Building A Culture of Accessibility - Q+A Toolkit

                                         Building A Culture Of Accessibility

Q+A Toolkit

Presented by Cassidy v. Ros and the Coast Waste Management Association

Context

This toolkit is based on questions and discussion presented during the Q+A portion of the Building A Culture of Accessibility presented by Cassidy v. Ros and Coast Waste Management Association on July 18, 2024.

Other topics covered in the workshop PDF and not included in this toolkit were:

Introduction:
Setting the stage for in-session safety: We all have bias, and none of us can know everything. This session is to broaden our understanding and impact, not to invalidate current efforts.

Goals of the session:
Identify how people with disabilities are expected to engage with your business
Describe what you’re already doing to support accessibility
Identify key areas that you’d like to improve upon regarding access
Select at least three specific new practices that you will implement.

What is a disability?:
Visible vs. non-invisible disabilities / Undisclosed disabilities / Episodic disabilities / Medical emergencies

External (Customer accessibility):
Cultural considerations and front-end training / Considerations for physical, emotional and sensory demands / Built environment / Language considerations / Considerations for caregivers / Considerations for the digital space and general processes / Financial considerations / How to invite those with disabilities to participate / How to make marketing inclusive / How to create inclusive calls to action

Internal (Employee accessibility):
Accessible hiring processes / Health and Safety, and signage / Cultural considerations, team building and HR, communications and benefits / Considerations for technology, policy and innovation / Considerations for physical, emotional and sensory demands / Built environment / Financial considerations / Leaves of Absence and Returns To Work

Conclusion:
How to actively survey members of these communities for continuing accommodations within programming as needed

Additional resources

Workshop PDF will be provided to participants in a separate file.

Power outages

• Install back-up lighting, this can be powered by battery or generator.
• Ensure emergency exits are lit, emergency equipment is lit (like fire extinguishers), and building maps are lit.
• If possible, install lighting along pathways
• Strip lighting, glow tape.
• Test all of this on a regular basis (Ie. at opening or closing once a month)
• Not power outages specific: But ensure emergency exits maps include tactile instructions for those with vision impairments.
• Assign someone for each “region” of your event or office, and equip them with an emergency kit in case not everyone makes it to the muster station. Ensure everyone knows who is responsible for their region.
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Snacks, water and juice
• For events, introduce these people and regions in announcements. If possible, have them wear a specific colour of nametag, or a specific clothing item for easy identification.
• For employees, include introductions as part of onboarding, and revisit this during health and safety meetings.
• Check with your local fire department to see if they have any additional community recommendations.

Beaches and outdoors

• Rubber matting; or beach-specific matting can be utilized to ensure stability on uneven surfaces:

• https://www.mobi-mat-chair-beach-access-dms.com/ada-roll-out-walkway-access-mat/

• Purchase a few 3 or 4 point canes and offer them for loan to people who feel unsteady. These only cost around $35.

• Use the buddy system! This is a good accommodation for those with any disability, or even on hot days when people are at risk of heat stroke.

• Bring folding chairs.

  This gives people a place to sit and rest without needing to bend or lift all the way to the ground and back up.Try to find ones where the seat doesn’t sink down too much!

Parking

• Partner with parking vendors to arrange discounts for employees
• Include parking passes within benefits
• For non-municipal events, provide parking pass rental and ramp rental through your municipality.
• A parking checklist for non-municipal event spaces (these can be presented as best practice recommendations, requirements for event permits, or a mixture of each) can be utilized to ensure some regulation of event accessible parking:
• Ensure a certain width is required.
• Ensure parking spots are placed within a certain distance from attractions, not just venue.
• Ie. The Abbotsford event center recently hosted a concert, at which the majority of the accessible parking was located a 15 minute walk from the concert gate.
• Ensure the surrounding terrain is safe to navigate.
• Is it flat?
• Is it easily navigable for crutches, those with balance impairments, wheelchairs?
• Gravel, bark mulch, concrete, dirt, sand?
• If it’s muddy, snowy, or icy, can rubber mats be placed?
• Have surfaces been appropriately salted or sanded?
• Are rest areas available between parking, attractions, bathrooms, etc?
• Water and cooling stations? Warming stations?
• Is there an accessible drop off area?

Accommodations criteria planning

It can be difficult to accurately assess people for accommodations or lower-cost services without being invasive on one hand, or risking being taken advantage of on the other. Many criteria in Provincial and Federal examples still exclude anyone who is able to work, but may still benefit from accommodations.

These are some criteria to consider:

Physical accommodations are not only for physical disabilities - Things like chronic fatigue, anxiety, psychosis or bipolar, or light sensitivity may also cause people to benefit from help on recycling day!

Receiving disability benefits is not an inclusive criteria to decide accommodations. Many people could benefit from accommodations despite being able to work.This is also not an inclusive criteria for those who may need financial assistance. As an example, some people are paying for expensive prescriptions or assistive equipment, others may require frequent time off for treatments.

Example questions, in which saying yes to any one could qualify a person for accommodations:

• Do you have a handicap tag for your vehicle?
• Do you receive disability benefits?
• Do you participate in the HandyDart program?
• Do you participate in the Meals On Wheels program, or a similar service?
• Do you have a higher than average risk of injuring yourself in this scenario?
• Will participating in this activity use too many spoons for you to be able to complete other necessary tasks?

Sound dampening

• Plexiglass can be used as dividers:

• Sound dampening ratings of plexiglass: https://www.eplastics.com/blog/sound-transmission-plexiglass-sheets

• Cork overlays can be used on counters and surfaces.

• Sound dampening underlays can be used when installing or replacing flooring.

• Sound dampening wall coverings can be installed against walls and the sides of counters.

Questions?

Contact Cassidy:

604-209-1513

cassidy@onlinemarketingsolutions.ca