8 - Sunday, May 13, 1990 - North Shore News

Heip’

HELP'S AT Hand, a weekly
feature by the North Shore Infor-
mation and Volunteer Centre, an-
swers questions about and
discusses such topics as govern-
ment policies and programs,
benefits, consumer and legal
rights, taxation and public ser-
vices.
anew

Question: A good friend of mine,
who is disabled, was recently turn-
ed down for some vecational train-
ing she wished to take. I under-
stand that this program is govern-
mest funded. She was very disap-
pointed and depressed by this set-
back. I was wondering if there was
any chance of getting them to re-
consider her application, and, if
so, who should I talk to?

Answer: The government of
B.C. offers a wide range of oppor-
tunities for vocational rehabilita-
tion programs and services for
people with disabilities. The cost is
shared by the federal and provin-
cial governments.

To qualify, you must be disabled
as defined under the federal-
provincial funding agreement.
Disabled means a person who,
because of physical or mental im-
pairment, is incapable of pursuing
substantial gainful employment on
a regular basis. You must also be
eligible for the particular program
you want to take. It may be that
your friend is not eligible in one or
beth of these areas.

If your friend really believes that
she is eligible, she has the right to
appeal the decision. Appeals are

intended to be speedy, under-
standable and fair. The first thing
to do is to ask the person who
decided she was not eligible to ex-
plain in writing the reasons for this
decision. This person may change
the decision, but if this doesn’t
happen, don't delay in submitting
a written appeal form because this
must be done within 30 days of the
date you were told of the decision.

Your loca! office staff of the
Ministry of Advanced Education
and Training wil! help you to fill
out the form. If you live on the
North Shore, your local office is in
Burnaby at 4946 Canada Way,
telephone 660-7100.

Once your appeal form is
received by the Appeal Secretariat,
a review will take place within 30
days. The reviewer will examine
written reports and documents and
may talk to people invoived, in-
cluding your friend herself, who
will be told the results when the

s at hand

teview is completed. If she is turn-
ed down again, and still feels she is
eligible, she can go to an appeal
tribunal,

The tribunal is composed of
three people, a chairperson, a
member chosen by the govern-
ment, and a member chosen by the
person appealing. They will con-
duct a hearing at which you can
present your side of the story to try
to convince them that you are eli-
gible for the program or service
you want.

You can also bring witnesses if
these might help your case. You
can prepare your case before the
hearing date.

The decision of the tribunal is
the last step in the appeal process.
However, your friend should
remember that if her personal sit-
uation changes, she can re-apply at
her local office for available pro-

grams and services.
nee

NOTICE

David S. C. Nuttall and Howard D. Wong wish to announce their RETIREMENT from
their practice of law effective June 30th, 1990. We wish to thank our clients for their
support over the years. Many of you have become friends and we look forward to a
continuing relationship.

If you have any questions regarding your file you may phone us here at the office,

926-7700, until June 28th, 1990.

Thereafter David §. C. Nuttall can be reached at 883-9276 in Pender Harbour or at

922-1723 in West Vancouver, B.C.

Howard Wong can be eached at 662-7537 until August 30th, 1990 after which time

he will be resident in Hong Kong.

945 West ist St., North Vancouver

984-4111

(next to Beaver Lumber)

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