Purpose & Mandate

The purpose of the Accessibility Committee is to promote inclusive and accessible practices while making accessibility and inclusion-related recommendations to policies, procedures, bylaws, and infrastructure. The goal is to create greater equality and inclusiveness for all Islands Trust residents, employees, and clients.

The Accessibility Committee is a mandatory requirement under the Accessible British Columbia Act effective September 1, 2023. Islands Trust and other governments and listed organizations must establish:

1. an accessibility committee,
2. an accessibility plan, and
3. a tool to receive feedback on accessibility.

Definitions

For the purpose of this Committee, the following definitions found in the Accessible British Columbia Act apply:

• Accessibility – allows all people can take part in their communities through work, play and other daily activities
• Disability – an inability to participate fully and equally in society as a result of the interaction of an impairment and a barrier
• Impairment – includes a physical, sensory, mental, intellectual, or cognitive impairment; whether permanent, temporary or episodic
• 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 are affected by intersecting forms of discrimination.

Islands Trust is accepting expressions of interest for volunteer Accessibility Committee (AC) positions, and are inviting members of the public to participate in the committee.

Islands Trust is seeking residents that have the interest and ability to assist and advise the Islands Trust Council to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to individuals interacting with Islands Trust.

To meet the requirements of the Accessible British Columbia Act, the Islands Trust Accessibility Committee comprises:

• a minimum of one and up to four representatives from organizations that support people with disabilities, or who have disabilities, in the Islands Trust Area;
• a minimum of one person who is Indigenous; and
• a minimum of one and up to two people from the Islands Trust Area.

Successful applicants will be appointed by the Islands Trust Council and may be expected to meet four times per year. The term for each of these positions is to December 31, 2026. Terms of reference for the Accessibility Committee can be viewed here.

David Marlor
Email: dmarlor@islandstrust.bc.ca
Suite 200 – 1627 Fort Street
Victoria BC, V8R 1H8
Phone: 250.405.5169