Planning for accessibility

by Kevin Rothwell CASTANET - Mar 17, 2015 / 7:00 am
The City of Vernon has added new voices to its advisory planning commission to bring a perspective on disability and youth issues. Lisa Kongsdorf and Laura Hockman from Independent Living Vernon both have backgrounds in disability and mobility issues. Robert Aguilar has been appointed to the transportation advisory committee for perspective on accessibility for the disabled and mobility challenged. The appointments are expected to further strengthen the city’s reputation for accessibility. Vernon Regional Transit is currently involved in a pilot project involving lift-equipped buses as an augment to the HandyDart service. “Knowledge of accessibility issues is vital to the ongoing planning of the City of Vernon,” said Kongsdorf, who has helped research and develop accessibility resources in Vernon and done accessibility audits for local businesses, city buildings and recreational areas. “Over the years, there is a larger percentage of individuals with a variety of disabilities who live in the North Okanagan,” adds Kongsdorf. Accessibility "is an ongoing project that begins with attitude and understanding... I see Vernon as a city that has had tremendous growth in the last few years in terms of addressing accessibility, and I am excited to be an ongoing part of that." Kiah Ward has been appointed as a non-voting youth to the advisory planning commission. The appointments run through January 2019.