June 23, 2026
District Accessibility Committee Works to Remove Barriers at Schools
New Westminster, B.C. – Armed with clipboards and a mission of inclusion, New Westminster Schools’ accessibility audit team was hard at work this past year on school grounds to ensure every staff member and student can navigate their surroundings without barriers.
“Since 2022, the SD40 Accessibility Advisory Committee has brought together staff, students, administrators, and community partners, many with lived experience of disability, to identify and remove barriers across our schools,” said District Principal Miriam Schellenberg, “Guided by the principle of ‘nothing about us, without us,’ the Committee is helping ensure our learning environments, physical spaces, and communication systems are meaningfully accessible to all.”
The team, which includes Trustee Danielle Connelly and a dedicated group of district staff, are the visible face of the Committee. This group, consisting of administrators, teachers, support staff, students, and community partners, is tasked with identifying and dismantling physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health obstacles to guide the district toward a future built on universal design.
Over the past two years, the Committee has redefined what an accessible school looks like. Their assessments go beyond basic ramps to address more in-depth issues, such as:
- Do play spaces invite everyone to participate?
- Are there single-occupancy washrooms for those with sensory needs?
- Is there a clear, calming path to an exit from every classroom to support social-emotional health?
The ongoing work continued April 23, when the committee completed a site accessibility assessment at Lord Kelvin Elementary School. The visit follows a series of reviews already conducted at New Westminster Secondary, Fraser River Middle School, and Herbert Spencer Elementary, where findings were converted into tangible improvements that include installing level handle door locks, larger washroom signs, accessibility buttons, and more.
While these technical fixes are vital, the broader goal is correcting generations of exclusionary building practices. By methodically auditing every site, the Committee aims to ensure that each school’s physical environment reflects New Westminster Schools’ commitment to inclusivity.
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