Help Shape BC’s Accessibility Standards 2024

ASL Video Help Shape BC’s Accessibility Standards:

ASL Video translation of Engagement Poster:

Engage BC, an initiative of the Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE) arm of the provincial cabinet has released draft Accessibility B.C. Act Standards consultation: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/engagement/accessible-bc-standards/.

The standards have been developed by the Provincial Accessibility Committee (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility/committees/provincial-accessibility-committee) under the Accessible BC legislation (ABCA)
(https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/21019) passed by the legislature in 2021.

The Province created standards for provincial government bodies in 2022 through regulation. Government has indicated that the final standards may be enacted as regulations under the Accessible BC Act.

The public consultation period runs from May 31 to July 31, 2024.

Members can send their own response, or they can contribute to the GVAD response coordinated by an unconfirmed facilitator team.

GVAD has received approval from the PAC to host a community engagement session.

This allows for Deaf community members (Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of hearing) to participate and give feedback on the DRAFT sessions.A Summary provided by government is found here:

ENGLISH MS WORD: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/Executive-Summary-Accessibility-Standards_plain.docx.

ENGLISH PDF: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/standards-executive-summary.pdf

ASL:

The consultation includes two sets of draft standards each in ENGLISH in 2 formats 1) MS WORD & 2) PDF & ASL versions below

1. Accessible Service Delivery Standard:

   MS WORD – ENGLISH: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/Accessible-Service-Delivery-Standard_plain.docx

   PDF – ENGLISH:  https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/accessible-service-delivery-standard.pdf

   ASL (54:59 min):
2. Employment Accessibility Standard:

   MS WORD – ENGLISH: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/Employment-Accessibility-Standard_plain.docx.

   PDF – ENGLISH: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/892/2024/05/employment-accessibility-standard.pdf

   ASL (1 hour & 5min):

The two documents outlining the standards are, despite their length, relatively easy to read and are available in ASL formats above.

While these documents are based on similar legislative requirements in Manitoba and Ontario, in some cases they appear to go further.

By the way, GVAD is hosting its Accessibility Standards session on July 13, 2024, please see Event Calendar for more information.