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Help BCIT Update our Accessibility Plan

Help BCIT Update our Accessibility Plan

BCIT’s Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion Department (RDI) and Accessibility Committee have begun the process to update BCIT’s Accessibility Plan to ensure a barrier-free environment for all students, staff, and community members. This work reflects BCIT’s ongoing commitment to an inclusive and accessible environment for all students, staff, and community members.

Why This Matters

BCIT’s Accessibility Plan, first launched in 2023 under the Accessible British Columbia Act (ABCA), was developed through extensive consultation with staff, students, and the broader community.

Under the ABCA, all prescribed organizations are required to review and update their accessibility plans at least once every three years. BCIT will be partnering with Untapped Accessibility, a leading accessibility consulting firm who assisted with the 2023 plan, to again work alongside RDI and the Accessibility Committee in updating the plan, bringing expertise and lived experience to ensure that accessibility efforts go beyond compliance and foster true inclusion. At least 50% of Untapped’s project team members identify as having a disability, ensuring authentic representation in the process.

The updated plan, to be completed later this year, is expected to focus on continued identification, prevention, and removal of barriers across campus environments, services, employment, and academic processes.

 

How It Aligns with BCIT’s Strategic Plan

This work directly supports BCIT’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030: Future Ready – Student Success for a Complex World, which prioritizes fostering vibrant and inclusive communities and embedding accessibility into every aspect of campus life. The Strategic Plan commits to transforming teaching and learning, catalyzing digital transformation, and creating spaces that champion diversity, equity, and accessibility. By updating the Accessibility Plan, BCIT is operationalizing these commitments to create physical spaces, digital systems, and learning and working environments reflect the values of inclusion and belonging outlined in the Strategic Plan.

Community Feedback: Your Voice Matters

Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and BCIT welcomes input from all members of its community. An online feedback form is available through the Accessibility Hub, where individuals can:

  • Describe barriers they have experienced or observed.
  • Make recommendations for removing barriers.
  • Share positive examples of improved accessibility.
  • Provide any other suggestions or comments related to accessibility.

Feedback can include text, photos, videos, or even ASL submissions. Reports are reviewed by BCIT’s Accessibility Committee Feedback Working Group and will be used to inform ongoing updates to the plan. This mechanism ensures that accessibility improvements are responsive to real-world experiences and community needs.

Next Steps

BCIT will continue hosting engagement sessions and co-design workshops with Untapped Accessibility to identify priorities and implement solutions. These efforts include collaboration with students and staff to ensure diverse perspectives shape the future of accessibility at BCIT. Please continue to check BCIT’s Accessibility Hub for progress updates and announcements over the coming months. We also encourage everyone to submit any feedback on accessibility at anytime via Provide Feedback on Accessibility at BCIT – BCIT.