Audit report will serve as guide for constructive conversation around barrier-free design
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Access Coaldale has recently completed an accessibility audit to assess the public buildings, streets, and pathways in the Town of Coaldale.
“The goal of the audit was to assess areas within our community and determine what improvements are necessary to foster a more accessible and inclusive Coaldale,” said Melanie Messier, Planner at the Town of Coaldale. “Much of the legwork needed to conduct the audit was achieved by Access Coaldale in partnership with town staff and community volunteers.”
Access Coaldale is Coaldale’s citizen-led working group dedicated to ensuring the community is an inclusive space for people of all abilities.
“Completing the audit is a significant milestone for Access Coaldale as it has allowed us to appropriately and thoroughly assess the state of Coaldale’s public spaces,” said Christina Scott, Member of Access Coaldale. “The improvements we’ve suggested as a result of the audit will not only help people with disabilities, they can also help many other demographics such as seniors and caregivers or parents with young children.”
The Accessibility Audit Report was presented to Town Council at the January 25 Regular Council Meeting. The findings from the report will serve as a benchmark in determining what physical barriers exist in the Town’s public facilities and spaces and act as a guide to encourage constructive conversation around design improvements.
“It’s a real eye-opener to see the simple things that are often overlooked that prevent all members of our population from having barrier free access to our community,” said Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn. “Council looks forward to engaging with the working group to figure out what the next steps are for addressing these barriers and working to make Coaldale more accessible for people of all abilities.”
“As we age, it’s inevitable that we will all need assistance at some point in our lives, so eventually everyone will benefit from these improvements,” said Scott. “Having barrier free access to your community is not just a privilege, it’s a right. No citizen deserves to be denied access to their community due to external factors that are beyond their control.”
