The provincial government is developing new legislation, regulations and policies to better support people with disabilities.
This is an initiative that many British Columbians have been waiting for for many years. More than 900,000 people (one in four) in our province over 15 years of age live with a disability. It is important that we are ensuring that our laws and regulations are not creating unnecessary barriers that make life for people with a disability and those people who support them more difficult.
The provincial government is seeking your feedback. The public engagement is open from September 16, 2019 to November 29, 2019 and there are a variety of ways that you can participate.You can: complete a questionnaire, send your comments by email or telephone, attend a session in person, or join an online session.
In addition, the province is providing funding support for local community groups to host their own information and engagement session in communities around the province. I recently was invited to attend an event at the Shoal Centre in Sidney, BC organized and hosted by the Sidney Access Awareness Committee. Unfortunately, I am previously engaged but I wanted to share the information and invite you to attend.
During the event, participants will work through a tool provided by government called the Framework for Accessibility Legislation. This provides facilitators “a valuable tool to consider local circumstances, opportunities, needs, wants, and resources and from that, offer recommendations for new legislation that will enable the province to better support a culture of accessibility.”
Event Details
Date: November 5, 2019
Location: SHOAL Centre 10030 Resthaven Drive
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 (Coffee, tea and a light snack available at 6:00)
RSVP: Jennifer Van Es at: jvanes@beaconcs.ca
Event Description
The Forum will be informal, engaging and focused. There will be ample opportunity to discuss the issues and opportunities most relevant to our community, meet other people who share a common interest in advocating for increased accessibility and, most importantly, offer recommendations to the Provincial government. The Forum will be facilitated by Susan Simosko, an experienced and well-known facilitator here on the Saanich Peninsula.
This is an important time in British Columbia and this is important work. We have a responsibility to get this right, so please participate and have your voices heard in this engagement process.
I really want to go, but am too ill and don’t have adequate transportation options*.
This is the challenge of being disabled.
*ps – still hoping to hear back with answers as promised from our meeting May re: Handydart.