Strategy Design
Our Joint Accessibility Plan for the Municipality of the County of Kings
Accessibility is a human right, and local governments play a frontline role in removing barriers that keep people from fully participating in community life. This joint plan translated Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act and 2030 objective into a practical, shared roadmap across eight local governments, shaped through community dialogue grounded in lived experience.
A shared accessibility roadmap, built with lived experience at the centre.
With eight jurisdictions, varied assets, and many points of public contact, the County and Villages needed a coordinated approach that was both credible and actionable. A Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee (JAAC) was created to guide the work, with 16 voting members, including representatives from Council and each Village, plus eight public members with lived experience of disability or direct ties to disability-serving organizations.
Profile
Client: Municipality of the County of Kings (NS)
Practice Areas: Strategy Design, Community Dialogue
Impact Domains: Accessibility; Organizational Strategy; Urbanism
Partner: Level Playing Field
Work
Designed and delivered a multi-channel community dialogue program, engaging 348 participants through varied approaches to understand community ideas and lived experience of barriers and solutions.
Integrated on-the-ground site assessments led by Level Playing Field, examining real-world accessibility conditions across public spaces and services, including parking, curb cuts, sidewalks, trails, parks, transit, libraries, recreation facilities, and municipal or village buildings.
Co-developed a clear vision and values for accessibility (dignity, meaningful access, inclusion, equitable opportunity), then organized the plan into seven focus areas with goals, current-state barriers and achievements, and indicators to track progress over time.
Facilitated accessibility committee and municipal staff to prioritize 17 short-term actions (2022–2024), including foundational steps like exploring an Accessibility Coordinator role, conducting accessibility audits of public assets, and developing training for staff, Council, and Village Commissions.
