Accessibility

A line of joyful children of holding hands

For SelfDesign, being accessible means creating learning and working environments that allow everyone to fully participate.

As we work to create a more accessible community we have developed an Accessibility Plan for SelfDesign. This plan is a living blueprint that identifies needs, priorities, and actions for the next three years.

A family facing a sunset with their arms over each others backs. One member is in a wheelchair.

Read the plan

A teenage girl smiles in a wheelchair.

Read the plan summary

A family facing a sunset with their arms over each others backs. One member is in a wheelchair.

Read the plan

A teenage girl smiles in a wheelchair.

Read the plan summary

What we are doing

This year, we are reviewing our policies, practices, applications, and communications with a lens that will help us identify barriers to people who use them. We are also seeking input from community members that will provide us with further information on how best to increase access and reduce barriers.

We will:

  • form an Accessibility Committee to help guide our efforts,
  • update the plan based on feedback, learnings and research, and
  • raise awareness of accessibility and provide training to our community.

At SelfDesign, we know improving access not only helps people with disabilities but also helps improve our entire community. We are committed to continuous improvement for all areas of the organization so that we are able to better support the needs of all of those who belong to the SelfDesign Learning Foundation community.

Give feedback on accessibility

Help us understand the barriers people face when accessing SelfDesign.

Select 1 of the 3 ways below to provide your feedback.

Make sure to include:

  • What you were trying to access
  • Where the barrier happened and what the barrier was
  • Any recommendations you might have

Ways to provide feedback

1.  Online Form

Submit your feedback through our online form.

You can attach files to help explain the barrier you faced in the form, like:

  • A video
  • A voice recording
  • Photos
2.  Email

Email your feedback to accessibility@selfdesign.org

3.  Mail

Write to:

SelfDesign
PO Box 74560 RPO Kitsilano
Vancouver, BC, V6K 4P4
Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

People with disabilities have told us that barriers make it hard to experience full and equal participation in society.

We need to understand the specific barriers people face to remove them.

We are asking for feedback on SelfDesign’s programs and services to improve accessibility.

We will read your feedback and share it with the area of service you had trouble accessing.

Your feedback may influence:

You can review what we are doing to improve accessibility by reading our Accessibility Plan or looking at our Accessibility Priorities which summarize the actions we are working on.

We are using the definitions outlined in the Accessible British Columbia Act:

By “accessibility” we mean “How easily can this thing be reached, entered, or used by a person with a disability?

By “disability” we mean the experience of not being able to equally and fully participate in or access something because of a “barrier” and an “impairment”.

An “impairment” includes an impairment considered:

  • Physical
  • Sensory
  • Mental
  • Intellectual or cognitive

These impairments may be:

  • Permanent
  • Temporary
  • Episodic

By “barrier” we mean anything that hinders someone with an impairment from easily accessing something or taking part equally and/or fully.

Examples of barriers:

  • Information that is hard to understand
  • Forms that are not available in a different format, like Braille or large print
  • Important videos without captioning
  • A SelfDesign representative that uses language that is rude about your disability or difference

We want feedback from anyone who:

  • Experiences a barrier
  • Witnesses someone experiencing a barrier

We want to know the specific barriers people face when they are trying to:

  • Access a program, or information we offer
  • Receive a service or support

We’re seeking:

  • Descriptions of experiences and how they impact you
  • Recommendations for how barriers can be removed

The questions in the feedback survey are optional. They are there to help you provide us with information about barriers.

We will use the information you provide to improve our programs and services. The information you provide will not be shared with 3rd parties but will be analyzed to create key takeaways and recommendations in a non-identifying format.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the use of this information, please see our Privacy Statement or email our privacy officer at privacy@selfdesign.org