Advancing the Accessible BC Act: A community belonging project shares recommendations for all municipalities
Event Date: May 13, 2026, 10:30 am PST
A free webinar will provide practical tools and recommendations for addressing ableism and promoting participation and belonging for children with disabilities in communities across British Columbia and beyond.
Co-hosted by BC Healthy Communities and the City of Powell River, the one-hour online session will demonstrate how municipalities can advance the BC Accessibility Act by transforming programs, services, spaces, communications, and policies to better serve children with disabilities and their families.
The webinar centers on four protective factors for child and youth well-being published by BC Healthy Communities and Vancouver Coastal Health: Participation, Play, Safety, and, Social Connection and Belonging. By shifting away from ableist practices, local and Indigenous governments can create environments that support these important factors.
Participants will learn about a comprehensive community-led process that includes leadership from project advisors with lived experience, equity site visits of municipal facilities, an environmental scan and a facilitated policy impact forum involving staff from across all departments.
Three ready-to-use resources will be offered to all participants – particularly local and Indigenous governments – to adopt or adapt for their own communities:
- A detailed summary report with evidence-based recommendations
- An accessible video
- A user-friendly client services handbook for staff
The session will feature presentations from municipal staff and a Community Belonging Project Advisor, showcasing real-world implementation supported by the University of Victoria’s School of Child and Youth Care. A Q&A session will provide opportunities for discussion and knowledge sharing among participants.