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The province is investing $3.162 million towards communication technology for people in B.C. with severe communication disabilities.

Communication technology supports independence, participation

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 12:38 PDT, Wed June 1, 2022

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People with severe communication disabilities will be able to access the augmentative communication technology and professional support they need to build independence and fully participate in their communities.

With $3.162 million in provincial funding, the Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA) program can continue supporting people in B.C. with communication barriers to meet their day-to-day communication needs.

"A lot of us take for granted the ability to say directly what we are thinking," said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. "Assistive and augmentative communication technology, like a speaking aid, is vital to making sure every voice is heard and that people with disabilities have the chance to express their choices and participate in their own care."

CAYA was established in 2005 and the provincewide program supports people 19 and older access and implement alternative and augmentative communication technology and strategies so that they can participate more fully in education, work, and community, and make independent personal choices. This includes providing systems, strategies, and tools that support communication such as symbol boards, keyboards, and alphabet charts or speech-generating devices.

"Curtis recently received an iPad with the Predictable communication app from CAYA,” said Ivy Pang, mother of a CAYA client. “Curtis can express himself more clearly to anyone who doesn't know him so that he can make new friends and voice his needs to new people. He can also talk about more abstract topics and express his emotions more broadly and deeply. Curtis is excited to have this tool to augment his communication with new people and to broaden his social circle via Zoom or at church."

More than 926,000 people in British Columbia are living with a disability and encounter barriers on a daily basis. With the passing of the Accessible British Columbia Act last year, government is working to improve the lives of people living with disabilities and increase opportunities to participate in their communities.

Since 2005, the CAYA program has served approximately 3,228 clients at various stages of acquiring and deploying assistive and augmentative communication technology. During the past three years, CAYA has provided new or replacement communications technology to approximately 830 clients annually and has received more than 460 new service requests each year.

CAYA is administered under an agreement with the Vancouver School Board. Program functions and administration are done by CAYA members employed by the school board and under local contracts with each health authority.

To learn more about Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA) click here.