A guide examining the accessibility of more than 300 businesses and other locations in Whitehorse is ready to be launched early next month.
The 2013 Accessibility Scan Guidebook is designed to help people navigate businesses and other locations in the city.
It looks at things like: parking, the route to entrances, ramps and curbs, entrances, door hardware, signs, interior flow, washrooms, elevators or stairways and fire safety.
It was funded with support from New Horizons for Seniors and the Yukon Council on Disability. The official launch is Dec. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Old Fire Hall.
A team of three people spent two months performing the evaluations, project manager said Colette Acheson.
The last time a guide like this was created was in 2004.
“For one thing, some of the (building) legislation has changed,” she said. “But there are also new buildings being built and renovations being done. When things like that happen, you’d like to think things are getting better.”
Locations were evaluated from the perspective of a person in a wheelchair. The guide also considered things like visual impairment, and chronic conditions like MS or arthritis.
An online version of the guide will be available on the Yukon Council on Disability’s website at www.ycod.yk.ca after Jan. 5, 2014.
The guide is being launched as part of Disability Awareness Week. Events are planned for the entire week. A full schedule can be found on the council’s Facebook page.
(Ashley Joannou)