WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Our team will take the time to understand your unique needs, goals, and dreams, and help identify which services may be a good fit. We’ll guide you through your options to ensure you receive the support that’s right for you.

Yes, most of our services need a referral.

• For children and youth, a Social Worker from Children and Family Development (CYSN) can help you get started. They can help refer you to services like positive behaviour support if your child has a diagnosis or an urgent need. If you have provincial Autism Funding, you can use it to pay for services from Laurel Supports.. If you don’t have a Social Worker, you can call Enquiry BC for help:
  • Vancouver: 604-660-2421
  • Victoria: 250-387-6121
  • Toll-free: 1-800-663-7867
  • Email: enquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
• For adults with developmental disabilities, you need a referral from Community Living BC (CLBC). CLBC helps adults get services like behaviour support, community inclusion, jobs, or housing. You can learn more at www.communitylivingbc.ca.

Our services are funded by the government and are free of charge to eligible individuals. Laurel Supports and posAbilities Employment Services also offer fee-for-service options if you’re looking for private consultations or specific services.

We offer all our services in Metro Vancouver and some of our outreach services in other BC communities. Our services include:

• Behaviour Consultation (all ages)
  We support children, youth, and adults who are neurodiverse or have intellectual or developmental disabilities. We work with individuals, their families, and support teams to make meaningful changes that improve their lives.
• Community Inclusion (adults)
  Join one of our arts programs, or a small social and recreation group. You’ll meet people with similar interests, explore your community, and have chances to volunteer and give back.
  Programs include:
  • Alternative Creations Studio (visual arts)
  • Stage Door Theatre Troupe (performing arts)
  • Daily community integration programs and youth transition services like #Limitless
• Explore (adults)
  A program that helps adults learn about their strengths, discover their interests, set goals, and build skills for work and life.
• Home Living (adults)
  We offer housing support options across Metro Vancouver, including:
  • Shared Living
  • Supported Living Network
  • Staffed Homes with up to 24-hour support

While most of our services require a referral, you can access Laurel Supports through Autism Funding or by paying privately (fee-for-service).

Laurel offers programs like PEERS for social skills, along with education on healthy relationships and sexuality—both tailored to individual learning needs.

If you’re looking to build job skills and confidence, posAbilities Employment Service provides vocational training, including adapted First Aid and other hands-on programs.

To get started with posAbilities, you’ll need a referral:

• Under 19: Referral from Children and Family Development (CFD)
• 19 and older: Referral from Community Living BC (CLBC)

Laurel Supports is the only service you can access without a referral. It also offers fee-for-service options. Consultations with posAbilities Employment Service are free, and some training programs may have spaces available for a fee.

Community Living BC (CLBC) provides funding for adults with developmental disabilities, autism, or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. CLBC helps individuals and their families plan and organize services based on their unique needs.

To access posAbilities services like Laurel Supports (Behaviour Consultation), Community Inclusion, Employment, Explore, and Home Living, you’ll need a referral from CLBC.

Services are offered based on eligibility and individual need. It’s helpful to connect with a CLBC Facilitator, especially when transitioning from youth to adult services.

To learn more or apply, visit CLBC’s website or contact Enquiry BC:

• Victoria: 250-387-6121
• Vancouver: 604-660-2421
• Toll-free in BC: 1-800-663-7867
• Email: enquiryBC@gov.bc.ca

Children and Family Development (CFD) helps children and youth with support needs. To access Laurel Supports (Behaviour Consultation at posAbilities), you’ll usually need a referral from a CYSN Social Worker (Child and Youth with Support Needs).

Other supports you can ask for include:

• Autism Funding
• At Home Program

If your child already has autism funding, we can help you use it for posAbilities services.
You can also access our Laurel Supports with private funding if you prefer.

If you don’t have a Social Worker yet, you can find one using this online tool or by contacting Enquiry BC:

• Vancouver: 604-660-2421
• Victoria: 250-387-6121
• Toll-free in BC: 1-800-663-7867
• Email: enquiryBC@gov.bc.ca

Yes, we can help you find the right government contact or an advocate to support you through the process.

If you’re applying for services for a child or youth:

• Start by asking for a Social Worker for Children and Youth with Additional Support Needs through Children and Family Development (CFD).
• If you’re between the ages of 16–24, you may also qualify for help from a Navigator. Navigators help you and your family plan for adulthood and connect you to services across different ministries (like health, housing, and education). They can also help you start your funding applications.

For older adults who are eligible for Community Living BC services, the first step is to contact an Intake Facilitatorin your area. Additional support can be provided by the Facilitator who is assigned to you after your application is accepted/eligibility confirmed. Community-based organizations like Inclusion BC, Family Support Institute, or Diverse Family Roots will journey beside you as you prepare your application to prove eligibility, or if you believe your request for service needs to be more urgently attended to. We would be happy to introduce you to advocates.

Our role comes a little later in the process, once you have funding and have decided you’d like services offered by posAbilities. At that point, we work with all involved, including the funder, to get your services started.

Developmental disabilities are lifelong conditions that affect how a person learns, communicates, and relates to others. Some examples include:

• Intellectual disabilities
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

To find out if you or your family member qualifies for services, eligibility is determined by:

• Children and Family Development (CFD) – for children and youth under 19
• Community Living BC (CLBC) – for adults 19 and older

Each organization has its criteria. We recommend visiting their websites for the most up-to-date information:

• CLBC Eligibility Info
• CFD Children and Youth with Support Needs

Yes! Our Laurel Supports (Behaviour Consultation) accepts Autism Funding and also offers fee-for-service options.

If you’re unsure what funding you can use, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

Yes. There are services available to all BC residents who need extra support. Some examples include:

• Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefits – income support
• WorkBC – job support for people with barriers
• BC Housing – affordable housing and housing support

If you’re looking for something specific, feel free to reach out. We can help connect you to community organizations that offer a wide range of services.

We offer a range of supports for adults with developmental disabilities, including:

• Explore – A personal development program for adults on the path to employment.
• Laurel Supports – Behavioural consultation, social skills training, and more (fee-for-service).
• Employment Services – Help with job readiness, placement, and workplace support.
• Community Inclusion – Programs and initiatives that build skills, foster connection and offer opportunities to contribute to the community.
• Home Living Supports – Options like Shared Living, Supported Living, and Staffed Homes (CLBC referral required).

Yes! We offer employment services for adults. Our team helps individuals explore their strengths, build skills, prepare for work, and find and keep meaningful jobs. We also offer personal development programs like Explore, which helps participants gain confidence, set goals, and get ready for employment.

Some of our programs are open to everyone, even if you’re not currently receiving services with posAbilities. These include Buddy Club, Camp Sasamat, Hip-Hop classes, Art Rise Collectives and the Inclusion Art Show. We also have a Social Media Fellowship where people can learn all about using social media.

To stay in the loop about our programs and events, be sure to follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter!

We don’t offer respite services at this time, but we’re happy to help connect families with other supports in the community.

You can get involved in community initiatives by joining our events, clubs, and special programs like Buddy Club or volunteering at events such as the Inclusion Art Show. Keep an eye on our website, social media, and newsletters for upcoming opportunities. If you want to volunteer or have questions, feel free to reach out to us anytime!

We currently offer Laurel Supports for children and youth.

• Ages 0–6: We provide Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI). A consultant works with the family to create a custom plan based on the child’s needs and supports parents and interventionists with training and regular check-ins.
• Ages 6–18: We offer Positive Behaviour Support, where consultants help families teach new skills and reduce problem behaviours at home, school, and in the community.

Yes! We know that moving from high school into adult life is a big step. That’s why we’ve partnered with local school districts to offer a program that supports students during their extra year at school and in a community inclusion setting.

We also encourage families to connect with a provincial Navigator. Navigators work across government ministries to help plan and coordinate supports, so youth and their families are better prepared for the transition.

Other helpful tools include:

• Family Support Institute’s Transition Toolkit
• findSupport BC Transition Timeline
• Vancouver Parents Transition Planning Resources

Laurel Supports behavioural consultation services help children and adults learn new skills and overcome significant challenges. Our consultants work with your child and family to understand their needs and strengths. Then, we create a custom plan to support their growth at home, school, and in the community.

Families can get help with:

• Building communication and daily living skills
• Reducing distressing behaviours
• Learning through play and fun activities
• Training and support for parents, caregivers and support teams

Our goal is to help children reach their full potential in a way that works best for them and your family.

Yes. We strive to make all of our spaces and programs as accessible as possible. If you have specific needs, let us know—we’re happy to help.

While we don’t have certified interpreters on staff, some of our team members do speak other languages. We can also arrange translation for key meetings or provide ASL interpretation when needed. Let us know how we can support you!

Yes! Here’s how you can get involved:

• Fill out our volunteer form
• Make a donation through Charitable Impact.

Sign up for our newsletter! It’s the best way to stay in the loop about events, programs, and community news.

You can:

• Call us at 604-299-4001
• Email info@posAbilities.ca
• Or fill out the contact form below

We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!