ABC Act

The Accessible British Columbia Act received royal assent on June 17, 2021 and on, April 14, 2022, the government filed the Accessible British Columbia Regulation (B.C. Regulation) providing clarity to the types of organizations that will be subject to accessibility requirements under the B.C. Act. It provides a framework to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility. The new law is an important step to make B.C. a more accessible province.

Under the law, the government needs to create an accessibility plan. The plan will be updated every three years. Government and the Provincial Accessibility Committee worked together to create this plan. The committee will continue to provide advice to government on this plan.

Section 9 of Part 3 of the Accessible BC Act

  • An organization must establish a committee to
    • assist the organization to identify barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization, and
    • advise the organization on how to remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization.
  • An accessibility committee must, to the extent possible, have members who are selected in accordance with the following goals:
    • at least half of the members are
      • persons with disabilities, or
      • individuals who support, or are from organizations that support, persons with disabilities;
    • the members described in paragraph (a) reflect the diversity of persons with disabilities in British Columbia;
    • at least one of the members is an Indigenous person;
    • the committee reflects the diversity of persons in British Columbia.

Accessibility plan

An organization must develop a plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization.

An organization must review and update its accessibility plan at least once every 3 years.

An organization must develop a plan to identify, remove and prevent barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization.

An organization must review and update its accessibility plan at least once every 3 years.

In developing and updating its accessibility plan, an organization must consider the following principles:

(a) inclusion;

(b) adaptability;

(d) collaboration;

(e) self-determination;

(f) universal design.

(4) In developing its accessibility plan, an organization must consult with its accessibility committee.

(5) In updating its accessibility plan, an organization must

(a) consider any comments received under section 12 [public feedback], and

(b) consult with its accessibility committee.

Public feedback

An organization must establish a process for receiving comments from the public on

(a) the organization’s accessibility plan, and

(b) barriers to individuals in or interacting with the organization.

Links

Frequently asked questions

Accessible BC Act

Accessible BC Act Regulation (Order in Council 218)

Other Legislation

Accessibility for Ontarians Act

An Act Respecting Accessibility in Nova Scotia

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act