As part of the Accessible BC Act our school district has made available a form at the bottom of this page for members of the public that interact with us to provide feedback about accessibility in our organization.
The Accessible British Columbia Act aims to support the identification, prevention, and removal of barriers that people with disabilities face in their day-to-day lives.
Key Themes of the Act
- Breaking down barriers.
- Advancing human rights.
- Promoting fairness and equity.
Themes Specific to Education
- Increased visibility of those with disabilities.
- Public education campaigns to include those with disabilities in the education system.
- Development of targeted education and training programs.
- Increased integration in schools.
- Focus on accessibility, empathy and sensitivity training.
Important Definitions from the Act
Disability: An inability to participate fully and equally in society as a result of the interaction of an impairment and a barrier.
Barrier: Essentially, anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of a person with an impairment.
Impairment: A physical, sensory, mental, intellectual, or cognitive impairment which is permanent, temporary, or episodic.
Examples of Barriers to Accessibility
- Attitudinal: when people think, and act based upon false assumptions.
- Physical: when obstacles in an environment make access difficult.
- Information or Communication: when people with disabilities are excluded because they use other ways to communicate.
- Systemic: when an organization’s policies, practices and procedures result in exclusion.
- Technology: when technology can’t be accessed by people with disabilities.
- Sensory: when sensory information such as lights, sounds, smells, etc. prevent participation in the environment.
Plan
Jointly developed with districts in Northern British Columbia, School District 59's accessibility plan is attached below. The feedback form, linked below, is where you can provide feedback on the plan to our advisory committee.
Feedback Mechanism
The feedback we receive will be shared with both our Accessibility Advisory Committee and our Accessibility Working Group. We will also share feedback to relevant department or school leaders.
What are other sources of information about the Accessible BC Act?
Legislation – Accessible BC Act
