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Accessibility & Inclusion Statement

Access is an act of love and community building. Growing Room Literary & Arts festival is on a journey to create the most inclusive and accessible festival events that we can.

We believe ableism and lack of access are deeply tied to colonial systems of oppression—systems that we are actively trying to reject, unlearn, and fight against. This work is ongoing. Our commitment is to grow, learn, and work with the community, in order to be transparent about our abilities and limitations and to improve with every yearly festival.

We acknowledge our own limitations, which means that Growing Room 2020 is not able to accommodate every need or incorporate every access recommendation; we understand that access needs are different for everyone, and that these needs can also change and be different every day.

Growing Room is working with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods to do accessibility audits of all of our venues and the systems that make up our festival, and to implement their recommendations. We acknowledge that inaccessibility includes (but is not limited to) physical, invisible, and systemic barriers.

Below is our access information for all of our events, so that you can decide for yourselves if the event and/or festival at large is right for you. However, you know your needs best. If you have accessibility requirements, questions, or concerns, please contact Meagan Joy Black at festival@roommagazine.com.

While we are on this journey of learning, we welcome all accessibility feedback.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL GROWING ROOM LOCATIONS

The interior paths of travel meet the CSA standards for accessibility, for folks who use wheelchairs and/or mobility aids.

Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place. Of note, both Emily Carr University and The Beaumont Studios house artist working spaces which may contain scents. We will also have industrial air scrubbers in all of our venue spaces.

For more information and resources on the importance of a scent-reduced space for folks with scent sensitivities and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), we encourage you to read Myths and Facts About Chemical Sensitivities by Peggy Munson and Fragrance Free Femme of Colour Genius by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha.

We have partnered with Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility and will be providing ASL-ENG interpretation for events that have been requested. Click here for a list of events that will have ASL-ENG interpretation. Email Meagan Joy Black at festival@roommagazine.com if you have have any questions.

Event organizers and volunteers will be present and willing to assist. Event volunteers have received anti-oppression training that included disability awareness information.

All locations are near accessible public transit. Parking is present, but may not be available.

Exterior routes at the venues are mostly in good condition, with no roots, minimal cracks, and no tripping hazards.

Landscaping at the venues does not create protruding objects that could be a hazard or reduce accessibility.

Street furniture does not obstruct any part of an accessible route or create hazards at any of the venues.

Locations do not have consistent tactile or Braille features, inside or outside.

Guide dogs and other service animals are welcome. Water will be provided for working animals. Event volunteers and organizers are trained in how to approach people with service animals.

All of our venues have all-genders washrooms available. Scent-reduced soap will be provided.

Event volunteers and organizers will use microphones when presenting.

Wifi is used at all locations.

PRIORITY AND ASSIGNED SEATING: We offer early entry and assigned priority seating for people with invisible disabilities, low vision, and/or chronic pain. You can arrange this onsite by speaking with the event volunteers, or contact Meagan Joy Black at festival@roommagazine.com to plan in advance.

FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY: All of our readings and panels are Pay-What-You-Can or by donation, which you can do when you register for events online or in person. While our workshops require a registration fee, we set aside two free spaces for every workshop for folks who request it. Our opening night is also a ticketed event, though we will also have free admission spots set aside as well. To request free registration for a workshop or free admission to our opening night event, please email Meagan Joy Black at festival@roommagazine.com.

ACTIVE LISTENERS: Active Listeners are vetted volunteers who are present at every festival event should attendees need to speak with someone regarding any feelings or issues that may come up over the course of the festival. Active Listeners will have a list of community resources with them at all times and there will be two listeners available at each event. If need be, the Active Listeners additionally act as a liaison between festival guests and the festival organizing committee. The wellness of our community is of the utmost importance to us, and having these wonderful volunteers present strengthens our ability to serve the community better. Read more about our Active Listeners here.

OVERSTIMULATION: If you experience overstimulation, fatigue, exhaustion, distress, or are in need of a quieter space for any reason, please speak to one of our festival volunteers. They will have Stim toys, relaxation devices, and other resources such as the location of quieter spaces, and will assist according to the need. Our Active Listeners will also be available to assist.

CLOSED CAPTIONING: All film screenings at Growing Room are closed captioned.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ALCOHOL: Please note that drugs and alcohol are not permitted on the premises of the Native Education College and Emily Carr University. Failure to respect the wishes of the venues may result in you being asked to leave your event.

VENUE MAPS: Please visit our venues page for detailed exterior and interior venue maps for all of our festival locations.

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Massy Books

Interior Location

  • Massy Books has been awarded an Accessibility Certification by the Rick Hansen Foundation.
  • The threshold is not more than 13 mm high.
  • Door has clear width of 850 mm.
  • There is a level maneuvering area on the push and pull sides of the door.
  • Volunteers will be present to open the door.
  • Floor in bookstore is stable and firm, produces minimal glare, and does not have strong visual patterning.
  • Stairs in venue not needed for event.
  • Front counter is higher than accessibility standards.
  • There is good air quality.
  • The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place.
  • There is adequate lighting, and no fluorescent lighting or alternatives to fluorescent lighting.
  • Overall space is easy to understand. Wayfinding is intuitive.
  • The accessible route is the same for people with disabilities and mobility aids as everyone else (universal).
  • The evacuation route the same route used by all (universal).
  • The accessible route to the back room is of a proper accessible width.
  • Universal washroom available in the back room.
  • The universal washroom in back room has an accessible width door.
  • Lavatories feature a clear floor space in front of at least 800 x 1350 mm.
  • The toilet does not have a clear transfer space at least 900 mm wide × 1500mm; it has 720 mm x 1500 mm.
  • The toilet seat is lower than the Canadian Standards Association standards.
  • The mirror is mounted above the standard accessibility height.
  • Paper towel is mounted above the accessible standard.
  • Seating is Ikea-like chairs with an accessible seat height, with some solid wooden chairs also available.  

Exterior Location

  • Massy Books is close to transit; the closest routes are #3, #8, #9, #22.
  • The bus stop nearest the main entrance is one block away on Main Street
  • There is no transit stop shelter or bench.
  • There is an accessible route from the transit stop to the entrance, with a clear width of at least 1600.
  • Path of travel does not include detectable guiding strips or natural guide-lines to help identify path of travel.
  • The route may require crossing the street, depending on which direction one is traveling.
  • Curb ramps lead directly into safe crossing area designated for pedestrians.
  • Pedestrian traffic lights have clearly audible signals. There are no push buttons.
  • The time interval allowed for crossing is 21 seconds.
  • Pay parking is available. The meter on an accessible surface, with controls that are operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist. The parking meter does not have tactile and/or auditory information.
  • There is 1 Designated Accessible Parking, marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISOA). The space less than a block from the main entrance.
  • There are four bike racks near the bookstore.
  • There are dirt areas surrounding trees for working dogs to relieve themselves, but grass is limited.
  • There is an accessible bench in front of Massy Books. It does not have an adjacent clear space off the path of travel.
  • The bench has a seat height between 430 and 485 mm from floor.
  • The audience seating space/viewing space is on a clear and level surface.
  • Viewing spaces for people with wheeled mobility devices are an integral part of the seating plan, and will be dispersed throughout the seating area to provide a choice of viewing location and a clear view of the event taking place.

Follow this link for the full accessibility audit of Massy Books.

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NEC Native Education College

Interior Location

  • The doors meet the older door width standard of 810 mm but not the updated width of 850 mm.
  • The front entrance has a large courtyard and has a threshold that meets the standard.
  • The rear entrance (with two benches for seating near the door) has a threshold above the standard of 13 mm high. This lip on the back entrance is 40 mm.
  • Volunteers will be present to open the door.
  • The accessible route is the same for people with disabilities and mobility aids as everyone else (universal).
  • The evacuation route the same route used by all (universal).
  • The interior paths of travel are accessible.
  • Exterior doorways, workshop doorway, and accessible washroom doorway met 810 except for men’s and women’s washroom doors.
  • There are level maneuvering areas on the push and pull sides of all doors that will be in use.
  • There are stairs but they will not be used for the festival.
  • Fluorescent lighting is used in the workshop rooms.
  • There is a water cooler, off path of travel and at accessible height
  • The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place.
  • The flooring of the foyer is bumpy and may be uncomfortable for those using mobility aids. The workshop flooring and washroom flooring is smooth.
  • The foyer has a fire pit that, when used, can make the facility quite warm.
  • There is good air quality. Sometimes a smoke smell can be smelt from the fire pit, but there is not smoke in the foyer area because of good venting.
  • The foyer’s seating consists mainly of benches without backs at an accessible height, and some benches that allows people to utilize the wall as a backrest, but there require stairs to access.
  • There are also tables and cushioned chairs, which are both at an accessible height.
  • The chairs have seat cushions.
  • There are two small, multi-stall washrooms that are not accessible but that have stalls adequate for larger bodies. On of these washrooms has a high urinal, with no urinal grab bars or centreline indicator.
  • There is also an accessible universal washroom with appropriate transfer space.
  • This accessible washroom does not have an automatic door, but the door is light. The door the universal washroom has a clear opening width of 810 mm.
  • The locking mechanism requires pinching. There is a grab bar mounted on the side wall closest to the toilet, which is stable, doesn’t rotate with use, and securely attached.
  • There is not a grab bar on the rear wall.
  • Toilet meets the standard for height. 
  • The sink height meets the standard.
  • There is an accessible knee clearance in front of sink.
  • Soap is placed lower than the standard.
  • Universal washroom is not equipped with emergency call system.

Exterior Location

  • The Native Education College has an accessible front entrance (large courtyard where intersecting pathways blend at one common level). The rear entrance (benches) does not have a level threshold.
  • There are rest areas of benches and picnic tables around NEC. These seats do not meet the accessible standards for height. Several picnic tables require a step up.
  • It is easy to access grass or greenery for working dogs to relieve themselves
  • Edges of planting beds adjacent to accessible routes are clearly defined from their surroundings by texture and colour-contrast.
  • The Native Education College is close to transit; the closest routes are #8 and #19.
  • There is an accessible route from transit to the entrance. This route requires side streets, which have accessible curb ramps.
  • These curb ramps do not have tactile attention indicators.
  • Most of the manhole covers, drains, and gratings are placed outside the pedestrian pathway.
  • Parking meters are the only street furniture and are off the accessible path of travel.
  • There is no designated accessible parking at the NEC.
  • There is free and pay parking close to the entrance.
  • The pay parking meters have controls at an accessible height and have an accessible clear floor area adjacent to the, but controls do not provide tactile and/or auditory information indicating the function and position of controls.
  • Pay parking can also be paid for by phone and/or online.
  • Not all pay parking requires a ticket machine. There is some metered parking that is $1 an hour on E. 5th ave.

Follow this link for the full accessibility audit of the NEC.

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The Beaumont Studios

Interior Location

  • Good air quality. However, the venue is an art studio so there may be smells from artists working with clay, paints, and other art materials in the space.
  • The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place.
  • The front door is not automatic but very light and far exceeds the accessible width.
  • The interior door has a medium opening force.
  • Volunteers will be present to open doors.
  • Accessible routes produce minimal glare and are stable and firm. In the front entrance, however, there is a very strong visual patterning and there is an echo.
  • The clear width of the accessible routes is at least 920 mm with the exception of doorways, which are at least 810 mm. Route does not have slopes.
  • The accessible route is the same for people with disabilities and mobility aids as everyone else (universal).
  • There is a small area just out of the main path of travel in the foyer where one of the doors has rubbed away some of the flooring in the path of its swing, creating a small lip that may be a hazard to someone who moving that door or the adjacent door. Otherwise, there is a smooth, accessible surface on the interior pathways.
  • The audience seating space/viewing space is on a clear and level surface.
  • Viewing spaces for people with wheeled mobility devices are an integral part of the seating plan, and will be dispersed throughout the seating area to provide a choice of viewing location and a clear view of the event taking place.
  • There is a mix of options for seating.
  • Seating at the accessible height includes chairs with a back and no arms at 450 mm and a couch at the minimum height of 430 mm.  and two couches, one a minimum height
  • There is another couch that exceeds CSA standards heights, at 500 mm, that would be suitable for larger bodies.
  • Some of the seating is a bit wobbly.
  • Bar counter is higher than CSA standards (730 – 860 mm) at 1070 mm.
  • There are stairs near the washrooms, leading to a side entrance/exit.
  • These stairs will not be used by audience members, who will not have permission to park in the Beaumont’s enclosed lot.
  • Washrooms will be all gender during Growing Room events.
  • The two multi-stall washrooms do not have doors that meet the CSA standard for clear width (at least 810-950 mm). One of these washrooms has a high urinal, with no urinal grab bars or centreline indicator.
  • There is also a single-user universal washroom with appropriate door width (at least 810 mm) and a light door. This toilet is at an appropriate, accessible height. There is a tank as back support, as it is securely attached.
  • The universal washroom has grab bars that are slip-resistant, are mounted to the side and rear wall, are securely attached and do not rotate within their fittings.
  • The sink is low.
  • There is clear floor space in front of the sink of at least 800 x 1350 mm.
  • The knee clearance at the front of lavatories is of the appropriate depth and height but not width.
  • The universal washroom does not meet the standard for clear space or for the transfer space.
  • The mirrors are mounted higher than the CSA standards.
  • The toilet paper dispenser is high. Paper towel is available on the counter.

Exterior Location

  • The Beaumont Studios is close to transit; the closest route is the #84, and the closest bus stop is Eastbound W. 2nd Avenue and Columbia Street.
  • One can also access the #9 bus on Broadway, but there is a hill on this route.
  • Venue is a 10-minute walk to Olympic Village SkyTrain on Cambie Street.
  • Accessible route (the shortest and most direct) from the transit stop (#84) at Eastbound Columbia Street and W 2nd to the venue is approximately a five-minute walk.
  • There are grates with no openings greater than 13 mm wide in one direction on this route.
  • This route requires crossing street.
  • Curb ramps stable and firm but do not have tactile attention indicator.
  • Pedestrian crossings do not have marked crosswalks. Only 1 out 4 closest curb ramps is set up to direct pedestrians to the curb ramp on the opposite side of the street.
  • Edges of planting beds adjacent to accessible routes are clearly defined by texture and colour-contrast from their surroundings.
  • There are no designated accessible parking spaces. However, there is free permit parking on the street next to the Beaumont Studio and the City of Vancouver recognizes SPARC disability parking permits (temporary and permanent); source: https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/accessible-parking.aspx
  • There is no easy access to grass but there is greenery for working dogs to relieve themselves.
  • There is seating, a bench, in front of the Beaumont. It is an accessible height, but blends in with building and needs better colour contrast.

Follow this link for the full accessibility audit of The Beaumont Studios.

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The Fox Cabaret

Interior Location

  • Volunteers will be present to open the door.
  • The audience seating space/viewing space is on a clear and level surface.
  • Viewing spaces for people with wheeled mobility devices are an integral part of the seating plan, and will be dispersed throughout the seating area to provide a choice of viewing location and a clear view of the event taking place.
  • Accessible route the same route used by all (universal).
  • Fluorescent lighting is used.
  • Lighting ranges from adequate to dark.
  • The chairs are at an accessible height. They are cushioned and have no arms.
  • Booths are at an accessible height but require a step up.
  • Tables are not at an accessible height; they are too high.
  • ATM has visual cues as well as tactile cues on non-numbered keys.
    • The headphone jack for audible instructions and cues is plugged.
  • There are stairs to the balcony.
    • Stairs are of uniform height and depth.
  • The Washrooms will be all-gender during Growing Room events
  • The washrooms with stalls (Numbered #1 and #2 on the map) do not have accessible entrances, floor area, or stalls.
    • The urinal in washroom #2 is not at an accessible height.
    • There are no urinal grab bars.
    • There is no centreline indicator.
  • The signage for the universal washroom is very hard to see. The door is black and the symbol is red.
  • The accessible washroom is kept locked, and the key is kept at the bar.
    • The accessible washroom does not have a locking mechanism on the inside that is operable with one hand, using a closed fist position or another method of operation that does not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
    • The grab bar is slip-resistant, securely attached, and does not rotate within their fittings.
    • The grab bar is located on the side but not at the back.
    • Flush controls are hand-operated by a device that does not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
    • Toilet paper dispenser is too high.
    • The sink is at an accessible height.
    • The towel dispenser and/or or hand-dryer is just a bit higher than the accessibility standard.
  • The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place.

Exterior Location

  • There is a lip that is higher than accessible standards on the exterior route just outside the entrance of the Fox Cabaret.
  • The route of closest bus stop, Southbound Main at 8th Avenue, is #3.
  • There is one transit bench with a back and seat separators located adjacent to accessible route.
    • It does not reduce the clear width of the accessible route.
    • It does not have a surface texture-and-colour-contrasted with the surrounding area.
    • The transit bench is shaded by awning.
  • There is No Designated Accessible Parking
  • There is street parking in the neighbourhood.
  • Pedestrian crossing equipped with traffic control signals.
    • The time interval for crossing is an approximate 17 seconds.
  • There is no easy access to grass for working dogs to relieve themselves, there are trees with gravel on exterior route.

Follow this link for the full accessibility audit of The Fox Cabaret.

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Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Interior Location

  • Volunteers will not be present to open the doors at any entrance, though all entrances have automatic doors.
  • The flooring at the entrance near the Equinox Gallery has a glare and fluorescent lights.
  • Exterior and interior ramps and stairs have handrails on both sides that are strong, not wobbly, and at an accessible height.
  • This venue has some tactile information and cues.
  • Fluorescent lighting is used in the building.
  • Adequate lighting throughout building.
  • There is no clear signage for to accessible entrances, exits, and key features.
  • Accessible routes are the same route used by all (universal) and are hazard and barrier free.
  • There are rest areas throughout the venue with a mix of seats: privacy chairs, chairs with cushions, chairs with hard bottoms, chair with and without wheels. The majority of this seating is at the accessible height. 
  • Good air quality
  • Drinking fountains have function that fills water bottles.
    • Drinking Fountains have two heights, the lower height meets the accessible standard.
  • There are elevators that serve all publicly accessible floors and facilities.
    • There are two elevators beside one another but one is recessed, depending on where you are standing you may not have a full view of both elevators and be able to see if the recessed elevator responded to a call. There is no auditory cue to indicate which elevator has doors open.
    • The cab size of the elevators is not at least 2000 x 2000 mm, it is 2000 mm x 1670 mm.
    • Elevator doors reopen automatically if obstructed.
    • The elevator doors do not hold for the accessibility standard of a minimum of 20 seconds.
    • Handrails are provided on all elevator walls without doors, at a height of 800-920 mm from the floor, with a space of 35-45 mm between the handrail and the wall.
    • A clear floor space of a minimum of 760 × 1220mm is provided at hall buttons.
    • The elevator is well lit.
    • Call (inside) buttons are at the appropriate height.
    • Emergency control buttons have their centrelines just above the maximum height of 890 mm.
    • Panel controls feature Braille and raised characters.
    • Elevators cabs do not incorporate audible and visible signals to indicate the car floor position.
    • Audible and visual signals are not provided in elevator lobbies to indicate which car is answering a call and its direction of travel.
  • The universal washroom on the second floor, near the café, is stark, white, and has fluorescent lighting. There is also an echo.
    • The signs for this washroom are mounted on the outside wall of the washroom, colour contrasted and include Braille and tactile. The sign says the washroom is accessible but only one half of the washroom is accessible. The left side of the washroom is narrow and inaccessible, the right side is wide and accessible, there is no signage to indicate this.
    • The accessible toilet stall door in the universal washroom on the second floor, near the café, is not aligned with the transfer space adjacent to the toilet.
  • The accessible stall in the universal washroom on the 1st floor has a clear transfer space that meets the accessibility standards for length but is just under the accessible standard of 900 mm by a 50 mm difference.
    • The signs for this washroom are mounted on the outside wall of the washroom, colour contrasted and include Braille and tactile.
    • The stall door is self-closing and latched from the inside by a device that is operable with one hand, using a closed fist position or another method of operation that does not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
    • The urinal grab bars are slip-resistant, do not rotate within their fittings, are the right length, and are mounted vertically on the back wall at each side of the urinal.
    • Doors have a clear, accessible width.
    • There is also an echo.
    • The sink is at an appropriate, accessible height.
    • The sink has the proper, accessible height.
    • There is a clear floor area, centred on the lavatory, at least 800 x 1350 mm.
    • Faucets operable with closed fist or another method of operation that does not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of wrist.
    • The mirror is mounted with its bottom edge not more than 1000mm from the floor.
    • The soap dispenser is higher than the accessibility standard.
    • The soap dispenser is operable using one hand to dispense soap on the palm of that hand.
    • The tampon dispenser is too high.
    • The towel dispenser and/or or hand-dryer, adjacent to the accessible lavatory, is higher than the accessible standard
  • The venue does not have a scent-reduced policy. Growing Room asks that all artists and attendees refrain from wearing scented products at all of our events such as perfumes, colognes, and body sprays. We do not enforce this policy, nor do our venues have permanent scent-free policies in place.
  • Venue has rooms used as art studios so there may be smells from artists working with ceramics, paints, and other art materials.
  • Stairs from the first to second floor, entrance on 1st floor near the Equinox Gallery are a uniform height and depth, have risers not more than 180mm high and have treads not less than 280 mm deep, and have no open risers
    • Handrails are provided for stairs and installed on both sides of the stairs.
    • Handrails are strong and not wobbly and have a continuous gripping surface, without interruption by newel posts or other construction elements or obstructions that interrupt a hand hold.

Reliance Theatre

  • The theatre seats are lower than the accessible height.
  • The lights in the theatre are variable.
  • The theatre seats are padded and have a half desk that can swing up.
  • There are orange chairs on the stage that are at an accessible height.
  • Stage has ramp with no handrails.
  • Stairs to stage are open risers, do not meet the accessible standards for tread and riser, and have wobbly, unstable handrails.
  • The stair has a handrail on one side.

Rennie Hall

  • The audience seating space/viewing space is on a clear and level surface.
  • Viewing spaces for people with wheeled mobility devices are an integral part of the seating plan, and will be dispersed throughout the seating area to provide a choice of viewing location and a clear view of the event taking place.
  • Signage has braille and tactile.
  • The lighting is variable and can be dimmed.
  • There is some natural light on one side of the room.
  • There is an echo.
  • The chairs and tables are both at an accessible height.
  • There is a mix of chairs, some with wheels, some without wheels, some with no arm rests. All chairs have backs.

The Gallery

  • The audience seating space/viewing space is on a clear and level surface
  • The gallery space has fluorescent lights that are extremely bright and will be problematic to people who have sensory issues, signage in advance should be posted. There is an adjacent outside space in which people can step out into for a rest from the light.
  • The outside space, adjacent to the gallery, has a bench with a backrest and armrest that is below the accessible height.

Board Room (Author’s Green Room)

Seats are at an accessible height.

Seats are on wheels, have armrests and back support.

Seats are adjustable.

The pathway to the board room has an unmarked gap on the side, under the glass protector, that blends in and should be marked as a hazard, particularly if the pathway is busy and people are walking side by side.

Exterior Location

  • Emily Carr University of Art + Design is close to transit, the closest route is the #84, there are bus stops on E. 1st. The school is between the Main Street-Science World station on the Expo Line, and the VCC Clark on the Millennium Line, both are approximately a fifteen minute walk from the campus.
    • Transit stops on the same side of the street as the university has bike lanes between the bus stops and the sidewalk.
    • Accessible route from the transit stop to the entrance.
    • Route is quick and direct.
  • University is visible from the bus stops.
  • Route requires crossing street if you traveled eastbound to university.
  • Accessible curb ramps on bus stop route
  • Curb ramps lead into safe crossing area designated for pedestrians
  • Bike racks located at the Northeast and Southwest entrances. There are enclosed, covered bike cages located at the east and west sides of the campus, and bike lockers at the north side of the campus. Showers and change rooms are on the ground floor, with day use lockers available.
  • Bike racks are available at the East entrance.
  • Intersecting pathways blend at one common level.
  • Path of travel does not include detectable guiding strips or natural guide-lines to help identify path of travel.
  • An accessible route shared with other users, such as cyclists, in-line skaters, etc.  is not delineated or separated from these activities by bollards or other physical means.
  • Public seats/benches have seat height between 430 and 485 mm from floor
  • There is an amenity zone where urban furniture and equipment is provided which does not reduce the clear width of the accessible route
  • Edges of planting beds adjacent to accessible routes clearly defined colour-contrast from their surroundings.
  • There is metered street parking, a public parking lot, and an underground parking lot. Parking map is available on website at https://www.ecuad.ca/assets/pdf-attachments/ECU-Parking2019.pdf
  • The following is for the parking lot adjacent to the Equinox Gallery.
    • 5 designated accessible parkingspaces marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility.
    • Level, stable, and firm.
    • Vertical signs have the International Symbol of Accessibility.
    • Have adjacent access aisle, width is half of the accessibility standard.
  • Parking on 2nd Street is parallel parking is separated from sidewalk with grass, no accessible pathway for drivers and passengers with mobility aids.
  • Street parking requires a ticket machine to pay for parking.
  • Street parking ticket machines are at the appropriate height with controls that are operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
    • Control settings do not provide tactile and/or auditory information.
    • Information on visual displays is not supplemented by tactile and/or auditory information.
    • Information on visual displays is colour-contrasted.
  • Designated accessible parkingspaces marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility.
  • The following is for the ramp at the front entrance (off of 1st ave):
    • Handrails on both sides and free of any sharp or abrasive elements.
    • Handrails have a continuous gripping surface, without obstructions that interrupt a hand hold.
    • Handrails are continuous on the ramp and around landings.
    • Handrails have a height between 860-920mm.
    • There are stairs at the front entrance.
    • Stairs are a uniform height and depth.
    • Stairs have risers not more than 180mm high and treads not less than 280 mm deep.
    • Handrails are provided for stairs and installed on both sides.
    • Handrails are strong and not wobbly.
    • Handrails are of uniform height, from 860 to 920 mm.
    • Doors have a clear accessible width.
  • The entrance near the Equinox Gallery and parking has several problems for people with mobility aids and/or agility issues.
    • There is a sudden slope near the door and while the doors have automatic openers, they are quite a distance from the doors. This may make it difficult for some people to push the button and get to the door in time to get through. This entrance is a double door entrance and both have buttons far from the door. Other entrances have only one set of doors to get through and may provide easier access.
  • It is easy to access grass or greenery for working dogs to relieve themselves.

Follow this link for the full accessibility audit of Emily Carr University.

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