The Province in collaboration with the Provincial Accessibility Committee is inviting British Columbians to share their thoughts and experiences on how government can best address barriers that restrict people with disabilities from equally participating in the workforce and accessing services in community.

 The public engagement on the draft accessibility standards is open from May 31 until July 31. The public and organizations can share their input/feedback on the draft standards in a variety of ways, including an online questionnaire. The questionnaire can be found here: https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/555886?lang=en.

To learn more about the engagement and ways to participate, please visit the accessibility Standards webpage at: Home – Accessible BC Act Standards (gov.bc.ca). 

This article was written by Bounmy Inthavong, a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. It originally appeared in the edition of DABC’s Transition magazine, Welcome to BC: Challenges and Supports for Newcomers with Disabilities (Spring 2024).

Read the full edition in PDF format here and in text-only format here.

If you’re interested in contributing to Transition as an individual or an organization, please email transition@dabc.ca.
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When I envision Canada, I see a vibrant canvas with tales of fresh beginnings. Embedded within these narratives are the intricate stories of newcomers navigating the pathways of immigration, intertwined with journeys of race and disability.

It’s a tapestry woven with hues of resilience amidst adversity, where profound experiences often dwell in the margins—the struggles of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities intersecting with the complex challenges of disability. Together, these stories paint a poignant picture, shining a light on the multifaceted realities newcomers face upon their arrival in Canada.

Canada’s history, marked by colonization, enslavement, racial discrimination and exclusionary immigration policies, casts a shadow on the experiences of these communities.

From the erasure of Indigenous sovereignty to systemic racism within the immigration system, past injustices echo in the lived experiences of newcomers grappling with disabilities. These experiences call for urgent change—a transformation of policies, perspectives and a commitment to breaking down barriers.

Within this landscape, Race and Disability Canada has undertaken an ambitious review to unravel the intricacies of these intersections, spotlight stories and emphasize the urgent need for systemic changes. Our review is based on an IDEA. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) Project encompasses:

• Intersectional Analysis: Understanding the unique experiences of racialized people with disabilities, including newcomers facing barriers due to their race and disability.
• Data Collection: Delving into literature, and gathering survey and focus group data to comprehend:
  • Challenges faced by racialized people with disabilities.
  • Barriers encountered by advocates and organizations working on race, disability, and inclusion in the non-profit sector.
  • Efforts of mainstream disability organizations to achieve diversity and inclusion goals concerning race and disability, and how we can support them.

Our work goes beyond raising awareness. It’s a call to action. It’s about reshaping policies and amplifying narratives. It’s about advocating for systemic changes that acknowledge the multifaceted challenges faced by newcomers at the intersections of race and disability.

Canada’s promise of inclusivity and diversity beckons, but it necessitates collective effort—crafting policies to dismantle systemic barriers, and fostering a culture of understanding, support and equity for newcomers with disabilities.

These stories, woven with hardship, speak of resilience and determination. They urge us to build a Canada where every newcomer, regardless of race or disability, finds genuine support, recognition and a true sense of belonging—a Canada where every story contributes to the vibrant narrative of the nation’s identity.

The results will catalyze further research, community-based projects and collaborations beyond the disability sector to advance accessibility and inclusion for racialized people with disabilities. As part of our commitment to change, we’re actively involved in:

• Empowering Non-Profits: Developing communities of practice in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. These forums allow organizations to unlearn and relearn, implementing sustainable systemic changes that include racialized people with disabilities in their policies and services.
• Education and Training: Leveraging outcomes from research and communities of practice to develop training programs and educational initiatives supporting broader accessibility and inclusion goals for racialized people with disabilities in Canada.

Readers can join our newsletter to stay updated with the latest developments at Race and Disability Canada. Visit www.racedisability.ca to subscribe and stay informed.

Bounmy Inthavong is a researcher with Race and Disability Canada. Follow Race and Disability Canada:

Instagram @racedisabilityca
Facebook @RaceandDisability
X @Race_Disability.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability Component (SDPP-D).

-For Immediate Release-

Vancouver, BC – May 29, 2024

As part of this year’s AccessAbility Week, taking place May 26^th to June 1^st, Disability Alliance BC (DABC) has announced that the funding for the Accessibility Projects Grants has been renewed by the Province.

The Accessibility Projects Grants were first launched in 2018 to commemorate BC’s first AccessAbility Week, and since that time, over 80 projects have been funded throughout British Columbia. Each year, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction has provided $450,000 to DABC to distribute as community grants to improve and promote accessibility and inclusion in the province.

“To be an accessible and inclusive province, we must integrate accessibility into all aspects of our lives,” said Susie Chant, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. “As we celebrate AccessAbility Week, I am especially grateful for our work with trusted partners like Disability Alliance BC to remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.”

Organizations may apply for up to $40,000 for year-long community engagement projects that will support lasting change for the more than 900,000 people (24.7% of population over age 15)[1] in BC living with disability. Projects will focus on one of the following objectives:

• Accessible employment;
• Accessible emergency planning and response;
• Accessible arts, culture and tourism;
• Accessible sports and recreation;
• Accessible education and learning;
• Accessible community participation.

 “We’re really excited that the grants have been funded again”, said Danielle Gauld, Coordinator of the grants. “We’ve seen them support a wide range of powerful projects around the province that have had deep impacts on the lives of people with disabilities, and we are so glad this will continue into the future. We can’t wait to see who applies this year!”

Applications will open on Friday August 2^nd and close on Friday September 13th, 2024 at 12pm Pacific Time. Granting decisions are made by a Committee of representatives from DABC and other disability and community organizations from around BC. Successful applicants will receive funding in December, and implement their accessibility project in 2025.

To apply:

• Projects must be focused on community engagement rather than large capital costs such as accessibility improvements to buildings.
• Eligible organizations must be not-for-profit organizations with a volunteer Board chosen by its membership, based in BC or with a base of operations in and sufficient capacity to deliver services in BC. They must operate primarily for community benefit and have services open to the public rather than restricted to their membership.
• If an organization has received a grant in the past, they can reapply 5 years after their application was submitted (for example, if an organization applied in 2018 for a grant and did their project in 2019, they can reapply in 2023 to do a project in 2024).

To learn more about the grants and organizations that have received funding in the past, please visit: Accessibility Projects Grants | DABC (disabilityalliancebc.org).

Media Contacts:
Helaine Boyd
Executive Director
helaine@dabc.ca

Download a copy of the press release here: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/APG-Press-Release-May-29th-2024-FINAL.pdf

[1]https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310037401&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.13