CLBC Accessibility Committee
British Columbia’s accessibility law, the Accessible British Columbia Act, was put into place in June 2021.
To align with this law, CLBC is required to have an Accessibility Committee to help us identify barriers and provide advice on how to remove or prevent those barriers.
The current CLBC Accessibility Committee Members are:
- Lois Turner (Vancouver) – Founder and Program Manager of Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults (CAYA)
- Kulvir Mann (North Vancouver) – Parent of transitioning youth eligible for CLBC
- David Johnston (Dawson Creek) – CLBC Strategic Initiatives Advisor
- Charlene Barney (Victoria) – BC People First Board Director; CLBC Indigenous Advisory Committee member
- Peter Greenwood (Vancouver) – CLBC Facilitator
- Jeevan Basra (Surrey) – Co-Chair of Self Advocates of Semiahmoo House
- Dallas Hinton (Vancouver) – Parent of an adult supported by CLBC; Board Director with Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) and Vela Canada
- Leah Burnell (Maple Ridge) – CLBC Facilitator
- Katie Moore (Cold Stream) – Founder of Okanagan Accessibility; Co-Chair CLBC North Okanagan Shuswap Community Council
Purpose
The Accessibility Committee will support and guide CLBC to become a more accessible organization for all people with disabilities.
The Accessibility Committee will bring a focus to the lived experience of people, families and communities we serve, working alongside service providers and our partner organizations.
The objectives of the CLBC Accessibility Committee will be to:
- Give advice on what should be included in the CLBC Accessibility Plan, which needs to be updated every three years.
- Review and give feedback on how the CLBC Accessibility Plan is working and how it can work better.
- Act as a resource to the CLBC Accessibility Working group and provide input on the activities, strategies and goals in the Accessibility Plan.
- Share information and resources on best practices and innovations that will improve accessibility at CLBC.
Membership criteria
The CLBC Accessibility Committee will have between 9 and 11 members.
Respecting the requirements in the Act:
- at least half of the members will be people with disabilities or represent organizations that represent people with disabilities, and reflect the diversity of people with disabilities in B.C.;
- at least one of the members will be an Indigenous person;
- at least one member will be a CLBC employee who identifies as having a disability;
- the committee will reflect the diversity of persons in B.C.; and
- two members will be non-voting CLBC staff dedicated to supporting the Committee.
Time commitment and term
The Accessibility Committee will meet approximately four times per year.
Meetings will be approximately 1.5 hours long and held mid to late afternoon on a weekday.
Meetings will be held virtually and/or hybrid with some members in-person and some members on-line depending on where members live.
Meetings will be led in a way that ensures everyone’s voice is heard and that supports consensus-based decision making. When a decision needs to be made by simple majority voting processes, only voting members will participate.
Members participate on the Committee for a two-year term.
Membership terms will be staggered so that there is both renewal and continuity in the Committee’s work on accessibility at CLBC.
Committee support
CLBC will work alongside members to make sure necessary and reasonable supports and accommodations are in place to ensure full and equal participation. This includes honoraria for those who are not attending in a paid role.
Contact us
For questions about the Accessibility Committee, please email our Community Engagement Team at CLBC.Connect@gov.bc.ca or call Jessica Humphrey, CLBC Manager of Community Engagement, at 778-679-2691.
