External view of the Nanaimo Disability Resource Center, a tan building with a sign with Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre followed by the updated version of the person with disabilities icon

Updates Newsfeed

May 2022 - Announcements, Updates & Reminders

New Job Posting for Students!

Must be a current or recently graduated (2022) student between 15 and 30. This position is for 8 weeks at 30 hours a week. This is a great opportunity for anyone hoping to get into the non-profit industry!

See our job description for more details or apply on Indeed.

Press Release for our 100,000th Parking Permit Sale

Here is our Official Press Release in PDF Format

Local Non-Profit Reaches a New Milestone

On Thursday, April 21st, 2022, Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre (NDRC) issued the 100,000th Accessible Parking Permit to Marilyn G. (Pictured to the right with NDRC Executive Director, Ken Kaminski). In celebration of this milestone Marilyn was given a gift basket, a lifetime of free renewals, and a lifetime membership with NDRC. 

Thank you, Marilyn for coming in for your renewal. And, thank you to all our members, clients, students, sponsors, community partners and volunteers over the 32 years of NDRC’s operation. We have enjoyed working, learning, and growing with all of you and hope to continue to do so  for many years to come.

Did you know? The fees from the sale of parking permits, as well as covering the cost for the Parking Permit Program itself, help fund our free programs and services, along with aid from The BC Community Gaming Grant.

Tax Program Now Closed!

Our Community Volunteer Income Tax Program has now ended for the year! This program runs from March 1st to April 30th. This year we were able to help over 125 people file their taxes. Thank you so much to all 5 of our tax-prep volunteers for all your hard work!

If you are still needing to file, Volunteer Nanaimo has a program that runs all year.

Please Continue to Wear Masks at NDRC

We understand that the mask mandate has been lifted federally and provincially. However, we are a disability resource centre which means we help people who are often medically vulnerable. While the vaccine rollout has definitely lowered this risk we still would like to continue to be cautious in an effort to protect all clients, students, volunteers, and staff.

Bursary Reminder

Earlier this year, NDRC announced our Bursary for Persons with Disabilities. We are giving away a $1000 bursary to a person with disabilities taking any kind of Post-Secondary education (trades, community college, university etc). 

Bursary applications are available online here or in person at NDRC! Please get in touch if you have any questions. The deadline is May 31st so don’t wait too long!

What You’ll Need to Complete the Application:

  • Proof of acceptance to a post-secondary program in BC
  • Confirmation (letter/documentation) of disability from a medical professional or other professional (ex. current or former teacher)
  • 3 references (personal, professional or academic)
  • A short reflection 300-500 words describing your situation. You may want to include barriers you’ve overcome, how your education will be used, your study of interest, etc.

Seeking Volunteers!

May 2022

NDRC is urgently seeking two afternoon Front Desk Volunteers and multiple Computer School Volunteers

Please submit an application form using our Google Form to the right.

For those interesting in helping but unable to make a weekly commitment we have our committee positions.

These are a great way to get involved in brainstorming and developing new programs, growing membership, running fundraisers, or helping to bring our quarterly newsletter together

If you are interested in any volunteer position please submit this form and we will get a hold of you as soon as possible.

February 2022- Announcements & Updates

Sponsorship Thank You- Co-Op

A huge thank you to Mid Island Co-Op for their donation to our Computer and Technology School.

We truly appreciate your support!

January 2022- Announcements & Updates

Bumper Stickers

As of December 1st, when you purchase a membership or make a donation you will be offered a bumper sticker as a thank you for showing your support!

Our membership base has grown a lot in the previous two years thanks to our generous clients. We now have over 600 members from across the province!

As we come out of this pandemic we hope to be able to offer further membership incentives.

See More on the Members Page

A rectangle with a thin green border, green logo and the words "I support Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre"

Printdeals

While in the process of purchasing holiday cards and bumper stickers we discovered Printdeals’ “Print with Purpose” and are happy to say they have added us as one of their causes! Quote from their website: 

“Printdeals.ca was started as a way to offer high quality, affordable online print products to Vancouver Island businesses and to give back to our local communities.

We work with local Vancouver Island charities and donate 10% of all sales to the charity of your choice.

From Business Cards, Flyers, Postcards to Greeting cards, we have everything you need for your business.”

Now when you make a purchase from Printdeals you can choose to direct that 10% to us, or any of the other very worthy local charities on there.

Older NDRC News Items

BC Vaccine Card Assistance

Do you need help registering for your BC COVID-19 Vaccine Card (colloquially called the vaccine passport)? We at the NDRC Computer School can help!

Just email or call Marie:

marie@ndrc.info or 250-758-5547

Have a paper copy of your QR code and worried about damage? We can help with that too! For a $2 donation we will trim your paper to wallet size and laminate it for you!

Dear Friends and Supporters of NDRC,

Due to rising cases we have decided to step back from our in person services in an effort to protect our clients. Currently the most recent information from the scientific community is that Omicron, if it follows the patterns it has in other countries, should start dying down around the end of January so our intention is to restart these services on February 1st.

Since contact between clients and volunteers is typically less than 10 minutes and the time at the counter even shorter, Accessible Parking Permits will continue to be issued in person. However, in order to reduce lines and contact between clients, people are encouraged to renew by phone or mail. Unvaccinated and/or clients who can't/won't wear masks (regardless of reason) should renew by phone or mail. Permits expire at the end of the month so there is still time! If you need to come in person please let the front desk volunteer know in order to protect the clinically vulnerable. Due to the unavoidable, hour-long close nature of teaching technology, we are postponing this program until February 1st. We hope to be able to resume both our scheduled weekly classes (2 students and 2 instructors) and our one-on-one sessions at that time. Our resources are always available online at ndrc.info and kept up to date. You are also free to come in and browse our brochure wall. If you can't find the resource you are looking for, call or email Allison and she will do her best to help you. In-person Resource Assistance: These appointments are unfortunately also being postponed until February because they often require 1-3 hours of direct contact. This includes services like assistance with the PWD Application process. Certain parts of the PWD process may be able to be done over the phone, so please call if you're unsure. 250-758-5547

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NDRC is beyond excited to announce our new Bursary for Person’s with Disabilities!

One bursary winner will be announced a year.

Head over to our new Bursary Page for eligibility

Our third edition of the NDRC newsletter is available below in PDF form or at the Nanaimo Disability Resource Centre.

December Newsletter

Meet the Team

Our Financial Supporters

Click here to view the rest of our wonderful supporters

An overlapping I and G inside a blue parallelogram with Investors Group written to the right in black
A golden lion holding a globe, with the letters RBC in white below it, all inside a blue rectangle
da and bc forming infinity symbols within each pair in blue, written underneath is disability alliance bc in blue
A yellow sun over blue mountains with British Columbia below it in blue with a yellow line below that. Gaming Commission is written beneath the line in blue.
City of Nanaimo in blue with the harbour city underneath it in black, with some blue waves underneath
A golden moose inside a white triangle with the letters F, C, and H in the corners, inside a red heart outlined in gold, with the text "Women of the Moose" to the right
Two golden lions facing left and right outside of a blue circle with a golden L in it. Lions is at the top in blue and International is at the bottom in blue
blue waves leading into the words BC Ferries, also in blue
Neil Squire Society in black, with a curvy pair of blue lines almost forming a backwards Y coming out of the blue Q in squire

Come Visit Us!

Monday to Friday: 9-12/12:30-3:30

Please note: 

We are closed from 12-12:30

Saturday, Sunday, Holidays:    Closed

 

#2-4166 Departure Bay Rd

Nanaimo, BC V9T 4B7

250 758 5547

info@ndrc.info

We respectfully acknowledge that we work, live, and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.