Accessible transportation, travel, recreation & discounts
Accessible transportation for people with disabilities
SPARC BC, parking permits for people with disabilities
SPARC BC has been advocating for the rights of people with mobility limitations since 1969, and managing the Parking Permit Program for People with Disabilities since 1984. Over 100,000 people rely on us. Designated parking allows people with disabilities to have access to buildings and services in the community. People who qualify for parking permits may:
- need the extra width of the designated spaces to get in and out of their vehicles in a wheelchair.
- use crutches, a cane or other mobility aid, or
- need to park close to a building entrance because their health prevents them from walking very far.
Accessible Parking Permit for Persons with Disabilities
Richmond Centre for Disability (rcdrichmond.org)
Accessible Parking Permit Application Form is available at the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD). In order to receive your hanging placard you must submit an application form with the doctor’s portion completed and signed by a registered physician together with a processing fee of $26 (Effective Apr. 1, 2020). We do not accept applications sent by facsimile (fax). You can drop off the application at the centre or send by mail (please do not send cash in the mail).
For enquiry, please contact us at 604-232-2404.
Application Forms are available at your doctor's office, City Hall, ICBC Driver Services Centre or at the RCD. We are happy to mail a form to you as well.
Fuel tax refund, persons with disabilities, Province of BC
Fuel tax refund program for persons with disabilities - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
The fuel tax refund program for persons with disabilities can help reduce your transportation costs. If you're eligible for the fuel tax refund program for persons with disabilities, you may receive:
- a fuel tax refund of up to $500 each calendar year for a qualifying vehicle registered in the program, and
- a 25% discount off your ICBC basic Autoplan insurance (including electric vehicles)
GF Strong Driver Rehab Program
Driver Rehabilitation Program - G.F. Strong - Vancouver Coastal Health (vch.ca)
GF Strong Driver Rehabilitation offers Comprehensive (Functional) Driving Evaluations, in-clinic and on-road driver rehabilitation and vehicle modification assessments. Clients with physical, cognitive or visual impairments may be referred for assessment and rehabilitation. The program offers assessment and training in a car (with or without adaptive equipment) or a wheelchair accessible van. The program is fee-for-service. Assessments are completed by an occupational therapist who has completed the McGill University Graduate Certificate in Assessing Driving Capability. GF Strong Driver Rehabilitation is an approved service provider with RoadSafetyBC.
For more information on this program, please click here.
handyDART, BC Transit
BC Transit - Accessibility | BC Transit
At BC Transit, our goal is to ensure all commuters are able to ride the bus, regardless of their accessibility needs. Our fixed route buses have lifts or low floors to help passengers get on and off. Benches at the front can be raised, allowing mobility aids to strap in. For those who need help finding the right stop, the bus driver will call it out. When you get on the bus, please let the driver know what you need. If you wish to take an orientation, one of our trainers will show you how to use the equipment on the bus and how to communicate with the driver so your ride is as seamless as possible. The orientations are free and we recommend them to anyone who feels they would like a walk through.
Low-Floor and Lift Equipped Buses
Buses at BC Transit have either low floors, or kneeling capabilities to allow those with accessibility needs greater flexibility.
Courtesy seating occupies the front accessible area of the bus. Passengers are asked to defer to the needs of those who require this service
This page explains BC Transit's policies concerning mobility aids, what equipment is accepted, and how to board the bus.
Here are BC Transit's policies and guidelines concerning assistance animals.
Here are BC Transit's policies and guidelines concerning attendants.
Here are BC Transit's policies and guidelines concerning accessibility stops.
BC Transit - handyDART Contact | BC Transit
handyDART is an accessible, door-to-door shared transit service for people with permanent or temporary disabilities that prevent them from using fixed-route transit without assistance from another person. handyDART picks you up at your accessible door and drops you off at the accessible door of your destination. Customers must first register, at no charge, for this program.
handyDART is part of the Accessible Services offered from your local transit service. Many handyDART customers use a combination of fixed-route and handyDART services depending on their travel needs and destination.
Two types of accessible transit service are offered: shared door-to-door handyDART service and fixed-route service. Fixed-route service includes either low-floor buses with ramps, or lift-equipped buses on fixed routes and schedules.
Fixed-route buses have securements for wheelchairs or scooters. To check if a stop is accessible, call your local transit office. Customers using wheelchairs or scooters, registered handyDART customers or CNIB pass holders may travel with an attendant. Attendants travel free and must board and exit at the same stop as the customer requiring assistance and help load and secure mobility aids on the bus.
Compass and discounted fares coming to HandyDART
20210617_Compass and discounted fares coming to HandyDART.pdf (rcdrichmond.org)
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. June 21, 2021: TransLink is introducing Compass and age-based discounts for HandyDART customers on October 1. These improvements will make HandyDART fares more equitable and allow customers to more easily travel between HandyDART and the bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain, and West Coast Express.
Bus Pass subsidy, Province of BC
Beginning January 1, 2018, people receiving disability assistance will get an extra $52 each month for a new transportation supplement. This supplement is available to every individual with the persons with disabilities designation.
The new supplement can be used for an annual bus pass or for other transportation needs.
For more information, please refer to the factsheet (PDF) or news release
Skytrain Door Guide
Expo and Millenium Line Skytrain Door Guide.pdf (rcdrichmond.org)
Community Leisure Transportation Services, City of Richmond
Community Leisure Transportation Service (CLT) - Suspended until further notice
This service ensures youth, seniors, persons with disabilities and all other Richmond residents have transportation to community programs, services and special events. CLT is an affordable transportation option for community organizations and offers a fleet of buses that can accommodate up to 22 passengers.
Shopping Bus Service - This service offers access to local shopping at reasonable rates with pickups and drop offs at nine different independent senior housing locations.
Shopping Bus Schedule:
Mondays - Lansdowne Mall and Walmart, Garden City ($2 per round trip)
Thursdays - Seafair Centre ($2 per roundtrip)
Contact the Community Leisure Transportation Coordinator for more information.
Accessibility, BC Ferries
To ensure a safe and comfortable sailing for all passengers, we provide a variety of accessibility options. Discounted passenger fares - We offer discounts for passengers with a BC Ferries Accessible Fare Identification (AFI) Card. You can present your AFI Card to the ticket agent when you arrive at the terminal to receive your discount. Accessibility at our larger terminals - The following accessibility options are available at our larger terminals:
- Accessible parking spaces
- Wheelchair access to all passenger areas
- Designated priority seating in waiting lounges
- Wheelchairs to borrow for boarding (check availability when booking online)
Eligibility for transportation benefits after leaving disability assistance
Leaving disability assistance - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
You may continue to get transportation and health benefits if you leave disability assistance.
This applies when you leave assistance because your income is more than assistance rates for the following reasons...
Travel Assistance Program (TAP) Province of BC
Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC) - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
TAP is a corporate partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transportation carriers.
The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the transportation partners who agree to waive or discount their regular fees.
Eligible Medical Specialist Services Include:
- Non-emergency medical specialist services available at the closest location outside the patient's community; and
- Diagnostic procedures, laboratory procedures, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine procedures, BC Cancer Agency, Transplant Units, HIV/AIDS treatment at St. Paul's Hospital, specialty clinics at BC Children's Hospital and other tertiary care hospital services.
Accessible travel, recreation and public spaces
AccessRichmond
Richmond is Accessible! (accessrichmond.org)
Richmond Is Accessible! The Access Richmond website provides a database of venues which have been surveyed and evaluated as to their accessibility according to the standards set by the BC Building Access Handbook 2014.
AccessNow app
AccessNow - pin-pointing accessibility worldwide
Accessibility for all - The world isn’t designed for everyone in mind. Millions of places all around the world are still inaccessible to people with disabilities. That’s why we’re building a movement that celebrates access by connecting people to inclusive, welcoming places for all.
At AccessNow our mission is to establish a go-to resource for accessibility information. We are building a connected platform to empower all people to discover a world of accessible opportunities, make better decisions and remove barriers. Leveraging our intelligent technology, we are learning how accessible the world is and mapping as many places as we possibly can. We invite you to join us. A worldwide community, passionate about change, together we can empower each other to have access now.
Every review added to our platform is one more instance of advocacy, one more experience that highlights the accessibility of a place. Every pin, every review counts. Want to learn more? Check out our Technology Overview, Press Page, or find out How to Get Involved.
Sociability
Let's go out. We help disabled people find accessible places. Wherever you're going, get detailed & reliable accessibility information in the palm of your hand. Join a Mapping Day!
- Meet like-minded people in the disabled community
- Explore and map the accessibility of venues in your local area
- Get to know the Sociability team
Accessibility is personal - We don’t use vague labels like ‘accessible’ or ‘inaccessible’. Instead, we give you the details you need to decide if a place is accessible for you.
We focus on community - We look out for each other – finding, tagging and sharing accessible places so that others can enjoy them too.
We bring the fun - We cover all the small, brilliant local venues you want to visit. Cafés, restaurants, bars, clubs and more – Sociability has all the places you want to go!
MyCommunityBC.
https://findsupportbc.com/map/
Find Support BC. Discover the Inclusive and Welcoming Places in Your Community and Around BC. Welcome to My Community BC - Your online resource to discover the inclusive and welcoming places in your community and around BC. My Community BC is an online map built by citizens like you working together to strengthen opportunities for inclusion and connection in their communities. Get started now for free!
Explore a community near you or suggest an inclusive and welcoming place in your community.
Travel Accessibility, Super. Natural British Columbia.
https://www.hellobc.com/accessibility/
Key travel information and resources to plan your BC vacation. Explore distinctive cities. Immerse yourself in nature. Satisfy your appetites. With British Columbia’s wide range of accessible options, everyone can find an experience they love.
Travel considerations for people with disabilities
Take charge of your travel | Canadian Transportation Agency (otc-cta.gc.ca)
Preparing to travel? These resources will help. They will give you some ideas about how to plan and conduct your journey. They describe services designed to facilitate barrier-free travel on airplanes, trains, ferries and buses that cross a provincial/territorial or Canadian border. These resources can help you plan your trip with confidence, and to take charge of your travel experience! You’ll find one important piece of advice repeated throughout these resources:
- Talk with your transportation service provider ahead of time.
- Let them know how they can help.
When they know what you require and are provided with enough advance notice, you can expect to receive the services you need. Read the full Take Charge of Your Travel: A Guide for Travellers with Disabilities or the sections below to help you on your journey.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
https://www.yvr.ca/en/about-yvr
We are committed to building positive relationships with the communities we serve.
Mission: Connecting British Columbia proudly to the world
Vision: A world class sustainable hub airport
Values: Safety, Teamwork, Accountability and Innovation
Navigating YVR for People with Disabilities
There are many ways to make an airport accessible for everyone. YVR has many physical accessibility features that help people with disabilities and people with able bodies navigate the airport, however it is important to recognize the non-structural aspect of accessibility at YVR. Thanks to many great partnerships, YVR and its accessibility partners offer tours to help people with disabilities practice navigating this space so that they are ready and comfortable for their next flight! Hosted by YVR, organizations like Canucks Autism Network, Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Spinal Cord Injury BC are able to provide families and people with disabilities the opportunity to practice the check in, security and boarding processes, as well as learn about all the resources available from both the airport and airline to help optimize their next trip through YVR.
Accessible Travel and Sightseeing Information, Spinal Cord Injury BC.
https://sci-bc.ca/resource/accessible-travel-and-sightseeing-information-vancouver/
These documents contain information about accessible travel and tourism options in Vancouver, geared towards visitors, including transportation, hotels, recreation, medical supplies and tours.
AccessBC, Spinal Cord Injury BC
Access BC - Spinal Cord Injury BC (accessiblebc.ca)
We all know British Columbia is supernatural. Now, a Spinal Cord Injury BC initiative is helping making it super accessible, too. In 2016, in collaboration with local governments and community stakeholders, SCI BC’s Access North project audited more than 450 outdoor spaces in North-Central BC, including municipal, provincial and federal parks, recreation sites, visitors’ centres, and rest areas. The new Access BC website features in-depth accessibility specifications for each audited area, as well as virtual tours and videos, suggested driving routes and maps, accessible tourism tips, and more. Let your adventure begin!
The Access BC website is provided by Spinal Cord Injury BC and is intended to inform people with spinal cord injuries, related disabilities, seniors, and all users about accessibility in parks and outdoor spaces throughout BC. Ongoing accessibility audits will be conducted and information added as it becomes available.
Canadian Assisted Travel Society
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel to the East Coast of Canada or perhaps to Italy? Do you want to attend a conference, seminar or have an cultural experience? But you can’t because you need an attendant to travel with you and the expenses are just too high. Well, check us out, we just might be able to help!
Volunteers | Canadian Assisted Travel Society (wordpress.com)
We are looking for volunteers to help setup for fundraising events and educational seminars. We require people with the following skills:
- computer skills
- researching accessible venues
- ticket sales
- setting up & taking down tables and chairs
- cold calls for silent auction items
- lifting and moving boxes
- assisting people with disabilities at fundraising event
The events will be held at night during the week and on weekends possibly day or night.
We are also looking for a Team Lead that would manage the volunteers.
Send us the application and/or your questions to the email address below.
Autism Community Training (ACT)
Often for families with children and adults with disabilities their money is stretched. Listed are a number of organizations who offer discounts for the individuals who are permanently and severely disabled or their attendant.
About ACT | ACT - Autism Community Training (actcommunity.ca)
The mission of ACT – Autism Community Training is to provide excellent information and training, in accordance with international best practices. Our goal is to enable parents, professionals and para-professionals to support children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to live productive, satisfying lives within their families and communities. Information Services. ACT- Autism Community Training provides information and training relevant to the autism community internationally. Based in British Columbia, Canada, ACT develops a wide-range of positive and practical information on everything from sleep problems and diet, to core issues such as diagnosis and aspects of intervention, including information on setting up intervention programs. These resources are free and are available online without a password requirement. ACT’s Information and Training resources are funded by the income generated by our live events, and through sponsorship and donations. The resources that we share, or develop ourselves, are evidence-based. We do not enter into commercial relationships to promote products or intervention approaches.
Accessible Travel and Sightseeing Information, Spinal Cord Injury BC.
https://sci-bc.ca/resource/accessible-travel-and-sightseeing-information-vancouver/
These documents contain information about accessible travel and tourism options in Vancouver, geared towards visitors, including transportation, hotels, recreation, medical supplies and tours.
Accessible Recreation and Leisure. Spinal Cord Injury BC.
https://sci-bc.ca/info-centre/accessible-recreation-leisure/
At Spinal Cord Injury BC, we know how important it is to live a full and active lifestyle–and we want to help you experience it to the fullest. It’s good for the heart and spirit to be involved and engaged in community life…but sometimes it can be hard to find what you’re looking for. That’s why we’ve searched long and hard to collect the best accessible recreation and leisure opportunities available in British Columbia—and put them all in one place. Whether you’re looking for accessible sports, outdoor adventures, or arts and culture opportunities, our SCI Info Database is the best place to start your search. Browse information and opportunities in the following categories: Arts & Culture, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Outdoor Adventure, Social Clubs, Sports and more!
Disability Foundation (Vancouver region)
https://disabilityfoundation.org/
Our Mission - Through our societies, we provide opportunities for people with physical disabilities to enable their individual journeys.
Vision - The Disability Foundation empowers and inspires people with physical disabilities to re-imagine what is possible.
How we help - The Disability Foundation primarily supports six charitable societies that provide accessible and meaningful activities.
Adaptive Sailing Association of British Columbia(formerly known as DSA-BC) offers the thrill of sailing on the open waters.
British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society(BCMOS) provides the means to play outside in nature, on land and water.
ConnecTra Society brings together people and community resources.
Disabled Independent Gardeners Association(DIGA) fosters the feel-good experience of nurturing nature, producing healthy fruit and vegetables.
Tetra Society of North America (Tetra) brings together inventive volunteers who build custom assistive devices that overcome physical barriers.
Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) operates the only fully-accessible recording studio in Western Canada and supports and promotes musicians.
Discounts and deals for people with disabilities
dealhack
Canadian PWD Discounts 2021: 40+ Brands for Persons With Disabilities (dealhack.ca)
The Dealhack Canadian Persons With Disabilities Discount Guide is the result of our quarterly survey of discounts and support programs for persons with psychological, psychiatric, or cognitive disabilities. Every 3 months, our team independently verifies each and every PWD discount on this list. We also add more brands to the list regularly when we come across them.
The list currently includes more than 40 store brands and government agencies conveniently broken down into 7 categories. You can also save or print the list to use as a handy reference.
Access2card
About Us – Access2 (access2card.ca)
Easter Seals Canada’s award winning Access 2 Card program was launched in 2004 with support from Cineplex Entertainment and a group of national disability organizations. The Access 2 Card program helps to ensure that entertainment, cultural and recreational opportunities are more available and accessible to all. Managed and administered by Easter Seals Canada (located in Toronto), the Access 2 Card program has grown to reach over 100,000 Canadians who are living with disabilities, and includes over 500 participating partner venues across the country. With the support of all our proud partner venues and fantastic cardholders, Access 2 has emerged as a national leader in helping create opportunities for individuals with disabilities and raising awareness about the importance of accessible venues.
Future Card Holders – Access2 (access2card.ca) The Access 2 card is for people of all ages and types of permanent disabilities who require the assistance of a support person at hundreds of participating entertainment, cultural and recreational venues across Canada. A support person is an adult who accompanies a person with a permanent disability to assist with services that are not provided by the employees at the participating venue, such as assistance with eating, administering medication, communication and use of the facilities.