New Westminster Schools is committed to ensuring its facilities and programs are accessible to students, staff and families. The Accessible British Columbia Act, which came into force in September 2022, provides direction on removing barriers through accessibility standards which are then implemented by the district.
New Westminster Schools’ accessibility advisory committee, established in accordance with the Act, identifies barriers and advises on ways to remove/prevent them using accessibility best practices and support’s the district’s accessibility plan.
Accessibility Committee
The committee’s membership consists of the following:
- David Bolan – Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Kelly Shields – New Westminster Teachers’ Union
- Anne Belanger – Parent
- Salimah Haji – Kinsight Co-ordinator, Supported Child Development
- Zahra Lalani – SHARE Family & Community Services
- Maniya Rafiei – Manager, Settlement Workers in Schools
- Karen Bower – Canadian Union of Public Employees/New Westminster Schools
- Kenneth Headley – District Vice Principal, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism (New Westminster Schools)
- Connie Swan – District Vice Principal, Indigenous Education (New Westminster Schools)
- Rhonda Jones – Director of Instruction, Inclusive Education (New Westminster Schools)
- Student members
New Westminster Schools Accessibility Plan
The Accessibility Plan is an evolving document intended to help the district identify and provide guidance on removing barriers in our educational community. The plan serves as a roadmap for the accessibility committee to carry out the requirements outlined in the Accessible British Columbia Act.
For more information: