National Access Ability Week: May 25 to 31, 2025

May 26, 2025

The theme for National AccessAbility Week this year is “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future.”

It highlights the importance of working together to build a fairer, more inclusive Canada. Let’s join forces to break down barriers and support the needs and interests of persons with disabilities.

When persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to their communities and workplaces, we create a thriving society and a brighter future for everyone

Statement

May 25, 2025 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada

Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, today issued the following statement to launch National AccessAbility Week 2025:

“I am delighted today to mark the beginning of National AccessAbility Week 2025. As I take up my new duties as Minister of Jobs and Families, I look forward to celebrating and learning about the achievements and valuable contributions of persons with disabilities, and recognizing the efforts of individuals, organizations and communities who work tirelessly to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion across the country.

As the Prime Minister noted in the recently published Mandate Letter for his new Cabinet, Canada is a dynamic country that celebrates our diversity, cares for the most vulnerable among us, and strives for a better future for all. My work as the federal minister responsible for continuing to lead on the government’s accessibility agenda will be guided by this assertion. I will seek to break down the barriers that may prevent the one in four Canadians with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society.

This year’s theme, ‘Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future,’ signals that a barrier-free Canada can only be achieved if we work with the disability community, in the spirit of ‘Nothing Without Us.’ I welcome this approach of joining forces to help ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to our communities and workplaces.

I look forward to building on the progress made by the previous government since the Accessible Canada Act came into force nearly six years ago, and since the introduction of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan to make Canada more inclusive for persons with disabilities. A cornerstone of this plan is the new Canada Disability Benefit, which is designed to improve the financial well-being of low-income, working-age Canadians with disabilities. I will have more to say about the launch of the application period for the Canada Disability Benefit in June, with payments expected to begin in July.

National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate how far we’ve come—and the work ahead—to realize our goal of a barrier-free Canada by 2040. I commit to building on the actions taken in recent years, and to working with my Cabinet colleagues to achieve a truly inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for persons with disabilities in Canada by 2040.

This week, and throughout the year, let’s make positive changes together. When all Canadians have equal opportunities to contribute to our communities and workplaces, we build a stronger economy and a stronger Canada for everyone.

Happy National AccessAbility Week!”

Associated links

This is on Govt of Canada website go to the link here

BC Parks improves accessibility, inclusion

Victoria Tuesday, May 27, 2025 9:30 AM

Accessibility and inclusion continue to be front of mind in BC Parks so more people can connect to the beauty and benefits of being in nature.Following the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion in March 2023, facilities such as washrooms, parking lots and access trails to park features have been upgraded to accessibility standards in many parks throughout the province. The upgrades are among several initiatives that help remove barriers that restrict people from accessing outdoor recreation.“Everyone should feel encouraged and supported to access and enjoy parks in B.C., regardless of their ability or identity,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “Creating meaningful access to nature involves more than removing physical barriers for people with disabilities. From our website to campsites, we remain focused on collaborating with communities and partners, and taking action to make parks more welcoming and meaningfully accessible for everyone.”BC Parks has been creating more accessible facilities for years and incorporates universal design standards into all new campground and recreation expansion projects, where possible. In 2024, accessibility upgrades were included in more than 25 projects. This year, more than 20 projects are underway that will improve park access for people with disabilities.Among the parks that now have accessibility upgrades is Ross Lake Park near Hazelton. The day-use area was recently upgraded with new accessible parking, compact gravel pathways, picnic tables and pit toilets. A lake-viewing platform and swimming/fishing dock is also accessible.At Jimsmith Lake Park near Cranbrook, the beach was recently recontoured to improve access, and an accessible beach mat is available during the summer months. Other upgrades include an accessible fishing dock, accessible playground and an accessible picnic area in the lower day-use area, next to the lake.“Our communities thrive when they are inclusive – when everyone has the chance to participate, contribute and succeed,” said Dana Lajeunesse, parliamentary secretary for accessibility. “When we make parks more accessible, we are ensuring that more people of any ability can experience the beauty of B.C.’s natural spaces.”BC Parks continues to partner with diverse community organizations and collaborate on projects that break down barriers. This year, BC Parks partnered with the BC Parks Foundation and the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre to give more people the opportunity to connect with the wonders of the natural world through virtual self-guided nature walks and park tours in American sign language (ASL).

Children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing can learn about parks through ASL videos that are accessed via QR codes and at DiscoverParks.ca. The initiative began at Goldstream Park and has grown to include Rathtrevor Beach, Cultus Lake and Golden Ears parks. A virtual sunset photography lesson is also offered at Porteau Cove Park.

“As a deaf parent and advocate, accessible experiences in nature, especially those that include ASL, are life-changing for families like mine. Too often, deaf individuals are excluded from outdoor education and community events due to language barriers,” said Monika Lane with the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre. “These ASL nature tours and resources not only provide access, but they foster a deep sense of belonging and connection. I am grateful to see BC Parks taking meaningful steps to make inclusion a reality.”

The BC Parks Foundation works with BC Parks, funding equipment, upgrades to facilities, and new park experiences throughout the province. The foundation also supports the ASL project and trains Discover Park ambassadors in accessibility and inclusion.

“British Columbians feel strongly that everyone should be able to access and feel at home in parks,” said Andy Day, CEO, BC Parks Foundation. “It’s who we are, and it’s good for B.C., boosting physical and mental health, creating jobs and wealth, bringing people together and making us all feel proud about being British Columbian.”

BC Parks partnered with RAD Recreation Adapted Society to help buy two adaptive mountain bikes for programs in Vancouver and Invermere. Where park terrain is challenging to upgrade to an accessible standard, adaptive equipment, such as all-terrain wheelchairs, beach wheelchairs and adaptive mountain bikes, help improve accessibility, but the cost can be prohibitive.

To help newcomers to Canada feel welcome in parks, BC Parks offers the Learn-to-be-in-Nature event series. The free community-focused events provide a fun, supportive space for people to build confidence in outdoor recreation, explore local parks, and learn safety and environmental practices. Three events will be held this summer:

Vancouver on June 7;
Terrace on June 17; and
Smithers on July 5.

Created with input from community organizations that serve equity-deserving groups, the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion outlines the range of actions taken to ensure provincial parks and protected areas are more welcoming.

Learn More:

For more information, visit the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion webpage: https://bcparks.ca/about/commitment-to-inclusion/

To learn more about accessibility in BC Parks, visit: https://accessibility.bcparks.ca/

Translations

This is on BC Govt website go to the link here

Accessibility Project Grants 2025/2026 – Coming Soon!

Logo for Disability Alliance BC. The letters “dab” are stylized in blue, followed by a continuous infinity symbol. Below, “disability alliance bc” is written in lowercase blue letters.

May 27, 2025 by DABC

As part of the Province’s goal to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in BC, Disability Alliance BC was selected by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) to distribute funding to community-based “Accessibility Projects” beginning in 2018. Since then, over 95 projects have been funded throughout BC.

The Province has now announced that the grants will be available again in 2025/26. A total of $450,000 will be made available to BC-based not-for-profit organizations. Successful applicants will receive up to a $40,000 grant to implement a year-long project in 2026. Applications will open on August 5th.

May 25-31 is National AccessAbility Week in BC and Canada and the #NAAW2025 theme is “Breaking barriers together: Paving the way for an inclusive future.” DABC is pleased to be able to once again distribute funds that will improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities in BC.

These grants are for projects focusing on one of the following objectives to increase accessibility for people with disabilities:

Accessible employment;
Accessible emergency planning and response;
Accessible arts, culture and tourism;
Accessible sports and recreation;
Accessible education and learning;
Accessible community participation.

Eligibility criteria includes:

Projects must be focused on community engagement rather than large capital costs such as accessibility improvements to buildings.
Eligible organizations must be not-for-profit organizations with a volunteer Board chosen by its membership, based in BC or with a base of operations in and sufficient capacity to deliver services in BC. They must operate primarily for community benefit and have services open to the public rather than restricted to their membership.
If an organization has received a grant in the past, they can reapply 5 years after their application was submitted (for example, if an organization applied in 2020 for a grant and did their project in 2021, they can reapply in 2025 to do a project in 2026).

Applications will be due on September 12th at noon Pacific Time. Granting decisions are made by a Committee of representatives from DABC and other disability and community organizations from around BC. Successful applicants will receive funding in December, and implement their accessibility project in January 2026.

To learn more about the grants please see: https://disabilityalliancebc.org/program/accessibility-projects/.

At the bottom of the page you can also click on “click here to sign up for DABC’s newsletter” and enter your email to be notified of when the Call for Proposals and applications are posted, when online information sessions will be held, and other announcements related to the grants and DABC’s work in general.

If you have any questions, please contact the Accessibility Projects Grants Coordinator at ap@dabc.ca.

Download the press release here.

This is on Disability Alliance BC website can go to the link here

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