater Victoria
    supports the Bus Buddy Program. Later BC transit will take on full
    funding of the program in recognition of its contribution in enabling
    people with disabilities to use regular transit.

    HAC brings the Canadian Independent Living Movement to Victoria at a special workshop at the Harbour Towers Hotel.

    1989 HAC is invited to the International Transportation Conference in Sweden to make a special presentation on its bus buddy program. HAC introduces the idea of "low floor buses" to BC Transit, a concept HAC delegates discovered at the international Conference.

    1990 HAC members involved in the establishment of an Independent Living Centre Society in Victoria. Through financial and personnel contributions, and the commission of a "Feasibility Study", the "Resource Centre for Independent Living" (now the Disability Resource Centre) is opened, one of over 20 such centres (ILCs) in Canada.

    1991 Involvement in the drawing up of standards for the provincial parking placard program and advocating for local and/or regional distribution. HAC transfers its Bus Buddy Program and Parking Permit Program to the Resource Centre for Independent Living in order to concentrate on its major work of public advocacy

    1992 A Cross-disability committee is formed to establish design standards for curb cuts in the region.

    1993 HAC changes its name to "The Action Committee of People With Disabilities. (ACPD). A curb cut survey of the core area of Victoria is completed. BC Transit introduces the low-floor accessible buses on Victoria's routes after many years of lobbying by ACPD and other groups. The "Taxi Saver" program is also introduced. HAC hires part time advocate to supervise volunteers.

    1994 ACPD publishes its "Mobility Guide to Victoria", a complete accessibility guide to getting around the core area of Victoria.

    1995 ACPD begins a special Housing Initiatives Project funded by Homes BC. This program will offer a comprehensive Public Education Program to Increase awareness about the housing issues faced by people with disabilities.

    1996 Housing Advocacy manual completed. Fair housing week proclamation made at local municipalities March 17 to 23rd.

    1997 Advocacy volunteer coordinator project helps volunteer advocates with training opportunities.

    1998 With cut backs in Home Care and the introduction of BC Benefits to replace GAIN (guaranteed annual income for needs) consumers require more help than ever. Our volunteer advocate program now has one paid coordinator with four volunteer advocates.

    1999 Provided temporary space for Hep. C Society to work while they looked for permanent office space. The fight against home support cutbacks continues with the creation of the "Home Support Action Group" that is lobbing government for change.

    2000 Celebrated twenty-five years of community service.

    2001 Created a consumer friendly web site with chat capabilities to celebrate the millennium and provide a forum for discussion and debate.