Let’s Talk Accessibility: The Accessible Building Guidelines at UBC

Join Fiona Jones, Accessible Buildings Planner at UBC Facilities, for a conversation about the newly launched Accessible Building Guidelines (ABGs). In this webinar, we will explore what accessibility can look like across UBC’s built environments. This will enable us to envision how different features and designs can support people’s needs and how to notice what makes a space work well for people with disabilities. Fiona will also connect the ABGs to the types of accessibility barriers and gold stars you may encounter through Access Quest, helping us better understand what makes a space more or less accessible and why certain design features work well for different people.

The ABGs establish a vision for meaningful accessibility at UBC and identify better-practice features that can inform decisions throughout the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings and spaces. By considering accessibility early in the planning process, the ABGs help ensure that accessibility is thoughtfully incorporated into the way spaces are designed and experienced. 

Fiona will share her expertise on accessibility planning at UBC, including examples of barriers to access and gold stars that can make spaces more accessible and welcoming. This session is an opportunity to learn how to look at the built environment through an accessibility lens and think about what works, what could be improved, and what design features can better support people’s needs.

For more comprehensive information, please check out the Accessible Building Guidelines here. 

Fiona Jones is the Accessible Buildings Planner within UBC Facilities’ Capital Planning + Development team. She brings extensive expertise in architecture and inclusive design, with a focus on developing accessibility guidelines for new and existing buildings. Her work supports projects in aligning with Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) and the Accessible B.C. Act. Previously, Fiona served as Knowledge Manager of Inclusive Design at HCMA, where she contributed to research on the cost of accessibility and the development of inclusive design strategies. She is an RHFAC Professional and previously served on the program’s Technical Subcommittee.