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.
The Accessibility Committee will meet four times per year. Meeting will be posted here.
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.
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
Roles and Responsibilities
The Accessibility Committee’s roles and responsibilities are assigned through Islands Trust Council policy.
The Accessibility Committee provides advice to Islands Trust Council and management by undertaking the following responsibilities:
- Identify barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization,
- Advise the organization on how to remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization.
- Develop an Accessibility Plan, and advise on implementation of the Plan.
- Review the Accessibility Plan every three years including seeking public feedback on the Accessibility Plan and how to remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization
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.