[Webinar] A Journey Towards Accessibility: Perspectives from First Nations in British Columbia

Join us on International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3) for a special knowledge-sharing webinar hosted in partnership between the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and the BC Ministry of Health's Knowledge Exchange teams.

This session will spotlight findings from A Journey Towards Accessibility: Perspectives from First Nations in British Columbia, a community-based research study led by FNHA's Research and Knowledge Exchange team in collaboration with the Rick Hansen Foundation and DIALOG, an architecture and design firm.

The study explores what accessibility means to First Nations people in BC, highlighting the barriers they face and the culturally grounded solutions they envision. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with 89 participants, including Knowledge Keepers, health care providers, and individuals with lived experience, this research offers powerful insights into how accessibility intersects with belonging, dignity, and community wellness.

The webinar will feature a presentation of key findings followed by a panel discussion with:

• Courtney ​Defriend, Principal Investigator and Executive Director of Research, Knowledge Exchange and Health Surveillance, FNHA
• Patrick Aleck, Knowledge Keeper and Accessibility Advocate
• Neil Belanger, Executive Director, British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
• Daniel Sands, Accessibility Advocate and First Nations Community Advisor 

Together, they will explore how these insights can inform policy, practice, and service design to better support Indigenous-led accessibility improvements across sectors.

A Journey Towards Accessibility: First Nations Perspectives and Pathways to Inclusion

Date: Dec. 3, 2025

Time: 10:30 a.m. to Noon

Location: Microsoft Teams. Join the webinar directly by clicking here.

Explore the Project Reports:

• A Journey Towards Accessibility: Perspectives from First Nations in BC, Community Research Report (PDF)
• A Journey Towards Accessibility: Perspectives from First Nations in BC, Technical Research Report in English (PDF)