B.C. families who have children with special needs do not have access to information and advocacy to help connect them to vital community support systems [image: istockphoto]
Tragic deaths of Angie and Robert Robinson highlight needs
Inclusion BC (formerly the British Columbia Association for Community Living) held a news conference October 26, 2015 in Victoria announcing a plan for regional advocate positions across the province to help families supporting children with special needs and adults with developmental disabilities. The plan follows recommendations from the BC Coroner’s Inquest into the tragic Prince Rupert murder-suicide of Angie and Robert Robinson.
Angie Robinson (left) and her son Robert, in an image from her Facebook page
On April 2, 2014, Prince Rupert mother Angie Robinson, in the face of what Inclusion BC describes as “a catastrophic failure of our government systems to meet her needs and those of her family”, committed suicide and murdered her son Robert, who had Autism. Angie’s sister, Michelle Watson, spoke at the news conference, telling her story and her reasons for supporting the plan. Michelle was joined by two other parents, Kim Heddon and Cindy Richdale.
“As we struggle to come to terms with why Angie, Robert and their family did not receive the support they needed to thrive in their community, we are all responsible for what we do now. The Coroner’s Inquest made it clear that children with special needs do not have access to information and advocacy support that could help connect them to vital support systems within the community. Inclusion BC is in a unique position to establish regional community inclusion advocates.” — Inclusion BC Executive Director Faith Bodnar
Call for 6 regional community inclusion advocates
In response to the Coroner’s Inquest in the Murder/Suicide of Angie and Robert Robinson, Inclusion BC now invites the Government of BC to partner together and build capacity to support families by establishing six (6) Regional Community Inclusion Advocates. (Read the proposal here.)
What is also evident from the Coroner’s Inquest is that government staff are frequently unaware of the community resources available to families. — Inclusion BC
Inclusion BC concludes its new release by stating: Out of a preventable tragedy we have a collective opportunity to make a difference for families who have children and youth with special needs and adults with developmental disabilities and for ourselves in the knowledge that we have honoured them in making our communities welcoming and in ensuring that our government systems are empowered to respond to the needs and hopes of those they serve.
We speak with Faith Bodnar, executive director of Inclusion BC.
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audio | @FaithBodnar about families' lack of access to information and advocacy support https://t.co/STZkqPawPt pic.twitter.com/fx9keOCDVt
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 6, 2015
