Blog
Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month and if you’re not familiar with why this month is so important for the disability community, here’s an overview. History of Disability Pride Month On July 26, 1990, the American Disabilities Act was passed with a mandate to break down the barriers that prevent people… Read More about “Disability Pride Month”
Accessibility Committees: Creating spaces of meaningful engagement
As we approach the compliance deadline for the Accessible BC Act, and municipalities and other prescribed organizations move toward developing their accessibility committees, accessibility plan, and feedback mechanism, one thing to keep in mind is to focus on ensuring the meaningful engagement process and non-tokenistic approach to complying with the… Read More about “Accessibility Committees: Creating spaces of meaningful engagement”
Four Ways to Include Indigenous People in your Accessibility Committee
Under the Accessible BC Act, “prescribed” organizations need to establish accessibility committees including at least one Indigenous member. When you reflect on welcoming Indigenous people to your committee, there are some things to keep in mind. Be clear Outline what you need committee members to contribute and also what you… Read More about “Four Ways to Include Indigenous People in your Accessibility Committee”
5 Tips for Post-Secondary Institutions Starting an Accessibility Committee
Under the new Accessible British Columbia Act (2021) post-secondary institutions in British Columbia are required to establish an accessibility plan, public feedback mechanism, and an accessibility committee by September 1, 2023. Given how institutions tend to slow down in the spring/summer months, your organization will need to make this a… Read More about “5 Tips for Post-Secondary Institutions Starting an Accessibility Committee”
The Remote and Hybrid Work Model Through an Accessibility Lens
In early 2020, as a result of the pandemic, many of us were forced to transition to remote work to maintain social distancing and safety. While this was a challenge for many, it became a huge advantage for people with disabilities like myself as it created new employment opportunities and… Read More about “The Remote and Hybrid Work Model Through an Accessibility Lens”
What Libraries need to know about the Accessible BC Act from a Librarian
As a librarian with a disability, I’m excited to see how the Accessible BC Act opens the door for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our sector. After attending Untapped Accessibility’s recent webinar, Accessibility in 2023: Trends and Legislation You Need to Know, I reflected on the various types of libraries… Read More about “What Libraries need to know about the Accessible BC Act from a Librarian”
Accessibility in 2023: Trends and Legislation – Webinar Summary
On January 26th, 2023, Untapped Accessibility and the Surrey Board of Trade co-presented a successful webinar on accessibility trends and legislation. The 300 plus registrants gained timely and robust insights from a panel moderated by Anu Pala and featuring Anita Huberman, Christine Buchanan, and Sheri Byrne-Haber. Here are a few… Read More about “Accessibility in 2023: Trends and Legislation – Webinar Summary”
Accessibility in 2023: Trends and Legislation You Need to Know
2023 is shaping up to be a big year for accessibility in Canada, and we’re doing a webinar on this topic in partnership with the Surrey Board of Trade. Upcoming compliance deadlines for BC public sector organizations in September 2023 and 2024 have over 750 organizations rushing to improve accessibility…. Read More about “Accessibility in 2023: Trends and Legislation You Need to Know”
Remove the Barriers and Be Prepared to Be Amazed
Accessibility means removing the barriers to everyone’s full participation in society. In a broader sense, this can include ramps and wide enough entryways in the built environment, websites that include— but are not limited to— descriptions of images, or alt text, plain language writing, audio descriptions, and more. Considering that… Read More about “Remove the Barriers and Be Prepared to Be Amazed”
The future is accessible, and the future is now.
When the BC Government first proclaimed Disability Employment Month back in 2014, many accessibility advocates were hesitantly hopeful, wondering if it would actually make a difference for people with disabilities. Social change doesn’t happen over night, but eight years later, I believe the world imagined in that original proclamation has… Read More about “The future is accessible, and the future is now.”