#AccessDelayedIsAccessDenied!
Rally at the BC Legislature, Victoria – November 25th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Daily Online Lunch hour Teach-ins: November 26th – December 2nd, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
November 26 – Access to Rights – Tracy Humphreys (BCEdAccess) and Erika Cedillo (Inclusion BC)
November 27 – Access to Assessments – Cathy McMillan (Dyslexia BC), and TBA
November 28 – Access to Funding – Symbia Barnaby (parent, advocate), Tamara Taggart (Down Syndrome BC), TBA
November 29 – Access to Services (Unique challenges in rural and remote areas) – Symbia Barnaby (parent, advocate) and Brenda Lenahan (BC Complex Kids)
November 30 – Access to Supports – Angela Clancy (Family Support Institute of BC) and TBA
December 1 – Access to Sports and Play – Vicky Ryan (GIRLS CLUB), Tamara Taggart (Down Syndrome BC) and Karla Verschoor (Inclusion BC)
December 2 – Access to Equity
Rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery – December 3rd, 11:00 am
Join people with disabilities and their families in a series of actions calling on the BC government to immediately remove barriers to access in education and all systems and enact the rights of disabled children, youth and adults. Access delayed is access denied!
(Note: This series of actions begins the day AFTER the ‘Rally In Victoria With The ASN’ on November 24th – if you are coming to Victoria for that action, please stay over if you can and join us!)
Register on Eventbrite for the December 3 rally here (look for eventbrite link Nov 26th!):
Please respect the comfort of others around COVID-19 protocols at this in-person event. Masks, physical distancing and other safety precautions are as important as ever and especially among disabled people who are more vulnerable to it.
Follow the Facebook event for regular updates on the 8 Days of Action here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1947490105424352?ref=newsfeed
Details:
This series of actions is organized by volunteer community members of the BCEdAccess Society and a coalition of participating organisations, and powered by the community.
Why:
For far too long, disabled children, youth and adults, diagnosed and undiagnosed, have been denied equitable access. Not just to education but to all of the systems that are supposed to be there to support them, from early intervention, health care, to community inclusion and everything in between. Service delivery systems are ableist and otherwise oppressive. We, as disabled people and those who care for them, have been trying to raise these issues for decades. There is no lack of clarity on what needs to be done – there is only lack of action and courage to take big steps to collaborate with and empower families. We want equity in representation to collaborate on making real progress toward equity for all.
Schedule
Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that we are holding the November 25th rally on the stolen ancestral territories of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. The December 3rd rally will be held on the stolen and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. All of these First Nations Peoples have lived on and taken care of this land since time immemorial.
We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and recognize our shared commitments to taking care of this land, and to rebuilding and renewing respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. In particular we are committed to following the lead of Indigenous rights-holders in their work on decolonizing education and closing the significant educational, employment, and health outcome gaps that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Accessibility
We’ll post physical access to in person spaces soon! If you have specific accessibility needs for the in person or online events please email us info@bcedaccess.com asap and we will do our best to accommodate if possible!
Day 0 – Thursday, Nov.25th, 2021 11-2pm
Rally at the Victoria Legislature, on the stolen lands of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. Also broadcast online.
Everyone from all over BC is invited to join people with disabilities and their families at the Victoria Legislature for a rally on access to education and other supports and services for disabled people, to kick off 8 days of action for access!
Days 1 through 7 – Friday, Nov 26 – Thursday, Dec 2
“Lunch hour Teach-ins” 12-1 pm
Live Online discussions each day with organizations and families sharing how the barriers to access to equitable education intersect with all the other systems. Please let us know if you want in!
Day 8 Dec 3 – International Day of Disabled Persons
Rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery, on the stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, led by youth and adults with disabilities. Also broadcast online.
This day will be led youth and adults (including parents!) with disabilities – we hope the whole province will join us in person and online!
How you can help!
Share this event with your friends, groups and organizations! We need everyone to participate!
Donate to help us pay for signs, ASL interpreters and other costs!
See our Action Toolkit for 8 big areas to help with the 8 Days of Action For Access!
Contact us: info@bcedaccess.com
Current participating or supporting organizations include:
* BC People First
* BC Complex Kids Society
* ACT Autism Community Training
* Autism BC
* Down Syndrome BC
- GIRLS CLUB
- Family Support Institute
- Dyslexia BC
More will be listed as they give permission!
BCEdAccess 