[Header image description: single lit candle against a black background. Text reads "Disability Day of Mourning.
Remembering people with disabilities murdered by caretakers"]
Taking place on the unceded territory of the Katzie, Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilwətaɁɬ), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Stz'uminus, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations.
Date: Friday, March 1st, 2019
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Woodlands Memorial Garden, New Westminster, BC V3L 5E8
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2243051655975208/
-----
On March 1st, 2019, Autistics United Vancouver (previously ASAN Vancouver) will be holding a candlelit vigil for the seventh annual Disability Day of Mourning.
The International Disability Day of Mourning commemorates people with disabilities murdered by their caretakers. We honour and celebrate the lives of the victims, who have been taken away unjustly and much too soon.
Woodlands Memorial Garden in New Westminster is dedicated to remembering those who died in the Woodlands Institution, which closed in 1996. It was the last and largest of B.C.'s institutions for people with developmental disabilities.
The vigil will include several speeches from the disability community, a reading of victims' names, and a moment of silence.
If you have any questions, please contact Autistics United Vancouver via email at vancouverautistics[at]gmail[dot]com.
Additional information and accessibility info under the Read More.
-----
To learn more about Disability Day of Mourning: disability-memorial.org (Note: This website discusses graphic murders of disabled people)
To donate to help cover the costs of the vigil, you can now donate online through our website: https://www.autisticsunitedca.org/donate.html
You can leave a note saying if you want your donation to go to all chapters (who are also holding vigils) or just to ours.
-----
We will likely be live streaming the vigil again this year. Stay tuned for the link! It will be posted on our Facebook event page.
We will also film the vigil and caption it for a higher quality video afterwards. Please let us know if you can help with captioning!
-----
Accessibility and Directions to Location:
1. By transit: The nearest Skytrain stations are New Westminster and Columbia. You can take the 103 Victoria Hill Via New West Stn bus from either station, Bay 9 at New Westminster and Bay 3 at Columbia.
New Westminster station is more accessible than Columbia. The bus bay is harder to find at Columbia because of the confusing layout. It is less accessible for wheelchair users because it is difficult or sometimes impossible to get into the elevators.
Get off the 103 bus at Queens Park Care Centre and Blackberry Drive, which is right at the Woodlands Memorial Garden.
Woodlands Memorial can also be reached by the C3 bus route.
2. Parking: As there are few parking spots available in the area, taking public transit is recommended.
3. Terrain: There are hills around the garden, but the location on site of the vigil will be flat and there are paved cement paths through the garden.
4. Scent and allergy reduction: The vigil will be a scent and allergen-reduced space. LED candles will be used.
Please avoid using scented products (including perfume, cologne, scented soaps and shampoos) before coming to the meeting.
Please do not bring foods with common allergens such as peanuts, tree nuts, and fish.
5. Items offered: We will be providing blankets, handwarmers, stim toys, communication badges, and some nut-free vegetarian snacks.
About communication badges: https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ColorCommunicationBadges.pdf
Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions and allergies.
6. Emotional support and space: There would be a designated quiet area for anyone who needs a break, and an emotional support volunteer nearby for anyone who needs it.
7. Lighting, cover, and seating: We are in the process of getting floodlights and tents. We also ask for people to bring chairs if they can.
8. ASL Interpretation: ASL interpretation has been confirmed. Please try to let us know by Feb. 25th or 26th if you need them.
