In 2022, CAN (LET’S) took part in a patient / public consultation focus group for the project “Bringing patients and society back into the social accountability of a medical school.” 1 of the questions at the focus group was about guiding principles for engagement and as a consequence of the consultations 8 guiding principles have been identified.

The researchers are now in the stage of disseminating the results of the project. They plan to create a set of resources (power point slides, speakers notes, handouts etc), that they and others can use when making presentations to different groups.

Focus group members, patient and public members, gathered to create a video speaking to the guiding principles. This video will be utilized with academic audiences so that they can hear directly from people with lived experience about the importance of the principles.

CAN (LET’S) had a representative who spoke to the importance of:

Accountability: Transparency, shared outcomes, feedback, maintain the relationship.
Reciprocity: Relationships are mutually beneficial, based on trust and mutual respect.
Two-way Communication: Communication is open, honest, with clear expectations on both sides.

To learn more, read the report.

The video is similar to the recording made a few years ago that CAN (LET’S) participated in. It was in regards to previous consultations about the priority health concerns of British Columbians. This video is shown every year to incoming medical students on the first day of classes in a session on social accountability!

The Stigma Organizational Assessment Cycle (SOAC) project is the result of a community call to action for stigma reduction advocacy in BC. Their goal is to support organizations to learn how their programs and services may be contributing to stigma and discrimination and identify opportunities and actions for change.

This project aims to develop a learning cycle for BC organizations to assess, and then address stigma and discrimination within their organizations. They will base this learning cycle on an accreditation or audit process and create tools and resources – including a peer-based surveyor team — for organizations to discuss areas of potential improvement related to stigma and discrimination, gather data to support learning, and provide mechanisms for action planning to implement real change.
The idea for SOAC emerged at the Stigma Reduction Interventions Deliberative Dialogue hosted by PAN (Pacific AIDs Organization) in 2019. The catalyst for the Deliberative Dialogue was our work leading the BC People Living with HIV Stigma Index, a community-based research study.

CAN (LET”S) was contacted by this exciting new project to contribute to better health and social outcomes for people in BC by sharing stories of our members experiences with stigma.

The Spinal Cord Injury Association has a long history of helping people with spinal cord injuries and related disabilities and their families, adjust, adapt, and thrive. As part of this, they have a sexual health website. SCI requested that CAN review the sexual health website to ensure it is equitable and informative for 2SLGBTQIA+ folks.

CAN (LET’S) was contacted on behalf of the Sustainability Ambassadors Program at the University of British Columbia. The team is creating an open access Sustainability and Society Guidebook that explores the intersections of climate and social justice. Their goal in creating this guidebook is to amplify the voices of marginalized people and empower youth to take ownership of their learning and become agents of change in their communities.

They wanted to collaborate with Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods and have us share our experiences and wisdom about how disability justice is connected with climate justice and sustainability. Stories will be integrated into their research, alongside a set of actions readers can take to shape safer and more equitable communities.

CAN (LET’S) was contacted by Nadine Nakagawa, New Westminster Councillor for a conversation about climate and disability justice. The City of New Westminster is working to launch an alternative crisis response pilot project. This means trying to find more appropriate resources for people who are homeless, experiencing a severe mental health crisis, living with addiction, etc. They know that municipalities are responding to many of these issues with policing, fire services, and bylaw responses which do not get to the root cause of the issue and do not adequately serve those who are struggling.

Nadine contacted Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods because we an organization that works on disability justice issues. We discussed the pilot project with you. We shared our perspectives regarding the needs of those in our community. We also spoke about how they be aligned to the work CAN (LET’S) already does.

Here is an article about the pilot project.

Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods (Live Educate Transform Society) participated in a consultation with the Patient & Community Partnership for Education at UBC.

The consultation gathered perspectives from patients and community members on the priority health concerns in British Columbia and how we should be training future physicians to meet theses needs.

The report has now been released with an accompanying video that highlights some of the major issues from the report.

The consultation will inform a review by the medical school at UBC of its social accountability mandate (i.e. the commitment of the medical school to address the health concerns of the populations it has a responsibility to serve).

A draft of the report was received by the curriculum review working group at the end of January. It was ‘very positively received’.

Several CAN (LET’S) members participated in a discussion of the SWAN (Stakeholder’s Walkability/Wheelability in Neighbourhoods) tool.

This tool was created thought the Canadian Disability Participation Project, with consultation by CAN (LET’S). The CDPP is an alliance of university, public, private and government sector partners working together to enhance community participation among Canadians with physical disabilities.

The SWAN tool allows communities to identify features in the environment that support or cause barriers to the mobility and participation of people using assistive devices.

Cities, such as the City of Burnaby, have been using this tool to do neighbourhood tours and assess where accessibility works and where it needs improvements.

CAN (LET’S) is excited to continue to be part of the development, use, and education regarding the the SWAN tool.

CAN (LET’S) was contacted by a consultant at Cycle BC.

They are working on the Strategic Plan for the next ten years. They are trying to capture as many perspectives as possible.

They noticed that they didn’t have much input from disabled people. They contacted CAN (LET’S) to find out how to make cycling more inclusive.

Their aim is to provide a welcoming and safe community for all people, whether they ride for transportation, enjoyment, or competition.

We had a very good conversation about how to better represent people with disabilities. We will stay in touch.

CAN (LET’S) was 1 of several community organizations who was invited to participate in Scenario Planning Engagement with the City of Vancouver for their plan. This a long-term, strategic and actionable Vancouver Plan – a plan that enables individuals, communities, and future generations to thrive.

About: “Ongoing engagement activities will include work which will be required to describe the 3-4 core scenarios as part of the report for public review. We will ensure that there is sufficient support present at the engagement activities to capture ideas generated through the discussion.”

CAN (LET’S) was asked to speak to the experiences and perspectives of disabled and 2SLGBTQIA+ folk. This engagement meeting was important to amplify the voices of equity-seeking community-based organizations on the Vancouver Plan.

Who was involved: “We are working with a multidisciplinary team of collaborators, including political leaders, planners and technical policy makers. We are drawing upon our experience working with large and diverse bodies of internal and external stakeholders to coordinate the project. As well-informed outsiders with a knowledge of urban issues, resiliency planning and the expectations of policy-makers the goal is to make work inclusive, accurate, unbiased and relevant.”