About Us

• History
• How We Can Help
• Statement of Values and Purpose
• Funding Information

History

Over the first year of her mandate, Joyce Preston, the Child, Youth and Family Advocate heard from many parents of children with special challenges and many providers of services to these children and their families. As a result of repeatedly hearing similar "stories" from parents and providers regarding the issues for these children, the Advocate identified services to children with invisible disabilities in her 1996 Annual Report as one of the seven systemic issues that she would pursue. To begin to address the issues for these children, the Advocate's Office made a commitment to create a forum for the discussion of their common issues.

Two Invisible Disabilities Action Forums were held in the spring of 1997– one in the Lower Mainland and one in Kelowna. The purpose of the forums was to achieve:

• agreement on common/themes issues
• commitment to collective action in response to issues
• development of strategies for collective action

The planning for the forums included purposefully structuring the invitations to include 50% parents and/or people with disabilities as well as a balance of people with expertise and involvement with the identified disabilities.

The forums marked the first time these groups had come together to discuss their common issues. It was also the first time they committed to an ongoing collective effort on behalf of children and adults with invisible disabilities. The main strategy identified at both forums was to develop a Federation of Invisible Disabilities.

In April 1997, a Steering Committee, supported by the Office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate, was formed to develop specific plans to make the Federation a reality. The Steering Committee had representation from around the province and was a mix of parents and service providers. They developed a governance framework, applied for incorporation as a Society, written a Constitution and By-laws, recruited membership and are now seeking funding sources.

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How We Can Help

The Federation of Invisible Disabilities:

• Raises public awareness through education and information
• Helps parents and others become better advocates
• Creates and speaks with a unified voice
• Eliminates the myths about invisible disabilities
• Develops a network amongst parents
• Provides information about existing programs and services throughout British Columbia.
• Ensures that invisible disabilities are acknowledged and supported in government policies.

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Statement of Values and Purpose

"An invisible disability is not in itself a diagnosis. It is a condition that is not readily visible to the eye but does affect the individuals ability to learn, to interact with others, to be a contributing member of society or otherwise participate fully in his or her life. Invisible disabilities is an umbrella term that captures a whole spectrum of hidden disabilities or challenges that can include NAS, FAS, ADHD, autism, brain injuries, and learning disabilities."

Values

FIDS believes that children and youth with invisible disabilities have the right to be:

• understood
• accepted
• respected
• accommodated
• supported

so that they can be contributing and participating citizens in society.

Purpose

The purpose of FIDS is to:

• ensure children with invisible disabilities have access to education, recreation, and other services that help them to reach their potential as members of society
• regularly address the needs of children and youth with invisible disabilities with governments, communities and others
• educate and increase awareness of invisible disabilities at service, funding and policy levels
• create partnerships with government in providing services to children with invisible disabilities
• educate the public regarding invisible disabilities
• provide information and support to parents and caregivers
• in furtherance of the above charitable objects, establish a broad-based organization to work to improve the lives of children and youth with invisible disabilities

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Funding Information

FIDS is funded through a number of ways. We receive gaming funds through the BC Gaming Commission's Direct Access application. We also receive funds from our membership fees collected throughout the year.

The majority of our funds, however, are the result of grant dollars received from local foundations. The Vancouver Foundation and the Vancouver Sun Children's Fund have provided funding for the Federation in the last two years.

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