Honoraria Guidelines for Committees

March 3, 2025

Background 

The Accessible BC (ABC) Act and its regulations do not include specific guidelines or directions about honoraria for Accessibility Committee members. The Accessible Organizations Project (AOP) team have been receiving feedback from Public Sector Organizations that more clarity on this topic is needed.  

It is prudent policy to compensate people with lived experience of disability for their contributions. Lived experience is expertise, and honouring this is simply good practice.  

It’s vital to remember that people with disabilities have been asked to contribute their knowledge, skills, lived experience, and emotional labour to inform the development of accessibility plans and feedback mechanisms. 

By providing honoraria, organizations:  

  • Demonstrate respect and value for lived experience 
  • Enable more equitable and inclusive community engagement 
  • Incorporate the experience of those with lived experiences into Public Sector Organizations plans, policies, programs, and services  
  • Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations beyond Part 3 of the Accessible BC Act.  

Guidance 

There are options for Prescribed Organizations as they move towards compliance with the ABC Act to create an inclusive and sustainable Accessibility Committees. Consider the following: 

  • Shift budget funding to include honoraria for members of the public that are part of the committee and are not being compensated by employers. 
  • Consider implications of providing cash honoraria to people on provincial or federal disability benefits, as amounts over $500 per year may count as income and impact their monthly support payments. Always consult with committee members before issuing payment in this form.  
  • Consider reallocating funds that would go to committee members that are already being compensated in their professional roles or are part of organizations with a vested interest in accessibility  
  • Local governments have explored offering multi-year leisure, parks and transit passes in lieu of cash honoraria 
  • Consider gift cards to reduce the administrative burden, both for committee members and staff  

The amount of the honoraria may vary as costs change. We suggest to refer to the living wage in your region and use it as minimum guide (remember, living wages are set for people working full time). Many organizations currently set an hourly rate for committees at $50 per hour and provide extra coverage for travel time, while others set a flat rate of $100 per meeting, with consideration for additional expenses such as childcare or Handy Dart on a case-by-case basis.  

Consider formalizing the above practices within organizational policies that will provide direction to staff and leaders of accessibility planning about the consistent provision of honoraria to persons with lived experience of disability. Some Public Sector organizations are developing honoraria policies in consultation with their accessibility committee.   

Resources 

For more information on building sustainable accessibility committees, sign up for the launch of the committee practices e-learning, developed by DABC and funded by the Province of British Columbia. Date to be announced.