Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine October 2020 | Page 15

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Unwin Jumpstart Inclusive Playground

Metro Vancouver B . C ., Canada , can boast of embracing accessibility , and rightly so . From one ’ s arrival at the Vancouver International Airport , with its universal design , fully accessible washrooms , a welcoming environment for certified service and guide dogs plus ready assistance from Green Coat volunteers , accessibility continue into and throughout its suburban cities .

SkyTrain and Ferries are easy to navigate and you will find bus drivers to be accommodating and polite . Ramps are lowered and drivers will wait patiently for passengers to settle down safely prior to driving off . Audiovisual notices for the sight and hearing impaired provide safe , helpful commutes . Also available if needed , are wheelchair accessible taxis , car rentals and even limousines . In many ways , Vancouver has embraced the concept of universal design supporting a diverse range of its population regardless of age , physical or health circumstances , ability or disability .
The City of Surrey , one of the municipalities of Metro Vancouver , has a higher than average number of people with disabilities , and one of the highest rates of autism in British Columbia . Karin Pasqua , Surrey ’ s Accessibility and Universal Design Specialist said , “ friendly , sensory spaces have been created to support individuals and provide safe spaces that are calm and quiet ,” she explained . Through a partnership with Canucks Autism Network ( CAN ), pre-COVID-19 , when major events took place throughout the city , these sensory spaces , be it a room or tent , were on site to provide a reduced sensory environment