Accessibility Committee
Committee Members
Parent/Community Members:
Dalia Shehata
Dora Gunn
Kaelynn Thomas
Keely Kidner (District of Squamish: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility)
Sea to Sky School District Staff:
Phillip Clarke (Director of Instruction: Learning Services)
Tami Jazic (Teacher)
Jenn Armstrong (Communications)
Ian Currie (Director of Operations)
Heather Sallows (Teacher)
Nolan Cox (District Principal: Technology& Innovation; Principal of Sea to Sky Online School)
Terms of Reference
Purpose:
Under the Accessible B.C. Act, organizations must establish an Accessibility Committee to help identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The Committee works collaboratively to assess and improve accessibility across the school community, with a focus on the experiences of people with disabilities while benefiting the community as a whole. It advises the District on strategies to reduce social, physical, sensory, and other barriers that prevent full participation in school community life, guided by the principle of "nothing about us, without us.
Mandate:
The Accessibility Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Sea to Sky School District regarding accessibility initiatives across the organization.
The Committee will:
- Assist the District in identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility.
- Review accessibility-related feedback received through the District's public feedback process.
- Provide advice and recommendations to support the development, implementation, and ongoing review of the District's Accessibility Plan.
- Promote awareness of accessibility, inclusion, and equitable access throughout the District.
Membership:
The Committee shall consist of members representing a broad range of perspectives and experiences. Membership may include, but is not limited to:
- Indigenous Rights Holder or community representative
- Student representative
- Parent, guardian, or caregiver representative
- CUPE representative
- Sea to Sky Teachers' Association representative
- District staff representative(s)
- Community member(s) with lived experience of disability
- Representatives from organizations that support persons with disabilities
- Other members as determined by the District
In accordance with Section 9 of the Accessible British Columbia Act, the District will strive to ensure that:
- At least half of the Committee members are:
- Persons with disabilities; or
- Individuals who support, or represent organizations that support, persons with disabilities.
- The Committee reflects the diversity of persons with disabilities in British Columbia.
- At least one member is Indigenous.
- The Committee reflects the diversity of the communities served by the Sea to Sky School District
The Chair shall be appointed by the District.
Members will normally serve terms of at least two years.
Roles and Responsibilities
Committee members are expected to:
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Attend and actively participate in meetings with respect.
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Contribute their knowledge, expertise, and lived experience.
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Act with integrity, honesty, and respect.
- Foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed.
- Declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest and refrain from participating in related discussions or decisions when appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality where required.
- Lead with curiosity and avoid assumptions.
Scope of Work
Consistent with Section 9 of the Accessible British Columbia Act, the Committee shall:
- Assist the District in identifying barriers experienced by individuals who interact with the District.
- Advise the District on strategies to remove existing barriers and prevent new barriers from occurring.
- Review accessibility initiatives and provide recommendations to improve accessibility across District facilities, services, programs, communications, employment practices, and learning environments.
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Provide feedback on the District's Accessibility Plan and related initiatives.
Meetings
The Committee will meet a minimum of three (3) times each school year (September to June). Additional meetings may be scheduled as required.
Meeting agendas and supporting materials will be circulated in advance whenever possible. Minutes will be recorded and maintained.
Reporting:
The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Superintendent (or designate) and supports the implementation of the District's Accessibility Plan.
Meeting summaries or minutes will be shared with the Accessibility Committee.
Review of the Terms of Reference :
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually by the Committee to ensure they remain current and continue to reflect the requirements of the Accessible British Columbia Act and the priorities of the Sea to Sky School District
Application to Join Committee
Under the Accessible British Columbia Act, organizations are required to establish an Accessibility Committee to help identify, remove, and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. The Committee works collaboratively to assess and improve accessibility across the school community, with a focus on the experiences of people with disabilities while benefiting the community as a whole. Guided by the principle of "Nothing About Us Without Us," the Committee advises the District on strategies to reduce social, physical, sensory, and other barriers that may prevent full participation in school community life.
The Sea to Sky School District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is currently seeking parent representatives to serve on the Accessibility Committee. We welcome applications from parents and caregivers who are passionate about creating a more accessible and inclusive school community. We particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of disability or those supporting an individual with a disability, as well as those who bring diverse perspectives and experiences.
Before submitting your application, we encourage you to review the Accessibility Committee Terms of Reference to gain a better understanding of the Committee's purpose, membership, responsibilities, and time commitment.