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Directorate support to advisory committees

Last updated on April 24, 2024

The Accessibility Directorate provides support to a number of advisory committees.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) Action Group

This group brings together leaders from the financial sector and disability organizations in B.C. They work to provide advice to government and promote the RDSP.

The RDSP is a long-term savings plan for people with disabilities. You must qualify for the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC/T2201) to be eligible.

Members of the RDSP Action Group offer free support to open a savings plan. Reach out to Access RDSP’s free helpline by:

Members

Neil Belanger, Indigenous Disability Canada / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society

Neil Belanger is the chief executive officer of Indigenous Disability Canada (IDC) / British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS), a national Indigenous disability organization. Throughout his career, Neil has worked as the senior administrator within both Indigenous and non-Indigenous disability, health and employment organizations. In addition to his work at IDC / BCANDS, Neil serves on a variety of advisory committees to provincial and federal governments.

Helaine Boyd, executive director, Disability Alliance BC

Helaine has been the executive director of Disability Alliance BC (DABC) since November 2020. Since 2016, DABC has delivered the RDSP program, in partnership with BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society and Plan Institute. Before joining DABC, Helaine worked in the humanitarian and non profit sectors in Canada and abroad for over 12 years. She focused on championing a culture of inclusion as well as working actively alongside people with disabilities to bring meaningful, positive change. Some examples include: assisting children with disabilities and their families in finding temporary accommodation in Vancouver; contributing to the publication of the book, “Gun Violence, Disability and Recovery”; editing a book on cycling for amputees; managing a rehabilitation project for landmine survivors in Mozambique; facilitating disability sensitivity training in Cambodia; and presenting on disability inclusion in humanitarian operations at the UN in Geneva.

Helaine sits on a variety of committees and working groups, notably the Technical Advisory Committee for the Service Delivery Standard under the Accessible BC Act, and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction’s Employment and Assistance Policy Advisory Group. In her spare time, Helaine also serves on the board of Mines Action Canada. She has both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees from the University of British Columbia.

Helaine lives on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations in downtown Vancouver.

Norah Flaherty, RDSP Action Group chair

Norah has spent over two decades working to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to education, social services, employment and opportunities for recreation and socialization. Focusing her efforts on youth and young adults with disabilities, Norah has served multiple organizations, volunteering her time to Community Living BC, the Canucks Autism Network, BC Partners in Workforce Innovation, the BC Ministers Council on Employment and Accessibility, and many more. Norah advocates to increase opportunity and accessibility for the people she serves.

Franceska Grantzidis, interim executive director, Plan Institute

Franceska has been serving as the interim executive director of Plan Institute since February 2023. Prior to this role, she held the position of director of programs at the Family Support Institute of BC, where she led teams responsible for regional network coordination, training, and communications. Franceska also helped launch the BC Summer Institute for Inclusive Learning, a bi-annual event held at the University of British Columbia, and developed the Transition Timeline, an online tool to help families navigate the journey of their teen from high school to adult life.

With over 15 years of leadership experience, more than half of which has been dedicated to working within the disability community, Franceska has a deep understanding of disability issues both from a professional and personal perspective. While she is a Montreal native, her disability-related experience is rooted in British Columbia.

Franceska actively participates in numerous committees and advisory boards, including Advanced Care Planning and Race and Disability Canada. Her passion lies in empowering families to enhance their capacities, amplify their voices within the disability community, and expand their networks of support. 

Franceska holds a degree from the University of Concordia in Montreal, where she focused on mathematics and business.

Trudie Manoloudis, executive director, services to adults, Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia

Trudie Manoloudis was born and raised in the Lower Mainland of B.C. and earned her bachelor of arts (criminology) from Simon Fraser University.

Entering the BC Public Service in 1995, she began her career as a financial assistance worker with the Ministry of Social Services, providing income assistance and persons with disabilities benefits services to youth aged 19 to 24 years old. Trudie joined the PGT in 2002, where she has held various positions, including in the areas of information technology, child and youth services, and services to adults.

Trudie has a passion for collaborating with other ministries, agencies and organizations to support better outcomes for people who face multiple barriers.

Dr. Michael J. Prince, Lansdowne professor of social policy, University of Victoria

Dr. Prince is a professor of social policy at the University of Victoria. His research interests include trends in Canadian social policy, federal- provincial relations, trauma of veterans, pension reform, aboriginal governance, and disability politics and policy issues.

Dr. Prince is also a disability rights advocate, media commentator and award-winning author of over 250 publications. As a policy consultant, Dr. Prince has been an advisor to various federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal government agencies; four Royal commissions; and a number of parliamentary committees.

In 2007, Dr. Prince received a President’s Award from the Canadian Association for Community Living, in recognition of “exceptional contribution to Canadians’ understanding of public policy that builds an inclusive and accessible Canada.” In 2011, he received the University of Victoria Community Leadership Award. In 2012, Dr. Prince was presented a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his public services. Dr. Prince was named Academic of the Year in 2014 by the Confederation of Faculty Associations of British Columbia.

Karla Verschoor (she/her), executive director, Inclusion BC

Karla brings a rights-based, person-centered approach to her leadership at Inclusion BC. She joined in 2006, holding various positions before becoming the executive director in 2018. She strives to be a connection point between people experiencing barriers to inclusion and those with decision-making power within our systems of support. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from University of Alberta and a certificate in dialogue and civic engagement from Simon Fraser University.