Accessibility Advisory Committee
InterLINK‘s federated Accessibility Advisory Committee supports member libraries’ compliance with the Accessible BC Act and enhances inclusive services.
Taking a collaborative committee approach enables libraries to share expertise and costs, minimize demands on the disability community, and learn from each other about how to become more accessible organizations.
Upcoming meetings
About the Committee
The InterLINK Accessibility Advisory Committee provides guidance and recommendations on the Accessibility Plan for libraries. The Committee identifies barriers to accessibility in participating public libraries and recommends ways to remove and prevent them. It also advises on libraries’ feedback mechanisms to receive comments from the public about accessibility and provides advice on responding to feedback received through this mechanism.
Participating Organizations
The Accessibility Advisory Committee is guided by a steering committee of members from six participating libraries:
- Coquitlam Public Library
- Fraser Valley Regional Library
- Gibsons & District Public Library
- Lillooet Area Library Association
- Port Moody Public Library
- Vancouver Public Library
Committee Members
The Accessibility Advisory Committee is composed of library staff representatives of participating libraries and community members with lived experience of disability.
The current AAC members include:
- Alicia Cheng, VPL (Chair)
- Heather Hadley, PMPL
- Deborah Kendze, FVRL
- Kenn Quayle, Community Member
- Natasha Street, Community Member
- Kelsey Waggener, CPL
- Leigh Anne Palmer, InterLINK (ex officio)
- Candice Stenstrom, InterLINK (ex officio, recorder)
Key Resources
View our Terms of Reference.
Are you a member of the Committee? Log in to see meeting agendas, minutes, and other Accessibility Advisory Committee documents.
Calls for Expressions of Interest
The InterLINK Accessibility Advisory Committee is seeking two new community members to serve for a 2 year term.
For full information please see the call for expression of interest.
To apply, please fill out the online form, or complete the application via PDF and send it back to us.
Accessibility Plan
InterLINK’s Accessibility Plan was created in response to the Accessible British Columbia Act. Its goal is to enable libraries to share expertise and costs, minimize demands on the disability community, and learn from each other about how to become more accessible organizations.
The Accessibility Plan was created by the Accessibility Advisory Committee which includes staff and community representatives from participating libraries as well as an ex officio representative from the Public Library InterLINK federation.
view planAccessibility Advisory Committee FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse frequently asked questions to learn more about the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
Volunteers participate for up to a two-year term, renewable.
The Committee meets approximately 4 to 5 times a year via zoom from September to June.
In recognition of the value of lived experience, and appreciation of the time given and emotional labour involved, each community member of the Committee will be provided with a $200 honorarium per meeting.
Public libraries recognize lived experience of disability as expertise and the importance of ‘nothing about us without us’ (that those with relevant lived experience must be meaningfully involved).
InterLINK looks for Committee members with relevant lived experience and skills to provide honest strategic advice to local libraries regarding accessibility, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion. To best achieve our purpose, we seek individuals with relevant experience in the understanding of current and emerging issues related to disability and accessibility; and general knowledge of, and/or interest in, public libraries.
Yes! If your library is a member of InterLINK it can join the Committee. Please reach out to us for more information.
Taking a collaborative approach with our Accessibility Advisory Committee ensures that a diverse range of voices and experiences are able to share feedback. Collaboration helps lighten the workload for individual libraries or staff members by sharing responsibilities and leveraging established resources. By pooling collective knowledge and expertise, our member libraries can learn from one another and find solutions that benefit multiple libraries and the communities they serve.
Please reach out to your local library to provide feedback on accessibility.
Find a library near you.
Get in Touch
Want to learn more about how InterLINK supports public libraries in British Columbia? Let’s connect.
Explore more InterLINK servicesCONTACT USAccessible Services
Candice Stenstrom, Program Coordinator
