Let's build back better — and accessibly

Harmonize standards for future infrastructure, Brad Mccannell urges.

COVID-19 has given many of us time to slow down and reflect, and as Alberta communities start to reopen we are able to contemplate a post-pandemic future. For me, I look to a future where government leaders choose to not only “build back better,” but to prioritize “building back accessibly” to create a more inclusive and accessible province, country and world for people of all abilities.

Canada has come a long way; introducing accessibility legislation in 2019 was a milestone to celebrate. But I find myself asking, is this enough? The pandemic has reinforced that people with disabilities continue to be overlooked by governments, slipping between the cracks despite being disproportionately impacted, both economically and socially, by the aftermath of the virus.

The answer is, very simply, it is not enough.

We still have a long way to go, but we are at a pivotal moment where we have an opportunity to accelerate our path towards accessibility. The Government of Alberta has committed to spending $3 billion over three years on provincial infrastructure. With key projects in Edmonton, such as the Winspear Centre and the Telus World of Science, already slated to receive funding, it is imperative to ensure that investments such as these benefit people of all abilities. Almost 22 per cent of adults aged 15 and older in Alberta have a disability and this number continues to grow as the population ages. Let's choose to build a province where everyone can participate.

Even if some choose to ignore the fact that accessibility is a fundamental human right, the economics of creating more inclusive communities is staggering. According to a 2018 Conference Board of Canada report, accessible workplaces could result in over half a million more Canadians with disabilities securing employment, contributing nearly $17 billion to our national GDP.

In addition, a feasibility report conducted by HCMA Architecture + Design in collaboration with the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) revealed that new buildings can achieve a higher level of meaningful accessibility at no additional cost to the developer through thoughtful planning and design.

The window of opportunity to influence and inform how the significant upcoming provincial infrastructure investments are used is closing. If we are ready to step up to the challenge of building back accessibly, we must push for all new infrastructure in Edmonton to be accessible and stop investing in new barriers.

So, what tangible steps can be taken?

We need to stop repeating old mistakes and investing in uninformed design. The work done on key provincial infrastructure now will be in place for the next 50 to 80 years, so it is critical these projects are reviewed through an accessibility lens to ensure meaningful access is achieved for all.

Now more than ever, we need a national harmonized approach to measuring accessibility that reaches across all varying codes and standards to define accessibility in common terms and clearly interpret what it means to be accessible on a cross-disability basis. This needs to be prioritized for all new buildings and retrofits. The Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC), fills this gap by rating and recognizing the meaningful access of buildings and sites based upon the perspective of those with varying disabilities. It helps owners and operators better understand their level of access, and provides an aspirational goal to go beyond code, innovate and reach a higher level of accessibility. It helps owners and operators achieve the return on investment that meaningful access creates.

The tools and framework are there. So, let's use this investment in infrastructure to not only build back better, but to build back accessibly for all Edmontonians.