Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations | VANCOUVER – The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has published community-informed recommendations, Improving Accessibility for First Nations in British Columbia, to support improved accessibility for First Nations people living with disabilities.
“Accessibility is about ensuring that all people, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in community without exclusion. Accessibility is deeply interconnected with broader systemic and structural issues, including colonialism, racism, and the social determinants of health. Barriers to accessibility are not only physical, but also organizational, attitudinal, financial, and cultural, often compounding in ways that uniquely impact First Nations people living with disabilities and chronic conditions." - Improving Accessibility for First Nations in British Columbia, April 2026
The evidence brief translates data from FNHA's A Journey Towards Accessibility community-led research project published in August 2025, which explored accessibility from First Nations people, family and community perspectives. The document provides key recommendations for organizations to meaningfully and sustainably advance accessibility through policy development, service planning and systems-level decision-making.
Recommendations from the research and findings include:
- Shift from a medical model of disability to a social model of accessibility
- Align policy and regulatory frameworks to address systemic barriers
- Promote cultural safety and humility by mandating training and education
- Address existing environmental barriers
FNHA respects data sovereignty and self-determination for First Nations and is committed to ensuring research findings are shared with First Nations communities.
Learn More:
- A Journey Towards Accessibility project report, published August 2025, available here.
- Improving Accessibility for First Nations in British Columbia evidence brief, available here.
Want to learn more about the project or collaborate on this work? Reach out to RKE@fnha.ca.
