Personal Supports Centre Opens in Prince George

By 250 News

PRINCE GEORGE - Seniors and people with disabilities will now have easier access to programs that offer equipment and assistive devices, thanks to $540,000 of funding and donations for the Prince George Personal Supports Centre, which officially opened today.

Employment Action, a non-profit employment agency for people with disabilities, is partnering with the Province to operate the Personal Supports Centre as part of an 18-month demonstration project that began in October. The centre will help the Province and community determine the best ways to help people get the personal supports they need to reach their goals, whether it be finding employment or taking part in recreational activities. These supports may include equipment and
assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, speech-generating devices or specialized computer programs.

Residents can contact the centre, where a personal supports worker will discuss their needs and work with them to identify the best programs that can assist them. For example, they may help people start an income assistance application, connect them to an employment program, or refer them to community supports such as the Canadian Red Cross.

"Our Personal Supports Centre goes beyond our basic goal of finding out what types of equipment or assistive devices people need and how they can obtain them," said Lori Forgeron, executive director of Employment Action. "We're helping people figure out how they can accomplish their goals - whether that means using a computer, playing a sport or volunteering."

The Province is providing $480,000 in funding to Employment Action to set up and operate the Personal Supports Centre through to 2010.  Community partners have donated an additional $60,000 in goods, services and funding to date, as well as hundreds of volunteer hours into the design and implementation of the centre.

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