Abilities Awareness Advisory Committee

About the Accessible BC Act

• The Accessible BC Act is provincial law, passed in June 2021.
• The Act requires the government and prescribed organizations to establish: an accessibility committee, an accessibility plan, and a mechanism for feedback on accessibility.

Accessibility means creating an environment that allows for inclusion and independence for everyone - through work, play and day to day. Barriers can be attitudinal, physical, communicative, systemic, technological and sensory.

City of Trail next steps:

• Advertise for volunteers to sit on the Committee; appoint volunteers; hold first meeting of the Committee;
• Provide feedback mechanisms to improve public reporting and feedback of issues/concerns;
• Create the plan with strategies to improve accessibility within the organization and community.

Trail Abilities Awareness Advisory Committee (AAAC)

• The AAAC may be called upon by Staff or Council to:

  • Provide advice and information regarding accessibility barriers on future planning, projects, municipal services, policies, and facilities.

  • Review existing municipal services, programs, policies, and facilities to provide advice to remove any barriers.
  • Provide recommendations regarding possible improvements to City buildings, facilities, policies, and services which would assist in providing accessibility for all citizens. Meetings with the Committee are organized on an as needed basis.

• How to access the Committee
  • Meetings with the Committee are organized on an as-needed basis.
  • If a program, project, or initiative could benefit from review and feedback from the AAAC, Corporate Services will assist in setting up a AAAC meeting

Accessibility Plan requirements

• The Accessible BC Act requires all municipalities to develop an Accessibility Plan.

  • Plans identify, remove, and prevent barriers to individuals in, or interacting with the organization.
  • Must be reviewed and updated at least once every three years.
  • Are created in consult with the accessibility committee. 
  • Organizations must consider comments received from public feedback.

Creating an Accessibility Plan

• The City is exploring opportunities for grant funding toward creating a plan.