Here's our story

Brief History
Our Objectives
Our Key Accomplishments
The Centre
Awards we have won

History

The Richmond Committee On Disability (RCD) was established in 1985 through the joint effort of United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Special Needs & Social Planning departments of the City of Richmond and a number of people with disabilities from the community. The RCD serves as an advisory body and spokes group to local government, business and community on issues and barriers faced by people with disabilities and through its work has contributed to the overall physical and attitudinal accessibility of the community.

The RCD's purpose is to give people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the community to the fullest extent of their ability and to improve their quality of life by working for - Inclusion, Independence & Empowerment.

The RCD's objectives are:

To improve the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities in the community by:

Increasing awareness through public education.
Providing educational sessions, workshops, seminars and information to the general public and to people with disabilities
Being a source of information on matters related to people with disabilities.
Identifying the needs of people with disabilities and the issues that impact them in the community.

To act as a voice for people with disabilities in Richmond.
To facilitate or undertake such projects, such as an information and resource centre, programs or services as may be required to achieve the charitable purposes of the Society.

RCD membership is open to any individual living or working in Richmond who has a disability; any organization that provides support or a service to people with disabilities in Richmond; any person who provides, through his/her employment assistance or a service to people with disabilities; or any other person who has undertaken to contribute to the organization his/her services and volunteers to perform such duties as may be assigned.

Throughout its history, the RCD has provided representation to City and community committees, as well as having participated in public forums and serving on several special advisory groups. Some examples are, Richmond Health Steering Committee (pre-Health Board) Richmond's Advisory Design Panel -Rapid Bus/Rapid Transit Advisory Committee -Emergency Social Planning Committee Community Transit Advisory Committee -Richmond Community Services Advisory Council -Gilwest Community Advisory Committee - (HIV/AIDS) Committee to Promote Accessible Conventional Transit -False Creek Residence Society -City Centre Planning Task Force -

In 1994 a RCD Board member was appointed by the Minister of Health to the Richmond Health Board, serving for a year as vice-chair of the Health Plan Committee and for a year as chair of the Finance & Human Resources Committee, prior to the Minister amalgamating Richmond under the Vancouver Health Board. Our members also served on the Rehabilitation Services and Substance Misuse Core Service Committees.

In other areas relating to Health, RCD representatives have participated in a number of public forums and workshops. These included events on Rehabilitation Services, Home Support Services, and Support for Independent Living, Regional Health Services and future of G.F. Strong & the George Pearson Centre. The RCD has also provided written submissions to the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board.

A member of our Board of Directors currently serves on the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board's Population Health Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities. The RCD, therefore, is kept aware of any issues under discussion that may impact this community.

As part of National Awareness Week the RCD has held a number of different events. The most effective of which have been "Roll and Strolls" to which we invited the Mayor, members of City Council, City staff and the Media to participate. The route followed always included some problem areas. Several serious "accessibility" issues were quickly addressed following these events.