Accessibility Resource Hub - Travel Northern BC

An Inclusive and Accessible Tourism Industry

Accessibility refers to the ease with which individuals, including those with disabilities or other special requirements, can access and enjoy tourism facilities, services, and experiences. As tourism providers, aiming to be universally accessible and create barrier-free tourism is beneficial to tourists, workers and local community members alike. Accessible tourism enables Northern BC to be enjoyed equally by everyone.

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Accessible Tourism in Northern BC

How can I make my business more accessible to all?

Legislation, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines

Additional Resources and Toolkits

Accessible Tourism in Northern BC

Learn about what being an accessible tourism provider entails, and the benefits of accessible tourism for businesses.

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How can I make my business more accessible to all?

Improving your business to be more accessible has a social impact on your community, but also boosts the competitiveness of your business. Evidence shows that understanding the needs of persons with disabilities, making basic adjustments to an indoor or outdoor facility, or providing accurate information about your business can result in increased visitor numbers. Review the resources below to learn more.

Employee Training and Awareness

DBC Learning Centre for Accessible Tourism

Destination BC’s Learning Centre has developed a resource list to help you improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of your business for all employees and travellers.

go2HR Service for All: Foundations of Inclusive Service

Service For All: Foundations of Inclusive Service offers up-to-date information to help you understand distinct customer groups and their needs. This training provides practical, action-oriented tips that you can use to adjust your service to meet unique needs every time.

Accessible Improvements for Businesses

Accessibility upgrades can include simple fixes that have a lasting impact for visitors. Explore accessible improvements that can be incorporated into your business to create a more accessible and inclusive environment.

Coming soon

Destination BC Accessibility Attributes Checklist

Complete the self-assessment checklist to provide accurate information for visitors about your business’ accessibility, and to help inform you as to what accessible attributes you might want to incorporate in your business.

Accessible Tourism Solutions for Businesses and Destinations

HOW and WHY accessible tourism is key to the sustainable development of destinations, and what tourism businesses can do to become more inclusive.

Funding Accessibility Improvements

Funding is crucial to accessibility projects. Learn about different funding opportunities and projects your business may be eligible to apply for.

Destination BC Funding Opportunities

There are a number of different funding sources available to support BC’s tourism sector, through a variety of entities. Explore Destination BC’s funding sources and use the Economic Development funding and grants search tool to find additional funding sources for provincial and other (non-governmental, regional, federal) programs and initiatives.

Indigenous BC Funding Opportunities

Indigenous Tourism BC, Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism Association Canada, and others who support the cultural, social, and economic benefits of a thriving Indigenous tourism industry provide initiatives that fund the marketing and development of Indigenous tourism products. Explore our comprehensive lists of municipal, regional, federal, and non-government financial resources dedicated to building a healthy and sustainable Indigenous tourism economy.

AccessNow

AccessNow is a crowdsourcing platform that allows users to search and rate the accessibility of destinations. Check if your business is listed and how it rates.

Legislation, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines

Accessibility legislation, standards and guides provide a framework for how to design, develop, and implement products and services that are accessible to everyone. Accessibility legislation refers to laws, regulations, or legal frameworks enacted by the government to enforce accessibility requirements and protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. Accessible standards refer to guidelines and requirements that ensure physical environments, products, and services are designed to be usable and accessible to all people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

AccessibleBC Act

The Accessible BC Act came into law in June 2021 and provides a framework to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Accessible Building Codes and Standards

The BC Building Code provides the minimum standard, while the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and American Disability Act (ADA) have published accessibility standards as leading practices.

CSA Group Accessible Design for the Built Environment

CSA Group Accessible Design for the Built Environment sets standards for creating inclusive and barrier-free physical spaces.

Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards

The Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards provides guidelines for ensuring accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

KASA Adaptive Trail Standards

The Kootenay Adaptive Sport Association (KASA) developed leading practices for adaptive mountain biking trails.

Parks Canada Design Guidelines for Accessible Outdoor Recreation Facilities

Parks Canada Design Guidelines for Accessible Outdoor Recreation Facilities including: parking, signage, facilities, campgrounds, ramps etc.

SCI-BC’s Universal Design Guidelines for Outdoor Spaces

SCI-BC’s Universal Guidelines for Outdoor Spaces was developed to provide a standard for outdoor spaces including: pedestrian paths, recreation facilities and outdoor spaces, park services, trail signage and campgrounds.

Government of Canada Rights of people with disabilities

Canada’s legislative framework that guarantees the equal rights of people with disabilities.

Additional Resources and Toolkits

Find additional resources and toolkits for accessibility offer valuable materials and practical tools designed to support the tourism industry in promoting and enhancing accessibility.

SCI-BC Database

The SCI Info Database is an online encyclopedia with more than 800 current and comprehensive resources for people with spinal cord injuries and related physical disabilities, their families, and other stakeholders in BC.

United Nations World Tourism Organization Accessible Tourism

UNWTO’s Accessible Tourism program is dedicated to promoting accessible and inclusive tourism for all. Visit their website to learn more about their initiatives, resources, and global efforts to create a more accessible tourism industry.

Government of BC’s Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit

The Government of BC’s Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit is a comprehensive online resource that provides practical guidance and tools in the digital environment.

Rick Hansen Accessibility Resources

The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility program works to help improve accessibility of the built environment in Canada – the places where we live, work, learn and play.

Top 10 Tips on Inclusive Tourism

Practical ideas to make life easier for people with disabilities.

What is Accessible Travel

The Queensland Tourism video “Defining disability, accessibility and inclusion - for travel” showcases the experiences of travelers with disabilities within the Australian market but highlights the importance of creating accessible and inclusive tourism opportunities for all regardless of the destination.

To find out more about the destination development program or to determine the best way for you to participate, contact Northern British Columbia at info@nbctourism.com .

ACCESS AND INCLUSION

An Inclusive and Accessible Tourism Industry

Jump to Section

Accessible Tourism in Northern BC

How can I make my business more accessible to all?

Employee Training and Awareness

DBC Learning Centre for Accessible Tourism

go2HR Service for All: Foundations of Inclusive Service

Identifying Opportunities for Improvement

Accessible Improvements for Businesses

Destination BC Accessibility Attributes Checklist

Accessible Tourism Solutions for Businesses and Destinations

Funding Accessibility Improvements

Destination BC Funding Opportunities

Indigenous BC Funding Opportunities

Getting the Word Out to Potential Visitors

AccessNow

Legislation, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines

AccessibleBC Act

Accessible Building Codes and Standards

CSA Group Accessible Design for the Built Environment

Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards

KASA Adaptive Trail Standards

Parks Canada Design Guidelines for Accessible Outdoor Recreation Facilities

SCI-BC’s Universal Design Guidelines for Outdoor Spaces

Government of Canada Rights of people with disabilities

Additional Resources and Toolkits

SCI-BC Database

United Nations World Tourism Organization Accessible Tourism

Government of BC’s Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit

Rick Hansen Accessibility Resources

Top 10 Tips on Inclusive Tourism

What is Accessible Travel

Get in Touch

To find out more about the destination development program or to determine the best way for you to participate, contact Northern British Columbia at info@nbctourism.com .

Quick Links

Northern BC Tourism

ACCESS AND INCLUSION

An Inclusive and Accessible Tourism Industry

Jump to Section

Accessible Tourism in Northern BC

How can I make my business more accessible to all?

Employee Training and Awareness

DBC Learning Centre for Accessible Tourism

go2HR Service for All: Foundations of Inclusive Service

Identifying Opportunities for Improvement

Accessible Improvements for Businesses

Destination BC Accessibility Attributes Checklist

Accessible Tourism Solutions for Businesses and Destinations

Funding Accessibility Improvements

Destination BC Funding Opportunities

Indigenous BC Funding Opportunities

Getting the Word Out to Potential Visitors

AccessNow

Legislation, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines

AccessibleBC Act

Accessible Building Codes and Standards

CSA Group Accessible Design for the Built Environment

Guide to the ADA Accessibility Standards

KASA Adaptive Trail Standards

Parks Canada Design Guidelines for Accessible Outdoor Recreation Facilities

SCI-BC’s Universal Design Guidelines for Outdoor Spaces

Government of Canada Rights of people with disabilities

Additional Resources and Toolkits

SCI-BC Database

United Nations World Tourism Organization Accessible Tourism

Government of BC’s Accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit

Rick Hansen Accessibility Resources​

Top 10 Tips on Inclusive Tourism

What is Accessible Travel

Get in Touch

To find out more about the destination development program or to determine the best way for you to participate, contact Northern British Columbia at info@nbctourism.com .

Quick Links

Northern BC Tourism

Northern BC Tourism Summit

Rick Hansen Accessibility Resources