The Ministry of Social Development is simplifying the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation process for youth with developmental disabilities who are eligible for disability assistance and Community Living BC (CLBC) supports.

Effective early July, youth with developmental disabilities who are eligible for disability assistance, along with their family, will be able to use an existing psychologist assessment by a registered psychologist or certified school psychologist, instead of filling out the PWD form to apply for designation.

Since many families already have this assessment, this change will reduce the need for additional documentation, making the designation process easier for families and smoother for youth. This builds on the existing process for young people who transition over to disability assistance from the Ministry of Children and Family Development's At Home Program.

A change to the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation was recently made to add school psychologists to the prescribed professionals who can provide assessment information to the ministry. These changes are being implemented in collaboration with the ministries of Children and Family Development and Education, and CLBC.

About 600 youth require access to disability assistance each year and will benefit from these changes. The amendment delivers on recommendations in the deputy ministers' report, Improving Services to People with Developmental Disabilities, by providing better co-ordination, a smoother transition and a one-government approach to services for people with developmental disabilities.

Progress updates on the deputy ministers' report are available at: www.sd.gov.bc.ca/pwd/isst.html

Media Contact:

Melody Wey
Ministry of Social Development
250 508-5030