Government to take action on recommendations to improve accessibility in N.S.

The province is taking action to address the recommendations of the first independent review of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act.

In April 2023, disability scholar Dr. Katie Aubrecht submitted her independent review of the 7-year-old Accessibility Act.

After reviewing input from almost 800 Nova Scotians representing a variety of perspectives, the St. Francis Xavier University associate professor has filed her report with suggestions to make the province more accessible.

Today, the province says over the next three years, government will focus on six priority areas put forward in the recommendations including accelerating standards development, increasing involvement of people from diverse backgrounds with disabilities and monitoring accessibility improvements in healthcare, justice and housing.

Brad Johns, Minister responsible for the Accessibility Act says in a release that the recommendations will help government strengthen its approach to building a more accessible province by the year 2030.

According to a release from the province, 47 of the 48 recommendations from the independent review were accepted; a proposal to change the Accessibility Advisory Board’s governance model will not be implemented.