p.1 2024 Digital Learning Strategy Forum Accessibility and Inclusion Package Digital Learning Strategy Forum Logo Digital Learning Strategy Forum November 13 & 14, 2024 Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre Campus 515 W. Hasting St, Vancouver, B.C. BCcampus p.2 Table of Contents Introduction p.3 Accessible Practices and Procedures p.3 Accessibility Requests p.3 Neuroinclusivity p.3 Alternative Formats p.3 CART and American Sign Language p.3 Assistive Devices p.3 Support Persons p.4 Support Animals p.4 Seating p.5 Sensory Bags p.5 Quiet Room p.5 Lap Blankets p.5 Frequent and Extended Breaks p.5 Affordability p.6 Photography Opt-Out Option p.6 Code of Conduct and Incident Reporting p.6 Safety, Security, and Emergency Procedures p.6 Harbour Centre Security and Emergency Numbers p.6 Venue Information p.7 Inclusive Washrooms p.7 Flooring p.7 Chairs p.8 Light p.8 Sights, Sounds, and Engagement p.8 Points of Entry p.9 Registration Desk p.10 Registration Hours p.10 Wi-Fi p.10 Text for Service p.10 Social Events and Installations p.10 Quiet Room p.10 Maps p.11 SFU Cordova Street Entrance Floor Plan p.11 SFU Hastings Street Main Concourse Floor Plan p.12 Getting to SFU Harbour Centre Campus p.12 TransLink Bus p.12 Taxi Services p.13 Contacts for Wheelchair Rental and Repair p.13 Out and About in Vancouver p.13 Airport p.13 Harbour Air p.13 Car Rental p.13 Hotels p.14 Parking p.14 SkyTrain p.14 Mobi Bike Share Program p.14 Vancouver Attractions p.14 Weather p.14 Contact Us p.14 Feedback p.15 License p.15 p.3 Introduction Welcome to the Digital Learning Strategy Forum! This document aims to provide you with important details about accessibility, inclusion, our venue, and the event being held at the SFU Harbour Centre Campus. If you have questions, please contact us at Email events@bccampus.ca . We are committed to ensuring your experience at the Digital Learning Strategy Forum is pleasant and fulfilling. Accessible Practices and Procedures Accessibility Requests We personally manage each request and work directly with you to ensure your specific needs are met. If you have particular needs or preferences, you can communicate them in the registration form or contact us directly. We will be in touch to work with you. Neuroinclusivity At our events we strive for neuroinclusivity to create an environment that supports individuals with diverse neurological needs. This includes help with our registration process, a personal venue tour, a buddy system during the event, sensory meals, and quiet spaces. Please let us know if there is something we can do to support you. Alternative Formats We are dedicated to ensuring our information is accessible to everyone, and we understand you may require alternative formats to standard print to access information. We offer correspondence, reports, and other documents in alternative formats on request, including: • Hard copy or email • Large print If you request another format, we will do our best to ensure your needs are met. Computer-Assisted Real-Time Translation and American Sign Language We provide sign-language interpreting (American Sign Language) or computer-assisted real-time translation (CART) on request. All recorded assets include captioning. Assistive Devices Many attendees use personal assistive devices to aid them in their daily lives, including communication, cognition, personal mobility, and medical aids. Our organization works closely with our audio-visual providers to ensure attendees have access to the necessary equipment. Additionally, all our event spaces are equipped with microphones and a house PA or speakers to help facilitate clear and accessible communication. p.4 Support Persons We recognize individuals with disabilities may require a support person to assist them with communication, mobility, personal care, or medical needs. We allow attendees with disabilities to be accompanied by a support person at our events. The support person may be a paid professional, volunteer, family member, or friend and does not need to have any special training or qualifications. There is no fee for the support person; they are sponsored by BCcampus. To ensure we accommodate catering needs, please inform us during registration if you will be accompanied by a support person. If you do not have a support person but require extra assistance, volunteers and event staff will be available to assist during the event. Support Animals Service animals are essential for some individuals with disabilities and include dogs trained to assist people who are blind, hearing-alert animals for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and animals trained to detect and prevent oncoming seizures. Service animals are always welcome at our events, in accordance with the law. Simon Fraser University (SFU) Harbour Centre is in downtown Vancouver, so parks in general are limited, and off- leash dog parks are even harder to find. If you are short on time, there are planted-tree areas just outside Harbour Centre’s main entrance and along Hastings Street. The closest park to Harbour Centre is Victory Square at 200 W Hastings Street, just a few blocks from our venue. In Vancouver dogs are welcome at all parks, but Victory Square is not an off-leash park. Organizers will accompany you and your puppy if you use this space.Aerial view of Simon Fraser University - Vancouver Campus If these options do not work, we are happy to discuss your dog’s needs, including puppy pee pads or a ride to a dedicated dog park. The City of Vancouver has an Open the City of Vancouver's list of off-leash dog parks webpage in a new window. on its website. p.5 Seating We implement dedicated easy accessSign reads: Easy Access Seating - These seats are for people who want a spot near the front or by a door for any reason. Easy AccessSeatingThese seats are for people who want a spot near the front or by a door for any reason. and accessible seatingSign reads, "Wheelchair Seating", followed by the person-in-wheelchair symbol. WheelchairSeating for all in-person events. This includes seating in proximity to entrances and exits and near speakers, ensuring all attendees have an equal opportunity to fully participate. Sensory Bags Sensory bags will be available to borrow from our event registration desk. Each sensory bag has a range of items to help you feel comfortable and supported, including a weighted blanket, noise-cancelling headphones, various fidget toys, a colouring book, and gum. In the meeting area itself, you will find a small basket of fidget toys on the tables. Free to play and fidget, but please leave behind for the next fidgeter. Quiet Room At BCcampus events we offer a designated quiet room designed to provide a peaceful and calming environment for attendees who need a break from the noise, lights, and other stimuli of our event spaces. The quiet room is intended to help you stay relaxed and focused so you can make the most of your learning and networking opportunities. It is important to note the quiet room is not intended for conversations or meetings but rather as a space to take a break and recharge. The Quiet Room will be located in Segal Room 1430. Lap Blankets We understand venue temperatures can be unpredictable, so we’ve got you covered. We offer fluffy lap blankets to help you stay comfortable. You will find these blankets placed throughout the venue. If you are feeling chilly, please grab one. Frequent and Extended Breaks We prioritize the health and wellness of our attendees by including frequent and extended breaks in our event schedules. We often adjust the start and end times to allow for more time between sessions, and we provide longer breaks than typical conferences to give attendees time to rest, recharge, and network. By doing so, we hope to create an environment that promotes learning, collaboration, and well-being. p.6 Affordability At BCcampus we organize events in a non-profit, cost-recovery format and strive to keep registration fees low or free. To achieve this, we collaborate with post-secondary institutions for venue spaces and receive in-kind support, which helps cover costs and enables us to provide free registration for students and those who may need assistance. If your organization is interested in supporting one of our events, please reach out to Create a new email to events@BCcampus.ca. . Photography Opt-Out Option From time to time, a photographer is present at in-person BCcampus events to capture images to be shared on our digital properties and promotional materials. Attendees are always able to decline the media release of photos. Red lanyards denote an attendee who does not want to be photographed. When we provide events in a hybrid format (in-person and live streaming) we provide dedicated tables that are out of camera shot. Please look for these signs on tables that are out of camera range.Media Decline Sign: one icon of a camera and one icon of a video camera, each with a general prohibition symbol on them to indicate no photography and no video recording. Code of Conduct and Incident Reporting The Open the Bccampus Events Code of Conduct web page in a new window. is an important aspect of creating a respectful and safe learning environment for all attendees, speakers, sponsors, organizers, and volunteers. However, we understand sometimes incidents occur. The incident reporting process is equally essential to ensure violations of the code of conduct are addressed promptly and effectively. Attendees can report incidents or violations by visiting the registration desk or emailing us at Email events@bccampus.ca . The interview process will be conducted in a private, secure, safe space to ensure confidentiality. Safety, Security, and Emergency Procedures Harbour Centre Security and Emergency Numbers Non-emergency: 778-782-5029 or dial 12 from any classroom or house phone to contact security Emergency: 778-782-4500 and 911 p.7 Venue Information Harbour Centre has four entrances, one on each side of the building. The main entrance on Hastings Street is ground level and has the best access for wheelchairs. Harbour Centre has multiple levels: Lower Concourse, Main Concourse, Upper Concourse, and floors 3 through 7. Our event will take place on the Main Concourse in the Fletcher Theatre and the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Centre, Rooms 1400-1430. Main Concourse: • Concourse: Registration, Catering, Networking • Fletcher Theatre: Opening Remarks, Sessions • Segal Rooms 1400-1420: Sessions • Segal Rooms 1430: Quiet Room Inclusive Washrooms Inclusive, all gender washrooms are on the Main Concourse Jump to page twelve of this document. .3 universal washroom stall doors. Each door has a small icon of a toilet on the door. Universal washroom door with the words "All Genders" on it. They are wheelchair accessible and have a baby changing station.Washroom door with the "Wheelchair accessible" and "baby changing station" symbols on it. Flooring Harbour Centre has a few types of flooring installed in the areas where our event is being held, including tileThe main walkway with tiled flooring, that leads from the lobby to the conference area. , laminateLaminate flooring in a room with tables and chairs. , and low-pile carpetHallway with low-pile carpet flooring. . Please be mindful of where the different types of flooring meet. p.8 Chairs The venue has various seating types and arrangements. Sessions will have theatre seating, and our main breakout spaces will have padded chairs. These padded chairs are not on wheels and need to be slid out. The Fletcher Theatre will have non-restrictive seating at the frontOrange cushioned theatre seats in rows, with fold-down seats. . A blue padded chair used in breakout spaces. Light SFU is abundant with natural light. Most of our venue space has floor-to-ceiling windows with window shades. The Fletcher Theatre has recessed lighting without windows.A well-lit theatre with no windows, and recessed lighting. A room with large windows on one side, with the window shade closed halfway, allowing natural light to brighten the space. Sights, Sounds, and Engagement SFU Harbour Centre Campus is bustling with activity. Featuring a food court, retail stores, and connectivity to an office tower building, it hosts a diverse crowd of students, shoppers, and event attendees. Upon arrival, expect a lively atmosphere, but rest assured, you won’t encounter any disruptive noises or harsh lighting. During sessions, it is possible the presenter may have group engagement. You may opt out if you choose. Our sessions are generally 30- to 90-minutes long and often include screen presentations from a podium and microphone. Inside our session spaces it is generally quiet during sessions. Please refer to the schedule for session descriptions to stay informed. p.9 Points of Entry Harbour Centre has multiple entrances. We recommend the Hastings Street entrance for the most direct, accessible route. You may enter from Cordova Street, but it is not as direct. From Hastings Street: Enter through the main doors and follow the signs until you reach us. From Cordova Street: Inside the doors is set of stairs with a chair lift.Tiled stairs with a hand-rail leading upward. There are 18 stairs total, with a short landing at the 9th step. At the base of the tiled stairs, there is a chair lift on the right-hand side. When you reach the top of the stairs, move through the Lower Concourse, following Hastings Street,Lower concourse wayfinding sign, separated into three segments. Left segment: "Escalator for: Foodcourt, Shops & Services, Washrooms", and an arrow pointing to the left. Middle segment: "Escalator for: Concierge Desk, Office Tower, Hastings Street", and an arrow pointing straight ahead. Right Segment: "Skylift Elevator to: Vancouver Lookout, Top of Vancouver Restaurant", and an arrow pointing straight ahead. the office tower, and the elevator signsA hallway with elevator signage on the wall, and arrow pointing right. .A tiled hallway with elevator signage near the far end on the right to show where the elevator doors are. Take the elevator to the Main Concourse.Two sets of elevator doors, with the elevator button between them on the wall. Once on the Main Concourse, please Jump to page 12 of this document. . p.10 Registration Desk The registration table will be located on the Main Concourse. Staff and volunteers will be available during the event to help if you have questions or requests or require assistance with mobility or access, including but not limited to problems with space, sound, scent, or lighting; navigating from session to session; and connecting with resources. Registration Hours November 13, 2024, 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. November 14, 2024, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Wi-Fi We will provide attendees with dedicated Wi-Fi access on site. You will find this information on the back of your name tag. You may connect to Eduroam if you have this account set up. Text for Service We understand that sometimes it’s not easy to flag down event staff or ask for assistance in a crowded room so we have introduced our convenient and discreet ‘Text for Service’ feature. For your comfort and convenience, simply send a text to Christy Foote, events manager, at 778-999-0310 with your request, and our event team will discreetly handle your needs. Whether it’s a question, a special request, or assistance of any kind, we’re here to make your experience seamless and stress-free. Your comfort is our priority, so feel free to text us anytime during the event, and we’ll take care of the rest! Social Events and Installations The Digital Learning Strategy Forum includes the following amenities. Quiet Room The Quiet Room is designed to help participants stay relaxed and grounded so they can do their best learning and networking throughout the event. The Quiet Room will be in the Segal Room 1430 on the Main Concourse and will have individual meditation spaces, cushions, intimate lighting, soft rainforest music, a prayer rug, and yoga mats for stretching etc. p.11 Maps The following accessibility-focused maps indicates staircases, elevators, access paths, and accessible washrooms. Cordova Street Entrance Floor PlanDirectional map for entering Simon Fraser University from Cordova Street from the Lower Concourse. Hastings Street Main Concourse Floor PlanMap of the ground level of Simon Fraser University, showing the Hastings Street entrance, and a floorplan of the event area. p.12 Getting to SFU Harbour Centre Campus Please visit SFU’sOpen SFU's Getting Here webpage in a new window. webpage for maps and directions. TransLink Bus Every TransLink bus can hold up to two wheelchairs or mobility aids, but not all bus stops are accessible. TransLink advises that you plan ahead using its Open TransLink's Trip Planning tool in a new window. or call Customer Information at 604-953-3333 to find the nearest accessible bus stop to your starting point or destination. p.13 To board the bus with your wheelchair or mobility aid, your dimensions should not exceed the following: Length: 122 cm (48 in.) Width: 61 cm (24 in.) Weight: 273 kg (600 lbs.) (Combined weight including the transit rider and mobility aid) These dimensions include all add-ons such as bumpers, wheel bars, and baskets. Three-wheel scooters in these dimensions may fit, but some four-wheel scooters may not because of their wider turning radius. Taxi Services Yellow Cab 604-681-1111 Black Top and Checker Cabs 604-731-1111 Contacts for Wheelchair Rental and Repair Open Macdonald's Home Health Care website in a new window. 604-872-5496 Wheelin’ Mobility Office: 604-200-0119 extension 901 Cell: 778-654-7792 Advanced Mobility 604-293-0002 Out and About in Vancouver Airport Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, 12 kilometres from Downtown Vancouver. Find information on getting to and from the airport on the Open the Vancouver International Airport website in a new window. . Harbour Air Open Harbour Air website in a new window. is a scheduled floatplane service and tour and charter airline based in Richmond. Harbour Air specializes in routes between Vancouver, Nanaimo, Victoria, Sechelt, Comox, Whistler, and the Gulf Islands. Car Rental A number of car rental companies operate in downtown Vancouver, including Open website in a new window. , Enterprise Rent-A- Car, Avis, and Budget. p.14 Hotels Like any big city, Vancouver offers a wide range of hotels. If you are travelling from out of town and require accommodation, we recommend the following hotels close to the event space: • Skwachàys Lodge • Marriott Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver • Marriott Delta Hotel Vancouver Downtown Suites • St. Regis Hotel Parking Most of downtown Vancouver has paid parking via city-owned parking meters. There are multiple ways to pay for metered parking: using the PayByPhone app, using a credit card (at some locations) or coins. SkyTrain SkyTrain is the rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver. To access the service, purchase a ticket or load a prepaid card. Visit the SkyTrain website for maps and information. Mobi Bike Share Program Mobi is Vancouver’s extensive bike and e-bike network, conveniently located across the city and just outside SkyTrain stations. Learn more on the City of Vancouver’s Mobi webpage. Vancouver Attractions For more fun things to do around Vancouver, check out the Open the Vancouver Attractions website. . Weather Vancouver’s weather can change quickly. November is often chilly and wet. Contact Us General questions events@bcccampus.ca Christy Foote, events manager cfoote@bcccampus.ca BCcampus support team support@bcccampus.ca BCcampus communications team communications@bcccampus.ca p.15 Feedback As we are always learning. We welcome feedback and suggestions on this document. Please email Compose a new email to events@bccampus.ca with your feedback in a new window. . LicenseOpen the BCcampus website in a new window. Creative Commons This means you can share, redistribute, remix, and transform the material. (With the understanding that the citations referenced in this material are previously copyrighted by the original creators.) Attribution You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.Digital Learning Strategy Forum Logo