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Community Living British Columbia
Emily Carr University
Enterprising Non-Profits BC
Hamber Foundation
Inclusion Alberta
Inclusion BC
Khalsa Credit Union
Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation
McLean Foundation
Ministry of Advanced Education 
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
Nicola Similkameen School District #58
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Service Canada Youth Employment Program
Simon Fraser University
Spectrum Community Living Society
Sunrise Rotary Club
The Co-operators
The Public Guardian and Trustee
University of British Columbia – Okanagan
University of British Columbia - Vancouver
University of Victoria
Vancouver Foundation
Vancouver School Board
Victoria Advanced Technology Council - VIATeC
1.  Responding to Families Across BC Requesting Inclusive Access to Post
     Secondary Education at their Local College, Vocational Program or University.
2.  Supporting Aboriginal Youth with Developmental Disabilities to Learn about and
     Access Post Secondary Education in the Lower Mainland.
3.  Sustaining the Student / Alumni Bursary Fund so that Financial Ability is
     Not A Barrier To Education.

Our priority is to respond to young adults and families, outside of the Lower Mainland, who have asked us to support them to access studies at their local colleges and universities. From 2015-2017 are goals are to respond to
this demand by :
  1.   Establishing two new IPSE initiatives in two of the following
        regions: Prince George. Nanaimo, Kamloops or Fraser Valley.
We rely on thoughtful supporters like you to carry out this important work.
Funding has been the primary factor is limiting our ability to support students in new initiatives across the province. Direct support funding is provided to students through Community Living BC. But separate funding is still required to:
  • Meet with families across the province
  • Negotiate agreements with local post secondary educational institutions
  • Hire and train local staff
  • Host workshops for families, local school boards, high schools, faculty, campus staff, student societies, employers, and other community groups.
  2.   Supporting Aboriginal students with developmental
        disabilities to learn about and access post secondary
        education in the Lower Mainland.
The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), has a vision of "Excellence in education, grounded in Aboriginal experience and Indigenous knowledge; to strengthen communities, one learner at a time". This initiative builds on the work of NVIT to support Aboriginal students in the Lower Mainland by reaching out to Aboriginal youth with developmental disabilities, and supporting them to access the same educational opportunities.  A significant number of these young adults have moved to Metro Vancouver and become marginalized and alienated from their cultural heritage, families and natural supports.
STEPS Forward, in partnership with NVIT, has been supporting students at
their Merritt campus since 2011.
3.  Sustaining the Student/Alumni Bursary Fund
Occasionally students or recent alumni require financial assistance to pay for tuition, course material or to embark on projects requiring tools, attendance at specialized workshops or conferences, such as the UBCO Student Leadership Conference, which they cannot afford. STEPS Forward therefore maintains a Bursary Fund so that financial ability is not a factor in limiting access or success of the students or recent grads.

A healthy annual fund to meet these costs is around $10,000. This year our fund is very low. Your support in helping us to build it back up to a level capable of responding to the student's needs would be greatly appreciated.
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