News

National AccessAbility Week (Sunday, May 28 to Saturday, June 3) and Red Shirt Day (May 31) are opportunities to celebrate the valuable contributions of Canadians with disabilities. It is also a time to recognize the efforts of individuals, communities and workplaces that are actively working to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion.

As part of VON’s culture of accessibility, an Accessibility Advisory Committee was formed in early 2022 to implement the organization’s Accessibility Action Plan.

“The committee is made up of cross-departmental representatives who advise and assist VON in promoting and facilitating barrier-free service for customers, clients and caretakers, regardless of their ability. Currently, the committee is in the mid-stage of reporting on our commitments to the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, a requirement by law every two years. There’s still much to do, but we are progressing well on our timeline,” says Davina Wong, chair of VON’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. “Identifying, removing and preventing barriers faced by persons with disabilities is key for VON.’’

Many organizations, like VON, have multi-year accessibility plans and accessibility committees. These are so important to identify opportunities for improvement and to raise awareness, but there is no substitute for dialogue and lived experience to ensure the steps we’re taking meet the needs of those we’re trying to help. 

To learn more about VON’s action plan, check out VON’s Multi-Year Accessibility Action Plan on our website.