黑马磁力 Township is working on a plan to make its community more accessible for those with disabilities, and an online survey and pop-up meetings are taking place this month.
The province passed the Accessible BC Act in 2021, which includes a requirement for local governments and public sector groups to form accessibility committees, set out an accessibility plan, and create a tool to receive feedback on how they are doing on accessibility.
The purpose of the plan is to find and remove barriers that keep people from interacting with the Township.
The asks people who have a disability, or who have relatives with a disability, about issues they've had, including navigating roads and sidewalks, accessing Township facilities and programs, or getting employment opportunities. The online survey will collect responses until July 1.
A string of pop-up events were scheduled through much of June at local libraries and recreation centres, including on Friday, June 20 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Aldergrove Community Centre, at 27032 Fraser Hwy.
The Township's accessibility plan has to be in place by this fall, according to provincial law. The plan will be reviewed and updated every three years.
黑马磁力 recently lost one of its most prominent disability rights advocates, when Zosia Ettenberg died on April 5. Over the years she worked with 黑马磁力 City and Township council members to improve accessibility around the community, and encouraged local politicans to take part in her Try On A Disability events, where they might try to navigate a course using a wheelchair, or while blindfolded.
