The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (Bill 103)
The Accessible Saskatchewan Act (Bill 103)
The Accessible Saskatchewan Act came into effect on December 3rd, 2023, with the goal to make Saskatchewan more inclusive for people with disabilities and others who experience barriers in their daily lives. This legislation focuses on identifying, removing, and preventing barriers in order to build strong and inclusive communities.
Who is Affected?
The Accessible Saskatchewan Act aims to remove and prevent barriers, ensuring all people can fully participate in their communities through work, play, and daily activities. This law promotes inclusion and independence, especially for people with disabilities.
What is Disability?
Under the Act, disability refers to any impairment—physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, sensory, or functional—that interacts with barriers to hinder full and equal participation. Disabilities can be permanent, temporary, episodic, visible, or not.
What are Barriers?
The Act focuses on several areas where barriers can cause significant challenges to people who face them. A barrier is anything that makes it difficult or impossible for individuals to fully participate in society.
The goal of the Act will be to focus on seven key areas:
1. Built Environment: Making buildings, places, and spaces easier to navigate.
2. Information and Communications: Ensuring information is accessible for everyone.
3. Employment: Promoting inclusive hiring and workplace practices.
4. Transportation: Improving access to buses, taxis, and other public transportation.
5. Service Animals: Educating the public and ensuring access for service animals.
6. Procurement: Ensuring goods and services are accessible when purchased.
7. Service Delivery: Making it easier to access programs, goods, and services.
Over the next few years, the province will work with an Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop and implement regulations and standards in each of the areas listed above.