Members of the Williams Lake Construction Association can help encourage accessibility, the city’s accessibility committee chair George Atamanenko challenged members of the association at their monthly meeting in February.
The mission statement of the accessibility committee is to remove the physical and social barriers that impede the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life, he said.
“Key to your association is what kind of housing do you see might be beneficial to our people here? It’s seniors housing but it’s also for all walks of life and ages,” he said.
Atamanenko encouraged members to consider nominating people for the Williams Lake Annual Accessibility Award.
“We’re soliciting businesses, individuals or organizations who are having accessibility upgrades to their old homes or buildings. One of the latest awards was given to Dr. Wassenaar who on his own accord did ramps and upgrades to make internal washrooms and the area more accessible.”
The committee thought it was a good example and city council accepted the nomination.
“You might know personally of projects that have been renovated up to accessibility standards that you are welcome to nominate. Or it may even twig some ideas when you are asked to do renovations to perhaps consider wider doorways that a wheelchair can go into or making sure that people will be able to function with wheelchairs or canes,” said city manager of active living Deb Radolla.
Nominations will be accepted until the end of March, she added.