Accessibility Plan for an Accessible Squamish

The District of Squamish is committed to continuous learning and improvement when it comes to accessibility. Therefore, this webpage and PDF are subject to change as we better understand what accessibility needs exist and how we can design for them.

If you have any feedback on the accessibility of this page, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling Municipal Hall at 604.892.5217.

View the plan below or download the Accessibility Plan accessible - 2026 update pdf.

 

Introduction

The District recognizes that Squamish is in the core unceded territory of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw. We offer gratitude to the Skwxwú7mesh People who have lived on these lands since time immemorial and reassert our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

The District is grateful for the work and insights of the Accessibility Committee. Members of the Committee have worked tirelessly to guide the development of the engagement and the drafting of this plan. The District would also like to acknowledge that many Committee members hold unique perspectives as people with lived experiences of disability.

We are also grateful to the many community members who participated in the public engagement sessions as well as District staff who provided expertise. The conversations that were held and the comments that were collected all helped create this Accessibility Plan.

This plan has been created through the lens of the District of Squamish IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) Committee which works to make the District of Squamish a place where all belong.

The District of Squamish is committed to increasing accessibility across all its spaces, services, and communications. Accessibility is a key component in many of the District’s:

  • strategies
  • plans
  • projects
  • initiatives

Guided by the Accessible BC Act, the District of Squamish created an Accessibility Committee and developed an Accessibility Plan to
identify and remove barriers to accessibility. In this process, the District:

  • worked extensively with staff and members of the Accessibility Committee
  • developed relationships with people with disabilities
  • engaged with community members.

The resulting feedback informed this Accessibility Plan. District of Squamish staff and members of the Accessibility Committee worked together to create the Plan. We reviewed the Accessibility Plan in 2026 as required by the Accessible BC Act. This page includes those updates.

The plan is organized into six domains:

  • Built Environment and Public Spaces
  • Transportation
  • Communications and Information Design
  • Governance and Corporate Culture
  • Service Design and Delivery
  • Employment

Each domain features goals and objectives to increase accessibility.

Our vision of an accessible Squamish is one where everyone is included without experiencing barriers to access. Feedback on this plan, and on accessibility at the District of Squamish more generally, is welcome. Please email [email protected] or contact Municipal Hall at 604-892-5217.

Disability is more common than many think, with approximately one in four people over the age of 15 in Canada living with one or more disabilities . There is evidence of care for disabled people throughout human history and, in many Indigenous societies, being disabled did not necessarily lead to marginalization . With colonial settlement however, environments and societies were often built with the assumption that all citizens were able-bodied. This history has led to a situation where accessibility barriers exist throughout Canadian society and there is a need to identify and dismantle those barriers to allow disabled people to fully participate. Canada now has a strong legislative framework to protect people with disabilities from discrimination, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The Accessible British Columbia Act was enacted in 2021, and in 2022 the Accessible British Columbia Regulation came into effect. The Regulation requires prescribed organizations, such as the District of Squamish, to:

  • Create an Accessibility Committee to help identify barriers and advise on the removal or prevention of such barriers
  • Develop an Accessibility Plan to identify, remove, and prevent barriers which will be updated every 3 years
  • Establish a process for receiving comments from the public on the Plan and barriers

The deadline to comply with the Accessible BC Act was September 1, 2023.

Under the Act, an organization’s Accessibility Plan must consider a set of principles. These are outlined below with a description of how they relate to the District of Squamish Accessibility Plan.

  • Inclusion (making sure everyone belongs and can participate):
    The District of Squamish Accessibility Committee consisted of people with lived experience of disability. Committee meetings and community engagement activities provided diverse opportunities, methods, and accommodations for participation to include everyone.
  • Adaptability (ability to be adjusted or retrofitted as circumstances change)
    Many of the strategic goals in this plan further adaptability by ensuring multiple options or flexibility (e.g. contact via email and phone, adapted programming and housing options, etc.).
    Diversity (representing a wide variety of orientations, perspectives, or experiences): The Accessibility Committee includes members with a wide variety of disabilities and other social identities, and the resulting Accessibility Plan considers many disabilities and types of barriers across the District of Squamish.
  • Collaboration (working together to achieve a common goal)
    The Accessibility Plan was developed in collaboration with the District of Squamish Accessibility Committee, staff, and community members through the community engagement strategy.
    Self-determination (each person can make their own decisions and manage their own lives): As a crucial aspect of disability justice, self-determination is evident in the inclusion of disabled voices throughout the development of this plan.
  • Universal Design (as much as possible, ensuring environments and products are designed in a way that all people can use them without the need for adaptation)
    Where possible, this plan seeks to align with other District of Squamish plans and strategies and views accessibility as one aspect of equity. Universal Design is referenced through various visions and strategic goals.

During the negotiations to create the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the International Disability Caucus adopted the slogan “nothing about us without us”. The phrase has since become a rallying cry for many communities but is widely regarded as originating in disability movements.

“Nothing about us without us” highlights the importance of including disabled voices in any planning or policy decisions that might affect accessibility. It aligns with a social model of disability, which sees disability arising from an ableist society as opposed to a medical model of disability, which focuses on the individual as abnormal.

  • Medical model of disability
    This model locates disability in the person themselves, as a direct result of their impairment or difference. In this model, disabled people are seen as deficient or abnormal and in need of aid or a cure.
  • Social model of disability
    This model sees disability as being caused by the way society is organized. For example, a lack of ramps or closed captioning is disabling, not the fact that someone uses a wheelchair or is Deaf.

In addition, the terms used to discuss disability have significant meaning which may change over time. Person-first language highlights the person before the disability and is used by many governments and organizations as a general practice. Examples of person-first language include “person with a disability” or “people with disabilities”. However, many disabled people prefer identity-first language to recognize how their disability forms an integral part of their social identities. This includes phrases like “disabled person”, “Autistic person”, or “Deaf person” and others. In addition, the term disabled has often been replaced with euphemisms. Examples include “differently abled”, “special needs”, “handi-capable”, and others. Many disability activists actively resist these phrases and embrace the word “disability” as a term that accurately reflects their experiences in an ableist society4. These patterns are also evident in other identity categories, such as Deafhood, Autism, neurodivergence, and others. Many of these are being recognized as distinct cultural groups.

The District of Squamish Accessibility Committee sought to prioritize disabled voices in the development of this plan to honour “nothing about us without us”. Throughout the process, care was taken to include and meet disabled people in the community by providing accommodations and developing relationships. In recognition of the diversity of disabled perspectives and “nothing about us without us”, this Accessibility Plan alternates between person-first language, like “people with disabilities”, and identity-first language, like “disabled people”. This supports the principle of self-determination by intentionally including and acknowledging both preferences. Where appropriate, this plan also recognizes disabled communities as cultures by capitalizing words, such as deaf versus Deaf.

This plan has also been written to be as accessible as possible by including 12-point sans-serif font, alt-text on all images, and formatting that supports text to speech software. We will continue to update the format and writing of this plan as we learn about how to make it more accessible.

During the community engagement, participants were asked to consider the following questions:

  • What do you think of when you hear the word accessibility?
  • What does an accessible Squamish mean to you?

The responses to these questions were analyzed separately using the Quirkos qualitative software. The results generated the word cloud included below.

A multicoloured word cloud with the following words in large font: people, able, access, barriers, everyone, feel. In smaller font are the words other, others, workplace, without, complete, clean, needs, included, job.

Respondents highlighted that every person should be able to access what they need without experiencing barriers. In addition, disabled people should feel included and not othered (as one respondent put it, “inclusion is belonging that goes beyond acceptance”). Some respondents expanded the idea of accessibility to include protection of land and cultural activities and others focused on the idea of welcoming all people.

As a result of this process, the District of Squamish Accessibility Plan includes the following vision:

The District of Squamish provides spaces, services, and communications that allow everyone to be included without experiencing barriers to access.

The vision for an accessible Squamish is included in the Accessibility Plan as a guide for its implementation, to ensure all people are welcomed and feel a sense of belonging.

Community Context

The District of Squamish is situated on the unceded, traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw at the end of Átl'ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound. Within the District of Squamish boundaries there are eight Squamish Nation Reserves, many of which represent permanent or seasonal village sites. The history of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw goes back millennia and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh culture, customs, traditions, and laws are deeply connected to the lands, waters, and beings of this territory and are passed on through generations.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw has existed as a political entity since its amalgamation in 1923, although the history of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people and land go back millennia. Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language) is part of the Coast Salish family of languages and is undergoing revitalization efforts to strengthen the number of speakers. An elected Council, or Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw, governs the nation through one Chairperson, seven Councillors, a Band Manager, and the Nation Administration. The Nation consist of just over 4,000 members who live throughout the territory, including Squamish and the Squamish Valley.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and the District of Squamish continue to deepen their relationship founded in respect and recognition of Indigenous rights, culture, and heritage.

Squamish is a growing and increasingly diverse community. From 2016 to 2021, the population grew 22% to 23,819. Like many other communities, the cost of living has increased dramatically as well and many residents commute to work in neighbouring communities like Vancouver and Whistler. English and French are the most spoken languages followed by Punjabi, German, Spanish, and Tagalog/Filipino. There is a high value placed on the natural environment and Squamish is known as the “Adventure capital of Canada”. The community boasts a large selection of outdoor amenities such as trails and parks and is a prime tourist destination for mountain bikers, rock climbers, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts. Squamish also has a vibrant arts and culture community and a growing culinary scene.

The District of Squamish views accessibility as a vital part of equity and inclusion work. Accessibility is apparent in a variety of plans and strategies which help steer the organization. By including accessibility as a lens in these guiding documents, we underline our commitment to making Squamish a more accessible place to live, work, and play now and into the future.

The Squamish 2040 – Official Community Plan (OCP) was adopted in 2018 and outlines a community vision as well as strategies to help us get there. Among the goals of the OCP, health is articulated as including accessible built environments, housing and support for active living and universal mobility. In this way, “Squamish’s most vulnerable citizens are cared for with dignity and respect, and suitable facilities and services are available for residents of all ages, stages of life, abilities, incomes, interests, and cultures”.

Many of the strategies outlined in the OCP include explicit mention of accessibility as a principle and objective.

The District of Squamish Strategic Plan 2023-2026 was adopted in 2023. There are many elements of the plan related to accessibility, including the inclusion of accessibility as a governing principle.

Under the pillar “Resilient People and Relationships”, the Strategic Plan seeks to “incorporate the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility throughout our organization with the goal to foster these principles in the greater community and support community groups in their work”. This includes the implementation of the District’s Inclusion Strategy, discussed below.

The pillar “Connected and Liveable Community” outlines actions to increase the accessibility of arts, cultural, heritage and recreational multiuse programmable spaces as well as active transportation and transit systems.

Under “Reliable Service Delivery”, the Strategic Plan commits to “equitable, accessible, transparent, and culturally appropriate services”.

In 2022, the District of Squamish Inclusion Strategy: IDEAs in Action was endorsed by Mayor and Council. The Strategy outlines five goals for improving inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in District workplaces and processes. The Strategy was developed by the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) Committee which recognizes accessibility as a core element in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

The Inclusion Strategy’s fifth goal is “Our physical and virtual work environments are accessible and inclusive”. Actions listed to achieve this goal include the development of this Accessibility Plan and the implementation of many of the plan’s actions.

The District of Squamish Accessibility Plan was adopted by Council on June 27, 2023. Since then, the Accessibility Committee has guided how the District of Squamish implements the plan. Here are some of the things we have done over the past three years:

Completed accessibility audits of:

  • Brennan Park Recreation Centre
  • Municipal Hall
  • Squamish Public Library
  • The 55 Activity Centre
  • Firehall #1
  • Squamish Adventure Centre
  • Spak’wus Feather Park
  • Junction Park
  • Stan Clarke Park
  • Rose Park
  • Smoke Bluffs Park

Offered staff training in:

  • General accessibility and the Accessible BC Act
  • Supporting people with visual impairments
  • Deaf culture
  • Accessible service delivery
  • Plain language 

Held community events, including:

  • Crip Camp film screening at the Squamish Public Library
  • Walk n’ Roll Celebration

Installed assistive listening devices in:

  • Brennan Park Recreation Centre
  • Municipal Hall Council Chambers
  • Squamish Public Library
  • The 55 Activity Centre
  • Emergency Operations Centre
  • Squamish Landfill Weigh Scale

Upgraded for improve accessibility:

  • District of Squamish website
  • Squamish Public Library website

Developed policies, guidelines, plans, and updated Bylaws to ensure accessibility is part of all we do

Goals and Objectives

The following Goals and Objectives are organized according to various domains which consider the breadth of the services, facilities, and communications provided by the District of Squamish. Each domain includes a summary of the community engagement feedback followed by overarching goals and objectives. The domains include:

  • Built Environment and Public Spaces
  • Transportation
  • Communications and Information Design
  • Governance and Corporate Culture
  • Service Design and Delivery
  • Employment

The goals outlined in this plan are guided by the vision of an accessible Squamish:

The District of Squamish provides spaces, services, and communications that allow everyone to be included without experiencing barriers to access.

What We Heard

Public engagement identified barriers related to parks and public spaces. These include a general lack of accessible playground spaces for children with disabilities, as well as equipment that cannot be reached with mobility devices and equipment that does not support play for neurodivergent children or those using mobility devices. In addition, some public amenities were identified as being inaccessible and there is a general lack of accessible washrooms around town.

In District facilities, barriers identified include lack of ramps, automatic doors, limited space, and a general lack of accessibility considerations or outdated accommodations in the design process. Participants identified the need for more accessible parking that is well maintained and clearly marked and enforced. Feedback also identified a lack of adequate affordable housing that is accessible.
Streetscapes also had many barriers such as a lack of tactile and visible markers, challenges with accessible parking, and sidewalk slopes and grades.

Goal 1: There is an increased availability of park and public space amenities that are accessible or support accessibility needs.

Objectives:

    1. Conduct a review of municipal parks to assess accessibility, including amenities, wayfinding, and surrounding areas such as parking.
    2. Develop a prioritization process for accessibility upgrades.

  2. Create accessibility standards for new municipal park development which include consideration of the spectrum of disabilities and differences, including sensory, physical, neurodivergence, mental illness, and others, to ensure any new park and public space amenities are accessible or include accessibility features.

  3. Create awareness of accessibility features that are currently available at parks through public advertising and signage.

  4. Update the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master plan using an accessibility scope and lens.

  5. Retrofit existing park and public space amenities to be more accessible. This might include accessible benches, shelters, water fountains, bathrooms, alternative modes of communication on signage such as ASL illustrations, pictographs, or braille and others.

Implemented actions:

Conduct a review of municipal parks to assess accessibility, including amenities, wayfinding, and surrounding areas such as parking.

Goal 2: Increased accessibility at existing District and Library facilities.

Objectives:

  1. Conduct an accessibility audit of all facilities through a third-party consultant including identification of immediate and long-term infrastructure updates and resources required. This includes all washrooms, changerooms, and recreation amenities, such as pools and arenas.
  2. Include short-term retrofits and infrastructure updates into budget cycle.
  3. Integrate larger accessibility retrofits and infrastructure updates into long term capital planning.
  4. Update the Real Estate and Facilities Masterplan with an accessibility lens.

Implemented actions:

  • Conduct an accessibility audit of all facilities through a third-party consultant including identification of immediate and long-term infrastructure updates and resources required. This includes all washrooms, changerooms, and recreation amenities, such as pools and arenas.
  • Include short-term retrofits and infrastructure updates into budget cycle.

Goal 3: New District facilities will be designed and built according to universal design principles.

Objectives:

  1. Ensure new facilities go beyond the BC Building Code and consider accessibility as a core design principle. To achieve this, create standardized language to include accessibility considerations in District specifications and procurement evaluation criteria where applicable.

  2. Develop a policy outlining inclusive requirements for all District facilities.

  3. Update the Real Estate and Facilities Masterplan with an accessibility lens.

Implemented actions:

  • Review Procurement Policy for accessibility gaps and update as required.


Goal 4: District streetscapes are accessible, including adequate accessible parking.

Objectives:

    1. Launch a public awareness campaign about the District’s Sidewalk and Maintenance policy, highlighting how the public can contribute to the maintenance of sidewalk amenities. For
      example, this might include reporting degraded sidewalk areas.

    2. Develop a framework for engagement with seniors and people with disabilities to identify accessibility barriers such as problem areas in existing and proposed streetscapes and parking and other concerns.

    3. Develop a prioritization process for accessibility upgrades of existing streetscapes with new budget and staff support.

    4. Review and update for the following for accessibility considerations. Include people with lived experience of disability in these reviews.

      1. Subdivision Development Control Bylaw (2649)

      2. Building Bylaw (1822)

      3. Traffic Bylaw (2220) 

Implemented actions:

  • Create an accessibility component to streetscape guidelines which will be referenced in the Subdivision Development Control Bylaw (2649) for any new development projects.
  • Review number, location, and design of accessible on street parking and prioritize new locations and upgrades.

Goal 5: New housing and commercial developments include universal design.

Objectives:

  1. Consider policy that supports more accessible, affordable units.
  2. Support the Squamish Community Housing Society and other community housing organizations
    in the design and build out of universally accessible housing within the community.

Implemented actions:

  • Review and revise adaptable/accessible unit policy in the OCP (2500) in both policy and development permit guidelines to integrate accessibility review in rezonings and development permit applications.
  • Review and revise accessible regulations in the Zoning Bylaw (2200), including off-street parking, to meet or exceed best practices.

What We Heard

Transportation barriers identified through public outreach include a lack of accessibility and maintenance of sidewalks with examples such as curb cuts, visual aids, width, grades, and potholes, among others, as well as gaps in the sidewalk network. Similarly, respondents said crosswalks lack accessibility considerations such as audible signals, easily reached buttons, and ramps. Trails are often too narrow for those with mobility aids to use and lack adequate rest space.

In terms of transit, respondents identified a lack of accessible services and routes, including HandyDART offerings. Bus stops are often not accessible to those using mobility aids and a lack of regional transit was also identified as a barrier.

Goal 1: Pedestrian transportation networks are accessible, including sidewalks, crosswalks, and trails.

Objectives:

  1. Create a public accessibility layer on the District GIS webmap with opportunities for feedback.
    • . Include accessibility information in new and existing signage.
  2. Review trails planning with an accessibility lens. This could include developing an accessibility rating standard for trails or exploring accessible wayfinding technology.
  3. Work with other levels of government to examine crossing times at Highway 99 intersections.
  4. Increase enforcement of parking infringements that create accessibility barriers, such as overhang onto sidewalks.
  5. Collaborate with governments and local organizations to improve the accessibility of trails.
  6. Install resting areas on existing trails and build rest stops into future trail planning.

Implemented actions:

  • Ensure new sidewalks prioritize accessibility and that the sidewalk network is continuous and accessible.
  • Adopt a standard for accessible crosswalks with audible and tactile indicators as well as adequately placed push buttons.


Goal 2: Bike networks are accessible.

Objectives:

  1. Improve visibility and signage for multiple users of shared paths, including mobility  scooters, wheelchairs, adaptive bikes, and others.

Implemented actions:

  • Develop a wide range of cycle routes and advertise alternate routes so travelers have a variety of options, including paved, flat, quiet, and others.

Goal 3: Transit networks and infrastructure are accessible.

Objectives:

  1. Increase transit service to Brennan Park.
  2. Advocate for wheelchair-accessible regional transit.
  3. Continue to develop accessible transit stops. This includes:
    • larger and better lit shelters with space for wheelchairs and strollers
    • accessible signage including Braille, raised letters, and colour contrast

Implemented actions:

  • Support implementation of any recommendations related to accessibility outlined in the Transportation Masterplan.
  • Work with Squamish Nation to assess priorities for increased transit service to reserve lands.
  • Prioritize accessible transit stops close to seniors’ areas as well as supportive housing for vulnerable populations.
  • Increase HandyDART service and ticket purchasing options.
  • Continue advocating for regional transit.

What We Heard

Participants identified a general lack of accessibility on the District's website with recreation schedules difficult to navigate in particular. In terms of content, some accessibility information was reported lacking or incorrect and the Squamish "Hardwired for Adventure" brand was identified as not inclusive. Respondents also suggested providing multiple options for contacting and engaging with the District and commended the District for the engagement work on this Accessibility Plan.

Goal 1: All District of Squamish communications, including the Library, meet WCAG 2.1 standards, including websites, documents, and social media posts.

Objectives:

  1. Provide alternative formats by request such as large print or electronic.
  2. Investigate how to provide information in Braille.

Implemented actions:

  • Conduct an accessibility audit of all District and Library websites, including code and content updates, staff training, and ongoing review, maintenance, and reporting to ensure website design is compliant with WCAG 2.1 standards.
  • Ensure information is presented in a variety of formats including audible and in print and that all videos include subtitles where possible or captioning.
  • Advocate that third party providers make their platforms and software accessible.

Goal 2: People with disabilities are visible in Squamish and information is updated, clear, and accurate.

Objectives:

  1. Ensure information on accessibility is available, accurate, and inclusive of all disabilities. This includes information about accessible parking and curb cuts, wayfinding, website compliance, accessible programming, captioning, and other things.

  2. Ensure there are multiple options for contact and that this is clear and consistent across departments. This includes webforms, email, phone, in person, video chat, and others.

  3. Advertise accessible programming in more formats beyond social media and newsletters.

  4. Create an internal accessibility layer on the District GIS Webmap to document a baseline of accessibility attributes through existing infrastructure inspection programs. Create a plan for improving accessibility infrastructure that can inform future projects.

  5. Continue to explore opportunities for open data and provide public information related to accessibility using the Open Data Guiding Principles.

  6. Ensure Accessibility Plan progress is transparent and up to date.

  7. Provide plain language resources and integrate into work processes.

Implemented actions:

  • Support events that destigmatize disability and celebrate accessibility.
  • Update marketing and promotion to be more inclusive of people with disabilities.
    Examples include representation of disabled people in stock images on District websites and documents and other places.


Goal 3: Public engagement methods and materials are accessible and inclusive.

Objectives:

  1. Ensure the District and Library offer a variety of formats for getting feedback such as webforms, email, phone, in person, and other formats and in languages other than English. 
  2. Ensure engagement platforms are accessible.
  3. Review and update the accessibility feedback mechanism to follow best practices for accessibility.

What We Heard

Barriers that respondents identified in relation to governance and corporate culture include a general lack of accessibility considerations during decision-making and project planning. This included specific projects such as emergency planning and events. Many policies and bylaws were also identified as being out of date or excluding accessibility as a component. In addition, staff identified a lack of support for accessibility initiatives and standards from higher levels of government.

Goal 1: Accessibility is a requirement of the District's policies, bylaws, and decision-making.

Objectives:

  1. Include an accessibility lens on Reports to Council.
  2. In concert with the District of Squamish Inclusion Strategy, conduct an accessibility audit of all bylaws and policies as they come up for review and include enforcement resources.
  3. Research the possibility of providing compensation to all equity-seeking groups, including people with disabilities, for serving on District committees and advisory boards.
  4. Review the new accessibility standards published by Accessibility Standards Canada,  specifically the Accessible Design for the Built Environment, and review how other municipalities are codifying these standards into their own policies and bylaws.
  5. Support accessibility professional training for relevant staff.

Goal 2: The District is a leader in collaborating and advocating for accessibility support.

Objectives:

  1. Ensure prioritized recommendations are considered for inclusion in the 5 year Financial Plan, including provisions for grant fund matching requirements.
  2. Ensure continued staff capacity to lead and manage the implementation of the Accessibility Plan.
  3. Meet with relevant ministries at Union of BC Municipalities to advocate for accessibility implementation support for local governments.
  4. Research and develop a lived experience consultant model to regularly inform District projects.

Implemented actions:

  • Develop an action strategy for implementation of this Accessibility Plan which articulates:
    • actions that can be completed internally with existing budget allowances
    • actions that require external funding
    • opportunities for collaboration with community organizations
    • priorities and responsibilities over a 10 year timeline
  • Fund a staff position to lead and manage the implementation of the Accessibility Plan.
  • Advocate to the Provincial and Federal governments for support and funding for accessibility initiatives, including those identified in this plan.
  • Participate in or develop networks with other local governments to collaborate on accessibility. This would include participation in the Municipal Accessibility Network, Sea to Sky, and others.
  • Advocate to the Provincial Government to upgrade standards and regulations for accessibility and ensure the District participates in these processes where possible. Examples include Provincial Building Code updates and others. 
  • Meet with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction at the Union of BC Municipalities 2023 to advocate for accessibility implementation support for local governments.

Goal 3: Accessibility is a consideration in emergency management.

Objectives:

  1. Review the Sea to Sky Multimodal Evacuation Plan and the core Emergency Management Plan with an accessibility lens. Include people with disabilities in this review.

Implemented actions:

  • Increase awareness of and embed accessibility into emergency response, considering issues like vulnerability during heat and smoke events, accessible reception centres and others.
  • Continue to partner on emergency response with Squamish Nation

What We Heard

When it comes to service design and delivery, respondents identified a general lack of awareness from District staff about disabilities. Participants suggested the District provide training to staff who work with people with disabilities. In addition, many respondents said recreational programming was not accessible and cost prohibitive, especially for children with disabilities or cognitive differences. This includes a lack of programming for neurodivergent individuals, however respondents also acknowledged the benefits of some programs such as Neurofit and the low sensory skate.

Goal 1: District and Library staff exhibit accessibility awareness and competency.

Implemented actions:

  • Provide awareness raising and communication training for all staff from disabled tutors/organizations or representatives from cultural groups such as deafness and
    sign language, neurodivergence, and others.
  • Support staff who pursue accessibility training as part of their professional development.

Goal 2: District and Library programming, activities and events are accessible and inclusive, especially for children and youth.

Objectives:

  1. Support a wider variety of accessible and adaptive sports such as adaptive skating, adaptive biking and others.

  2. Increase the variety of accessible programs for children and offer adequate after school and summer program spaces for children with disabilities.

  3. Include accessible equipment in existing programming such as Little Sneakers and others.

  4. Implement a service level change to advance and support the increased delivery of accessible program design and services.

  5. Provide accessibility training for community members, including sign language and disability awareness. Prioritize community partners.

  6. Review the Recreation Access Pass with an accessibility lens.

  7. Develop a separate Accessibility Plan for Recreation Services.

Implemented actions:

  • Continue to partner with outside organizations and neurodivergent people to increase offerings of programs that are innovative and culturally safe. This might include adaptive swim lessons, maker space, parallel play, science/technology/ engineering/math classes, relationship building and others.
  • Encourage all permitted events to have an accessibility plan during the event planning process.
  • Increase sensory friendly events for people who have sensitivities to noise, light, smells, and others.

 

What We Heard

District staff, as well as Mayor and Council, were surveyed for feedback on accessibility barriers. In terms of employment, respondents identified a lack of general awareness of disabilities and accommodations as well as inaccessible workspaces and facilities.

Goal 1:The District is an accessible and inclusive workplace.

Objectives:

  1. Establish a written and transparent accommodation process that outlines:
    • how employees can request accommodations
    • how decisions and approvals are made within a social model of disability
  2. Support the accommodation process across the organization by:
    • Providing virtual and in-person training with supervisors and managers.
    • Providing information about accommodation requests and the decision process during  recruitment and for current employees.
    • Establishing a resources area such as a physical info board and online space
    • Providing regular updates for supervisors, managers and employees about workplace accessibility and the accommodation process.
    • Work with unions to promote and champion accessibility improvements.

Implemented actions:

  • Support universal design principles for employee workspaces in new building or current building renovations by 
  • Ensuring accessibility features are available by default as much as possible including live captioning, accessible documents and others.
  • Ensuring staff workplaces and workstations are accessible by default including:
    • automated doors
    • washrooms
    • elevators
    • adjustable workstations
    • lighting adjustments and other features.
  • Provide accessibility awareness training to all staff including psychological safety training for leadership.

Feedback Tools

District staff developed a broad and targeted engagement strategy to gather feedback on accessibility guided by the Accessibility Committee. The committee identified intended participants and provided feedback on how to make the engagement opportunities as accessible as possible.

Engagement participants identified by the Accessibility Committee included:

  • People with mobility challenges
  • People with sensory disabilities
  • Seniors
  • Low-income people with disabilities
  • People with developmental and cognitive disabilities
  • Youth with disabilities
  • People with chronic illnesses
  • People with invisible or hidden disabilities
  • HandyDART users
  • District staff and departments
  • Current and future District staff with disabilities

During April-May 2023, the following engagements were conducted:

  • Let’s Talk Squamish: online public survey and mapping tool, as well as Frequently Asked Questions and staff contact information.
  • In-person Feedback: printed maps at four District facilities and Squamish Farmers Market where participants could identify barriers as well as comment boxes with an accessibility question available in English, Punjabi, Spanish, German, and Tagalog/Filipino.
  • Public Focus Groups: offered in person and online at wheelchair-accessible District facilities, a senior housing complex, and a youth centre.
  • Staff Survey: launched internally online in alignment with the Let’s Talk Squamish page.
  • Staff In-person Feedback: comment boxes in five District staff facilities.
  • Staff Information Sessions: provided online as well as in-person at various team meetings.
  • Squamish Nation Feedback: in-person lunch with Squamish Nation Elders.
  • Council Feedback: online survey and one on one meetings with Mayor and Council as requested.
  • Interviews: with members of the public and staff as necessary.
  • Rollabout: Committee members and relevant staff attended in-person tours of District facilities and public spaces to gather information about barriers.
  • Scrollabout: Committee members and relevant staff attended online tours of District websites to gather information about barriers.

Over 750 comments were collected from community and committee members, District staff, and Council. Staff then coded the comments using the Quirkos analytical software according to the domains determined by the Accessibility Committee and outlined in this plan. Once coded, staff identified consistent themes, barriers, and proposed solutions. Barriers and solutions were then reviewed with relevant District staff in an iterative process to develop overarching goals and objectives grounded in staff expertise. Finally, the draft strategy and actions, as well as the plan outline, were reviewed and validated with the Accessibility Committee to ensure disabled voices were included. Feedback was incorporated into the final version of this plan.

In order to retain specific and detailed feedback, staff also coded the comments according to each relevant District of Squamish department. This information was then prepared and sent to staff to incorporate into workplans.

In the fall of 2023, engagement gaps related to mental illness were identified and staff worked with community members to collect feedback in early 2024. The Accessibility Plan was updated in consultation with Committee and community members. Staff will continue to engage with community members whose voices haven’t been heard. Examples include culturally marginalized communities, unhoused community members, and those living with mental illness, among others.

The District of Squamish Accessibility Committee was formed in January 2023 and met periodically from January-June to guide the development of the Plan. The committee is made up of both community members and staff, many of whom live with one or more disabilities. The Accessibility Committee provided input for a Terms of Reference, draft plan framework, engagement strategy, and the final District of Squamish Accessibility Plan. Staff also worked with disabled committee members to develop and continuously update accessible meeting practices which include the use of captioning, accessible washroom facilities, virtual meeting options, and early sharing of meeting documents. The final preparation of this plan was completed by District staff, some of whom identify as living with disabilities.

After the adoption of this plan, the Accessibility Committee continued to meet regularly and provide guidance and feedback on its implementation.

As required by the Accessible BC Act, the District of Squamish plans to develop tools to invite feedback on the Accessibility Plan as well as accessibility within the District of Squamish more generally. This will include an option on the District of Squamish website to submit feedback online. As implementation of this plan continues, more avenues for feedback will be developed.

If you have feedback on the District of Squamish Accessibility Plan, or about accessibility in Squamish more generally, please email: [email protected]

You can also phone Municipal Hall at 604-892-5217 or send a letter to:

Equity and Inclusion Advisor 
District of Squamish 
37955 Second Avenue, Squamish, BC  
V8B 0A3

Definitions

The Accessibility Committee recognizes that terminology related to accessibility and disability is varied and evolving. Where possible, we use definitions provided by the BC Government while acknowledging that the meaning of these words may be different for some people.

  • Ableism: bias, discrimination, or prejudice against disabled people which considers them less valuable than able-bodied people.
  • Accessibility: when all people can take part in their communities through work, play, and other daily activities .
    ASL: American Sign Language, one of the languages of the Deaf community in Canada and the United States.
  • Barrier: anything that hinders the full and equal participation in society of a person with an impairment. Barriers can be caused by environments, attitudes, practices, policies, information, communications, or technologies, and affected by intersecting forms of discrimination.
  • Disability: an inability to participate fully and equally in society as a result of the interaction of an impairment or difference and a barrier.
  • Hidden or Invisible Disability: a disability that is not apparent or visible.
  • Identity First Language: wording that places the disability at the beginning of the phrase or in the form of an adjective (e.g. Deaf person).
  • Impairment: a physical, sensory, mental, intellectual, or cognitive diminishment or loss of function, whether permanent, temporary, or episodic.
  • Neurodivergence: a mind that functions in ways that are significantly different from what dominant society deems “normal” .
  • Person First Language: wording that places the person before the disability (e.g. person with a disability).
  • Sensory disability: impairments that affect the senses, such as sight, hearing, smell, touch, or taste.
  • Universal Design: designing products and environments to be used by as many people as possible without the need for adaptation.

Includes 7 principles :

  • Equitable Use: useful for people with diverse abilities
  • Flexibility in Use: accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities
  • Simple and Intuitive use: easy to understand, regardless of experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level
  • Perceptible Information: communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities
  • Tolerance for Error: minimizes hazards and adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions
  • Low Physical Effort: can be use efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue