Creator: Disability Alliance BC
Date Updated: August 24, 2023
Overview
The Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit is designed to guide libraries in meeting the accessibility plan requirements outlined in the Accessible BC Act but is also useful for any library creating or updating its accessibility plan. Library staff should use this resource when developing their accessibility plan or when modifying an existing one.
The information on this page is summarized from the Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit.
Accessibility Plan Toolkit Summary
This resource consists of a detailed list of seven steps for developing an accessibility plan and a comprehensive PDF toolkit and guide. The guide is extensive and discusses a wide variety of topics, a few key points are:
- Libraries are required to be in compliance with the Accessible BC Act by September 1, 2023. Accessibility plans must be updated every three years.
- The Accessible BC Act requires that the principles of inclusion, adaptability, diversity, collaboration, self-determination, and universal design are followed when developing or updating an accessibility plan. While the Accessible BC Act does not define these principles, the Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit provides some starter definitions that your library can use or build upon.
- Consider drawing on the following standards highlighted in the legislation when creating the framework for your plan: employment, delivery of services, the built environment, information and communications, transportation, health, education, and procurement.
- Building a procedure for monitoring the effectiveness of your plan is a strong practice. This should include user feedback and will help inform future changes to your plan.
- Be sure to create accessible mechanisms for library feedback to develop your plan and modify it in the future.
- The Accessible BC Act requires the forming of an accessibility committee. If possible, at least half of this committee must be people with disabilities or representatives of disability-serving organizations, and the committee should include at least one member who identifies as Indigenous. The diversity of your province should be well represented.
- To embrace the spirit of accessibility, adopt a plain language policy and make sure your library’s plan is available in accessible formats.
The Developing a Plan website lists the following legal disclaimer: “This guide provides general information only as a reference to support Prescribed Organizations in meeting the requirements of the Accessible BC Act. Each organization is responsible for understanding and complying with its legal obligations and developing its own accessibility plan, committee, and feedback mechanism based on its particular situation.”
Visit the Developing an Accessibility Plan Toolkit for more information.
References
Disability Alliance BC. (2023). Developing a Plan. BC Accessibility Hub. https://bcaccessibilityhub.ca/plans/developing-a-plan/
Disability Alliance BC. (2023). Developing Your First Accessibility Plan: A Guide for BC Prescribed Organizations. BC Accessibility Hub. https://bcaccessibilityhub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Creating-Your-First-Accessibility-Plan-A-Guide-for-Prescribed-Organizations-Accessible-UA.pdf