In the lead up to National AccessAbility Week (May 28-June 3, 2023), the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) is excited to announce the formation of an Accessibility Committee to improve accessibility and comply with the Accessible BC Act, which the BC provincial government passed in June 2021. The Act establishes a legal framework to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in BC. Over 926,000 people live with some sort of disability in BC who face various barriers.
In September 2022, the government outlined the requirements for organizations to comply within a year, including creating an accessibility committee. The ORL Accessibility Committee will attend three meetings and provide recommendations and advice to reduce barriers to library services, collections, spaces, and programming as the ORL prepares it’s first accessibility plan. This committee will include both staff and community members.
To ensure the success of this initiative, we are looking to find interested community members, especially those strongly connected to the disability community, to apply to join the advisory committee. Community members can apply in several ways:
Online: Complete the Community Member Application form, which is screen reader friendly. Print: Download a PDF form, fill it out, and drop it off at your local branch. In-person: Pick up a paper copy from your local branch and return the completed form to that branch. All applications must be submitted by May 23, 2023.
Our team is committed to reaching a wide range of people in all our areas with connections to different disabilities. Reasonable accessibility supports, required for participation, will be provided. If you have any questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Tara Thompson.
Together, we can create a more accessible and inclusive library experience for everyone in our community.
About Okanagan Regional Library: Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) is a public library system serving the diverse communities of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Our mission is to enrich lives and communities through universal access to knowledge, lifelong learning, and literacy.
Resources:
Web Form Link https://forms.office.com/r/M1Z41Cy02f
PDF Application Link https://www.orl.bc.ca/docs/default-source/using-the-library/aiac-communityapplicationform.pdf?sfvrsn=7f2d9821_2
ORL – Accessibility Services http://www.orl.bc.ca/access
Accessibility Directorate - Province of British Columbia https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility
Contact: Tara Thompson Community Engagement Coordinator Okanagan Regional Library access@orl.bc.ca