How are we working together?
The Accessibility Directorate focuses on improving accessibility for people with disabilities and is located within the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Throughout the development of the first two accessibility standards, the Accessibility Directorate has conducted ongoing consultation and engagement with First Nations, Modern Treaty Nations, Métis, and urban Indigenous People and organizations. As part of this commitment, the Accessibility Directorate contacts partners on a quarterly basis to provide updates on the development of standards, including overviews of draft sections, and to offer various options to engage in policy development. These options include meetings or presentations by provincial government staff, working sessions, and/or written submissions.
Ongoing meetings are held with: one Modern Treaty Nation (Tsawwassen First Nation), Métis Nation BC, two First Nations (Saulteau First Nations and T’eqt”aqtn’mux), the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, and the First Nations Health Authority.
Additional meetings have been held with Maa-nulth Treaty Society’s Health and Wellness Working group, Tseshaht First Nation, and Skidegate First Nation.
Feedback and discussion from these meetings have helped to inform the standards, as well as complementary materials such as guidelines, training and toolkits that will support their implementation. The Accessibility Directorate has also done further research on the application of accessibility standards for organizations operating on Modern Treaty lands based on questions received from Modern Treaty Nations during engagement sessions.
Are there challenges?
The Accessibility Directorate has limited capacity to respond to engagement requests from Indigenous partners. Indigenous partners have similar capacity limitations with reviewing proposed accessibility standards.
Highlights
In Summer 2024, Indigenous partners were invited to apply for $2,500 in provincial funding to host a community-led session on the accessibility standards. The BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, the Cariboo Chilcotin Métis Association, and the Prince George Métis Community Association were provided with funding. The Accessibility Directorate also engaged with participants at the 2024 Elders Gathering through presence at a booth.
Moving forward, there will be opportunity for further consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples and partners, including on draft regulations.