Peer Support

The Victoria Disability Resource Centre (VDRC) is starting a new chapter in how we offer peer support.

Our Goal

The VDRC’s goal is to provide and promote opportunities for people with disabilities to share information, ideas, life experiences and skills. We believe that it is through the context of a supportive peer environment that individuals can gain the skills and self-confidence needed to overcome barriers and learn to better manage personal and community resources.

Peer Training Certificate Program

This 8-week training program was developed by, and is facilitated by, persons with disabilities and is delivered in a supportive environment.

Training can be done in groups or alone, in-person or virtually.

Topics Include:

• Working Values in the Helping Relationship
• Giving Information and Self-Disclosure
• Brainstorming and Balance Sheet Technique
• Guidelines for Choosing Issues/Problems, and Developing Action Plans
• Stress and Stress Management
• Loss and the Grieving Process
• And more…

For more information, to inquire about dates, or to register, please contact Lucien at 250-595-0044 ext. 112 or peersupport@drcvictoria.com.

This program was made possible by funding from the Greater Victoria Savings & Credit Union (GVSCU) Legacy Foundation.

Peer Outreach Program

The VDRC Peer Outreach Program is for anyone in the persons with disabilities community who is experiencing isolation, loneliness, and/or disconnectedness. By signing up for the program, you can look forward to regular one-on-one check-ins from one of our friendly outreach workers, either via phone or internet.

The Peer Outreach Program is designed to allow you to experience some much needed social interaction, as well as get reconnected with the greater community-at-large. Members of the program can set up scheduled check-ins with one of our outreach workers over several different platforms, including phone calls, email, texting, and video conferencing.

During these check-ins, you and the outreach worker can:

• Talk about how you have been coping with being isolated. If you have been feeling upset or depressed, feel free to chat about it and maybe develop some ideas or strategies on how this can be addressed.
• Identify areas that you need help with. If you are experiencing a problem related to your disability or being isolated, the outreach worker can help put you in contact with resources that could potentially help.
• Just talk. If what you are looking for is a friendly voice to chat with, the outreach worker can provide that too.

When people with disabilities feel socially connected, it encourages them to reach out to other community members and support each other, it increases their likelihood of having better mental health, and creates a sense of pride as they, in turn, help others. This is what creates a resilient community that can withstand hardships.

For more information or to sign up for the program, please contact: 250-595-0044 ext. 112 or peersupport@drcvictoria.com

Peer Groups

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PEER GROUPS ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY

Current peer groups at the VDRC are:

Peer Hang Out Sessions – Every other Wednesday at 2:30pm (see dates below)

The Victoria Disability Resource Centre (VDRC) and t6talk present “Peer Hang Out Sessions”. Join Kevin, Wallace, and Melanie to chat about anything and everything. Wallace and Melanie will introduce a topic at the beginning of each session, but these sessions are meant to be informal and informative. By sharing our experiences, we support and build community.

NEW Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88186696202?pwd=K21qcEtxMnphV1pvTmhuUmRJaTYwZz09 or call 778.907.2071 and use Meeting ID: 881 8669 6202 and Passcode: 693135

2023 Dates:
April 26
May 10 & 24
June 7 & 21
July 5 & 19
August 2, 16 & 30

Queerabilities (in partnership with AVI Victoria)

Meets virtually every Monday from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm and every second Thursday from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (see the Facebook page for more information)
This is open to anyone who is 18+, from the queer community and has a disability. Meeting content will vary each week.

For more info or help with connecting to the group chat, please contact us at 250-595-0044 ext. 112 or peersupport@drcvictoria.com or Aura Boggs (they/them/their) at queerabilities@avi.org

Groups under the umbrella of Spinal Cord Injury BC

Women Only Group
Meets the *first Monday of every month from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
For more information, contact Scott Heron at sheron@sci-bc.ca
*If the first Monday of the month is a holiday, then the Women Only Group will meet on the Second Monday of the Month from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Online Women Only Group that meets over Zoom on the Third Monday of each month from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. For more information, contact Scott Heron at sheron@sci-bc.ca

Aneurysm & Stroke Group
Meets every 2nd Friday of each month from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm at VDRC in the Boardroom. There is also an online meeting of the group on the 4th Friday of each month over Zoom.
For more information, contact Scott Heron at sheron@sci-bc.ca

The Gathering – A Province Wide Peer Group for those with SCI

Meets the second Thursday of every month from 1:00pm – 3:00pm over Zoom and on the fourth Monday of every month from 2:00 – 4:00pm over Zoom.
For more information, contact Scott Heron at sheron@sci-bc.ca

Peer Coffee Drop-In Group
Meets the fourth Thursday of every month from 1:00pm – 3:00pm
For more information, contact Scott Heron at sheron@sci-bc.ca

To see other SCI BC Peer Groups and Events, currently offered via Zoom Media, or meeting in-person, on their Monthly Events Calendar at this link: https://sci-bc.ca/events-directory/monthly/

Lived Experience Around Disabilities (LEAD)

LEAD, which stands for Lived Experiences Around Disability, delivers innovative presentations about what it is like to live with a disability to students (K-12) in Victoria. This program is delivered by persons with disabilities who have spent a lengthy period of time navigating their daily lives within their abilities. These speakers work in partnership with students with disabilities at each school, giving the students an opportunity to anonymously (via the speaker) or personally share what they have experienced at the school in terms of social and environmental barriers.

Click here for more information.

*Paused until further notice*

Coffee Social  

A space for persons with disabilities to connect with each other and share thoughts, experiences, knowledge and skills! Chat about important topics! Listen to guest speakers! Make new friends! Have fun!

Meets the second Friday of each month from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

To access the group on the second Friday of each month:
Click here https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81997014843 or call 778-907-2071 and use Meeting ID 819 9701 4843 or find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kkYSCezA

For more info or help with connecting to the group chat, please contact us at 250-595-0044 ext. 112 or peergroups@drcvictoria.com

PEER Time (People Encouraging Each other Respectfully) 

To engage in conversations about specific topics. Sometimes view short videos from Ted Talks, YouTube, etc. then have discussions about the information. This is a welcoming, safe space to explore and learn, as well as to share your experiences with others so we can grow together.

Meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

To access the group on the first Tuesday of each month:
Click here https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83111338813?pwd=b01WcDR5VlRva2tMVnU3VjdQUHp6Zz09 or call 778-907-2071 and use Meeting ID 831 1133 8813 or find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kkYSCezA

For more info or help with connecting to the group chat, please contact us at 250-595-0044 ext. 112 or peergroups@drcvictoria.com

Past Groups

Intro to Dungeons and Dragons
This was a 3-session peer group that introduced the table top role-playing game in an adaptive, fun, and interactive environment.

CodeAbled
CodeAbled was a 3-week course where young women with disabilities, between the ages of 19 and 25, were taught the basics of coding in the popular Python programming language. The program was for self-identified women, ages 19 – 25, with self-declared disabilities.

The program taught young women with disabilities, who were experiencing restrictions in inclusive learning opportunities of STEM based skills taught by a supportive female role model, the basic concepts of coding in Python and the critical analysis skills needed for all programming languages. Guidance and support was provided by a qualified instructor, who was also a female with a disability, who had a personal perspective on the social and physical barriers experienced by the participants.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.