Ongoing CAN Successes:
- CAN Continues to Work On and Improve Our Website
- CAN’s E.D. is Vice-Chair of Access Transit Users Advisory Group
- CAN’s E.D. Continues to Work with SPARC B.C. Through Her Position as a Board Member
- CAN Has Representative on Board of the Active Living Alliance of BC (ALABC)
- E.D. of CAN is a Ongoing Member of TransLink’s Roundtable Stakeholder Group
- CAN is an Active Member of the ConnecTra Society and Attends ConnecTra Workshops Throughout the Year
- CAN Continues to Add New Listings to Our Adaptive Sports and Recreation Page
- CAN Continues to Offer Outreach to Those Who Contact Us Through Our Website
ONGOING
CAN Continues to Work On and Improve Our Website
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods owes a lot of our growth to our website. Doug Cook from DigiCom WebDesign has been with CAN from day one and his collaborative work has led to a website that is respected and admired across BC. At CAN our members and board work to ensure that our website is as clean and accessible as possible. We make changes as suggestions are made and we try to come up with new ways of improving access to information. Our Sports and Recreation Database for BC has been a tremendous success and we will be following it up with an Inclusive Playground Database and a Community Gardens Database. We strive to ensure that people across BC have access to information that will enrich and enhance their lives. The website is one of CAN’s main ongoing projects and if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions please contact us at info@canbc.org or by phone at 604.437.7331.
CAN’s E.D. is Vice-Chair of Access Transit Users Advisory Group
The Executive Director of Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has been the Vice-Chair of Access Transit since its inception. The Access Transit Users' Advisory Committee (UAC) was formed as a response to transit users comments in the Access Transit consultation process. The Committee ensures that the Access Transit Strategy is implemented and provides ongoing advice on all TransLink plans, programs and initiatives, making sure that accessibility issues are always considered. Committee members promote accessibility awareness and work toward solving accessibility issues through creative, open-minded and inclusive thinking. The Committee meets once every two months to discuss matters relating to the accessibility of our transportation system. TransLink is committed to achieving a Vision for Accessible Transit through the support of the UAC.
In her role as Vice-Chair of the Users Advisory Committee Heather works on several sub committees, such as heading the selection committee for UAC and participating in TransLink’s Roundtable Stakeholder meetings. Heather also does presentations on behalf of the UAC on accessible transit. Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods was born out a desire for a more accessible transit system and through CAN’s work on UAC we feel that CAN is truly making an important contribution to the usability and accessibility of the overall transit system. We look forward to many more years of working with the Access Transit department and the Users Advisory Committee as we move to a more inclusive and accessible transit system.
CAN Has Representative on Board of the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
In 2009 the Executive Director of CAN was invited to join the board of SPARC BC. Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods has been working on projects with SPARC since our inception in 2005. We are proud to have a representative on the board and we look forward to our continued relationship with SPARC BC.
The Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) is a non-partisan, charitable organization that was established in 1966. SPARC BC focuses on social justice issues and works together with communities on: Accessibility, Community Development, Income Security, and Social Planning.
SPARC’s Mission:
SPARC BC works with communities in building a just and healthy society for all. The definition of “just and healthy” as adopted by the Board of Directors includes four principles: Equity: The recognition that some individuals or groups require more or less than others to flourish, and that some individuals or groups are capable of contributing more to address deficiencies and promote fairness of distribution. Social Inclusion: The recognition that both the rights and the opportunity to participate in and enjoy all aspects of human life enables individuals and communities to celebrate their diversity, and recognize and act on their responsibilities. Security: The recognition that individuals and communities flourish when they have confidence in their surroundings as safe, supportive and stable environments. Adaptability: The recognition that sustainability requires resilience for both individuals and communities, and the ability to respond creatively to change.
SPARC’s Values:
SPARC BC works to reflect its internal values and its mission in all of its advocacy, public education and research work. Social Justice: We strive for a just and healthy society in which social, economic, environmental well-being are indivisible, through advocating for equality, fairness and dignity for all. Inclusion: We are committed to achieving access and the full participation and engagement of all in our diverse society by fostering communication, leadership, partnership, and collaboration. Integrity: We are independent, accountable, and non-partisan. Learning: We seek, develop and share knowledge and understanding which encourages citizen participation and informs innovative, effective planning and decision-making.
CAN Has Representative on Board of the Active Living Alliance of BC (ALABC)
In 2010 the Executive Director of Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods joined the board of the Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a Disability, BC Chapter. The ALA is a network that was created to motivate and assist Canadians with a disability to become more physically active. While an active lifestyle is important for all Canadians, it is particularly important for those with a disability. Research has demonstrated that active individuals can enjoy better overall health, improved quality of life, elevated self-esteem, prolonged independent living in later life and increased mobility. For individuals with a disability, these benefits help make coping with the everyday challenges of life easier, and can even prevent relapses of certain disabilities or health problems. Here in British Columbia, we have a core network of individuals, agencies, communities and organizations who are dedicated to facilitating increased activity across British Columbia. Our desire is to see this network expand as the Alliance reaches out to involve partners and stakeholders at the local and provincial levels.
CAN is happy to work ALABC. We believe that the two organizations have a lot in common and that working together we are stronger.
E.D. of CAN is a Ongoing Member of TransLink’s Roundtable Stakeholder Group
CAN’s E.D. has been a member of this Roundtable for three years and continues to represent both Access Transit and CAN, ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities and older adults are considered in this process.
Here is a brief overview of the Roundtable Stakeholder’s Group taken from their terms of reference (for a full copy of the ToR contact CAN):
The group has a wide range of interests expressed around the table and reflects the diversity of perspectives and organizational connections present in the room. The Roundtable Stakeholders group works together to develop a sustainable integrated transport system, taking into account the movement of both goods and people, strike a balance between ideals and practicality, reflect the goals of equity and accessibility to support personal mobility, interface transportation and land use planning, understand and take into account special needs and interests, e.g. workforce, disabled, students, poor and vulnerable, and ensure funders of transportation can see the results of their investments in positive ways.
The expectation of TransLink for the Roundtable is that it will: provide input and insights into the finalization of Transport 2040, help guide the development of the 10 Year Action Plan, provide the opportunity for a broad exchange of ideas, and to search for new and innovative approaches to address the challenging questions of projects, priorities, and dollars. It is also expected that participants will look at transportation through the lens of “integration” across different transportation mediums the movement of both people and goods, and the implications of one for the other transportation and land use, advise with respect to the development of the process of consultation and outreach beyond TransLink and the Roundtable into the wider community – and specifically in respect to the development of the Stakeholder Consultation Plan that will address consultation “with whom and about what?” The expectation is that the outcome of the work of the Roundtable will inform the recommendation made by TransLink to its Board of Directors, and the Mayors’ Council, and will take into account the Roundtable’s consideration of the Stakeholder Consultation that will be concurrently underway.
The purpose of the Roundtable is advisory but if that advice is able to reflect a view that enjoys the support of the entire membership of the Roundtable - A single voice reflecting a consensus – it is acknowledged that this advice will speak more persuasively than advice based on separate voices. The goal is to build an effective dialogue as a group (not bilateral conversations between TransLink and each individual participant), searching for what the group shares in common, while respecting differences that exist. The basis for that dialogue should be a firm foundation of knowledge and experience, seeking to build policy on solutions that work for everyone. Achieving concurrence on every point may be optimistic to expect, but in the event that is not possible, consensus may include the concept of reaching agreement on a total package that everyone can live with, which may include agreeing on some points of disagreement with a concurrent commitment to explain the underlying reasons why agreement has not been possible, including possible ways that those differences.
CAN is an Active Member of the ConnecTra Society and Attends ConnecTra Workshops Throughout the Year
ConnecTra holds workshops, typically every two to three months, for its members throughout the year. These workshops offer an opportunity for organizations involved with people for disabilities, or who offer products for people with disabilities, to do a presentation about their organization or product. CAN has had a representative at each of these workshops.
In addition to attending these workshops CAN has done a presentation for the members about CAN and our website. We also participated in a presentation about Civil Rights Now!
These workshops are a great opportunity to network and we look forward to our continued involvement with ConnecTra.
CAN Continues to Add New Listings to Our Adaptive Sports and Recreation Page
CAN’s continues to receive new listings for the Adaptive Sports and Recreation Page.
In addition to new listings CAN has received positive feedback about the page and about the ability to search through the database with ease.
CAN has recently learned that volunteers have been using the page as a way of learning about adaptive sports and the organizations that provide those sports. We are glad that this page is being used by athletes and by volunteers and we look forward to the continued growth of this database.
To visit CAN’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation Page go to: www.canbc.org/adaptive_sports.htm
CAN Continues to Offer Outreach to Those Who Contact Us Through Our Website
CAN’s website continues to garner interest from people across B.C., Canada, and even North America. CAN routinely receives e-mail requests for information about Universal Design, products for people with disabilities, adaptive sports and recreation, and other facets of life with a disability. We are glad to continue to offer outreach to people and companies who are unable to find the information elsewhere.
For more information about Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods visit us at: www.canbc.org
See the CAN Successes for 2011 here, the Success Archives for 2005-2009 here & 2010 here.
