Kamloops is one of eight cities in British Columbia to get a grant from the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Program.

The city is getting $82,500 for accessibility improvements to existing facilities as well as training for staff members.

The foundation’s Vice President for Access and Inclusion, Rick McCannell, said on the NL Morning News the majority of people with access issues may not be recognized right away.

“Wheelchairs represent about 30 percent of the population of people with disabilities so, it has to be recognized that the great vast majority of people with disabilities are people with hearing loss, people with vision loss, people on the neurodiverse community,” he said.

“So, it’s got to be about more than just the wheel chair users it’s got to be about the whole population.”

In addition to Kamloops, money is also going to the municipalities of Coquitlam, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Port Moody, Prince George, Richmond, and Whistler, which were selected based on population and geographic representation.

The Foundation says these municipalities are following the leadership of Surrey and Vancouver who have worked towards achieving RHFAC Gold for all newly built civic buildings, the highest certification level in the program.

“Not only do we recognize that municipalities require access to this program and funding, but we want to ensure that future building upgrades and new structures can be designed with accessibility in mind,” McCannell added. “Through accessibility training, each municipality will have the opportunity to continue their community’s accessibility journey and foster a positive culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

McCannell says people with accessibility problems are the largest minority group in the world, noting it’s the one of the only groups that anyone can join at any moment.

“In our community we call you ‘TABs’, we have names for you too because you’re only temporarily able bodied,” he added.

“It doesn’t matter if you do a face plant when you’re a teenager and you end up in a wheelchair or you’re 65 and you need a walker and a hearing aid, you are going to have a disability. The only question is when and for how long?”

The Foundation says Accessibility Certification is a rating and recognition program that measures how accessible a site it based on the experience of people with varying disabilities affecting their mobility, vision, and hearing. Some of these features include accessible entranceways, vehicle access, emergency systems, accessible washrooms, and signage.

For more about the B.C. Grants Program, go here.