Accessibility Plan Annual Progress Update 2024-25

• During the reporting period approximately 20 reports were received. 

• Just under half of the reports were submitted anonymously.   

• Similar to previous years approximately half of the reports related to barriers folks encountered in the built environment and/or physical campus spaces including outdoors and parking areas, the majority, but not all, were related to the Burnaby campus.

• Hired a consultant to guide the updating of our Accessibility Plan. 

• The Accessibility Committee has now established five working groups aligned with the key priorities of the Accessibility Plan: Built Environment; Education; Communication, Information, and Technology; and Employment. These five working groups have also developed specific goals and objectives that will drive the next phase of the Accessibility Plan. 

• Campus Design Guidelines: Created guideline documents for all future campus development to follow that includes accessibility and inclusivity requirements. 
• All Genders Single-Use Washroom Conversion of Existing Facilities: Signage and washroom accessory upgrades for all single-use washrooms for Burnaby Campus (approx. 50 washrooms). 

• SW01 Accessible Parking: Accessible parking was consolidated and upgraded along White Avenue in front of SW01. This included providing an accessible sidewalk and bylaw compliant parking stalls with signage. 

• Automatic Sliding Door Upgrades: The front entrance of many of our existing facilities have been upgraded to be automatic sliding doors. Including NE01, SE06, SW02, SW03 Level 2. 

• Automatic Door Operators: Retrofitting automatic door operators on all main entrance doors including NE01, NE25, NE22, SE01, SE02, SE10, SE14, SE16, SE41, SW01, SW3, SW05, and SW09. 

• Beedie Plaza: Improved pedestrian network and accessible routes from the Willingdon Bus Stop. This includes raised crossing with tactile warning strips and light bollards. 

• Goard Way Infrastructure Upgrades: Improved pedestrian public realm removing sidewalk curb and added accessible sidewalk path from Roper Avenue to SE02. 

• SE01 Entrance Plaza: Removed existing non-accessible stairs and added a sloped surface between Roper Ave and SE01 entrance doors. 

• Elevator Replacements DTC: The main elevators for the DTC have been replaced and include audible and visual floor indicators. 

• Building Signage Guidelines: Updated building signage with large legible font, accessible contrast and raised icons, text and braille as required. 

• Tall Timber Student housing building has been completed with accessibility built into the design, including gender-inclusive washrooms on the main floor and accessible bedrooms that are designed to meet diverse mobility and functional needs. 

• The IDEAS (Indigenization, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Sustainability, Student well-being) working group has been facilitating workshops and creating documents to support BCIT employees in further embedding IDEAS into all aspects of their work at BCIT. 

• Accessibility Services and RDI co-created and delivered presentations to faculty and instructors on Supporting Student Accommodations. 

• Respectful and Inclusive Events Checklist is available for the BCIT community through Marketing & Communications’ event planning guidelines page on the intranet. 

• Delivered events to the BCIT community on body inclusivity & Anti-Fat Bias, human rights, neuroinclusive campus environment and student accommodations. 

• Accessibility Plan to be updated by September 2026. 

• A representative from the Respect Diversity and Inclusion Office/Accessibility Committee member sits on BCIT’s Policy Review Team and EdCo Policy Committee. 

• All new BCIT buildings, including the Trades & Technology Plaza and Student Housing will be Rick Hansen certified for accessibility. 

• SW09 All Gender Washroom: Convert existing change rooms and washroom facilities to large all gender washroom beside the L1 lecture theatre (Design 2024/25, construction 2025/27). 

• South Campus Infrastructure Renewal Project: This project includes pedestrian upgrades including accessibility features to enhance the public realm (Capital Project 2024-2030). 

• All Gender Design Guidelines: Creation of All Gender Design Guidelines to be used for new capital projects and all future washroom renovations (2026). 

• Additional projects as new external funding opportunities emerge. 

• A number of feasibility studies are planned to explore potential accessibility improvements including relating to universal washrooms in NW3, adding a lift to second floor on SW9, and increasing accessibility in SE14. 

Creating and updating resources within BCIT to support inclusive hiring and recruitment processes that embeds best practices in accessibility and accommodations.