Community Input Wanted for Health Sciences Centre’s Accessibility Plan

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is asking for the community’s advice to develop an accessibility plan.

“We are committed to improving our accessible environment for patients and families, visitors, volunteers and staff requiring accommodation,” says Jean Bartkowiak, President & CEO, TBRHSC and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. “Input from the community is essential. We need help to identify the most meaningful and impactful activities and changes we can implement while respecting many priorities.”

The Health Sciences Centre is hosting an Open House:

Thursday, June 2, 2016
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Italian Cultural Centre (Trade Room), 132 S. Algoma Street

Everyone is welcome to attend the Open House to share their ideas. Areas of focus will include customer service, information & communications, employment and public spaces.

The current Accessibility Plan, which focused on meeting accessibility legal obligations, is coming to a close. “Our new accessibility plan will guide improvements to accessibility for people with disabilities for the next five years,” says Kathryn Shewfelt, Director, Environmental Services and Chair of the TBRHSC Accessibility Implementation Team.

People are welcome to drop in anytime during the Open House to share ideas through discussion or completing a survey. Anyone who is unable to attend in person will be able to participate by completing a survey on-line until June 17.

A working group, comprised of Health Sciences Centre staff, a Patient Family Advisor, volunteer members of the community, and the City of Thunder Bay Accessibility Coordinator, helped to plan the Open House and will guide the development of the plan. “This will help us to get input from ordinary people and give them a loud voice in our hospital’s accessibility plan,” says Maurice Rubenick, volunteer member of the working group.

“Once we collect all of the feedback, we will develop a draft plan with help from our working group and the Accessibility Implementation Team. It is an exciting process, and I look forward to a new plan that reflects the needs and priorities of this community,” says Shewfelt.

Anyone wishing to request an accommodation for the Open House is invited to call (807) 684-6010 before May 26, 2016.

For those interested in reviewing information in advance, please visit www.TBRHSC.net/accessibility

For more information, contact: