Welcome to Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods (C.A.N.)
What is Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods (CAN)?
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is a non-profit society in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada, that creates a place for those who live with a disability (physical, mental, learning etc.) to use their voice, experience, and knowledge as a tool for others in similar situations.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods' mandate is to: (1) work towards creating barrier-free communities through the education, implementation, and promotion of Universal Access, (2) improve access to information for those living with a disability or those who support someone with a disability, and (3) support full inclusion within communities, including recreational programs, for those with a disability.
For more information about Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods and CAN's three main goals go to the About CAN page.
Read our Spring 2008 Newsletter
WHAT'S NEW?
Access Guide
Transportation Page
SPARC BC and CAN Presentation to Pitt Meadows Council
SPARC BC’s “Access is Everyone’s Business!” Campaign
New Word of Mouth Listing: Vancity Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (ABLED)
BC Disability Sports Info
SPARC BC (Social Planning and Research Council of BC) and CAN will be making a presentation about Access Awareness Day and SPARC BC’s “Access is Everyone’s Business!” Campaign on June 3rd for the Pitt Meadows Council.
SPARC BC approached CAN to partner in the presentation because our Access Guide promotes the objectives of their “Access is Everyone’s Business!” Campaign. Our Access Guide not only educates Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents about which businesses are accessible, and how, it also educates the business owners about what accessibility is through our reviews and comments.
In partnership with the Better Business Bureau of Lower Mainland, Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island, TransLink, BC Transit, The Union of BC Municipalities, ShoppersHomeHealthCare and VanCity ABLED program, SPARC BC brings you a province wide campaign focused on empowering businesses with knowledge about accessibility.
The objective of the campaign is to inform business owners of simple things they can do to improve the experience of their customers with disabilities, and which will also improve overall customer experience.
People with disabilities represent approximately 20% percent of the consumer market.
And the numbers are growing as our population ages. We've heard from our membership that accessible businesses are important.
For more information regarding the campaign and accessibility visit www.sparc.bc.ca/access_awareness_day
New Word of Mouth Listing:
- Vancity Advice and Business Loans for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (ABLED)
Entrepreneurs with disabilities have traditionally had difficulty accessing business services and securing capital for their businesses. The ABLED loan program at Vancity was established in recognition of these barriers and to address this issue by encouraging opportunities for self-employment among entrepreneurs with disabilities who demonstrate the capacity to operate their own businesses.
Eligible loan applicants can receive funding for:
* Business planning training
* Business coaching or mentoring services
* Business counselingWe work with entrepreneurs in several ways during the application process by:
* Path-finding to appropriate business planning, business coaching, business mentoring resources
* Identifying training needs, training and adaptive technology resources
* Locating other business resources
* Referring members to a Vancity branch for eligible loan applicationsFor more information on the ABLED loan program at Vancity, we encourage all interested entrepreneurs to contact Tanny marks, Program Manager, Community Business Banking at 604-709-6965, tanny_marks@vancity.com, or to visit their Vancity branch.
Information on this loan program is available in alternate format. For Deaf TTY telephone services call 604-871-5408.
www.vancity.com/MyBusiness/BusinessFinancing/MicroLoans/MicroLoanProgram/ABLED
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is pleased to have been asked to join BC Disability Sports as a Partner Member. BC Disability Sports is a leading non-profit organization promoting awareness of sport and recreation of British Columbians with disabilities. In partnership with the BC Games Society and host communities, BC Disability Sports manages the BC Disability Games, a multi-disability/multi-sport event that promotes and encourages physical activity and achievement. Other services and programs include Strength of Ability, Paralympic Pride and the BC Olympic/Paralympic Youth Leadership Academy. BC Disability Sports also serves as a central resource and referral centre in British Columbia. For more information go to www.disabilitysport.org
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods is honoured to have been asked to become a Partner Member of BC Disability Sports and we have gladly accepted.
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows is hosting the 2009 BC Disability Games and Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods looks forward to participating in an event that provides opportunities for persons with a disability to compete in an organized sport, recreation and cultural event that promotes personal excellence, physical fitness, and community pride.
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has received a copy of the Coast Mountain Bus Company's Policy Regarding Getting a Paid Taxi for the Customers When the Ramp is Malfunctioning.
For a copy of the 'Updated Policy Regarding Scooter/Wheelchair Passengers Left Behind' click here
Coast Mountain Bus Company's Policy Regarding Getting a Paid Taxi for the Customers When the Ramp is Malfunctioning
Bulletin No. SYS-06-073 October 24, 2006
(Originally posted Feb. 23, 2003)
WHEELCHAIR/SCOOTER
CUSTOMER SERVICE PROCEDURES
Coast Mountain Bus Company has made arrangements with various taxi companies to accommodate customers with wheelchairs or scooters that have been passed up due to:
1. Failure of the lift to operate, or;
2. A non-lift equipped coach is assigned to the run.
In the event of either of the above, operators are asked to call Transit Communications and advise them of:
• the name of the customer,
• their present location, and;
• their intended destination.
This procedure is not to be used when pass-ups are due to heavy loads, or when both wheelchair areas of the coach are already occupied.
(Original signed by)
Stan Sierpina
Vice President,
Customer Service
The one piece of information missing from the written policy is that if a taxi is called for a customer who was unable to use the bus then the taxi takes the customer to their final destination, even if the final destination is off the bus route. Coast Mountain Bus Company and ComPACT (Committee to Promote Accessible Conventional Transit) realize the inconvenience of a ramp that doesn't work and so hope to help the situation a bit by making the policy take the customer to the final destination.
Many people in Vancouver clip the policy out and keep it with them while using Transit so that if a bus driver says they haven't heard of the policy the customer can pull out the policy and show the driver. In response to CAN's e-mails about this policy Coast Mountain Bus Company posted the policy on a bulletin board late last year, for two months, and all bus drivers should be aware of the policy.
