CAN was hired by The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver to do an accessibility audit of their venue and teach our Disability Awareness and Intro to Gender + Sexuality workshops for their staff.
The Polygon is a vibrant art institution that inspires and provokes cultural insight through adventurous programming. The Gallery is committed to championing artists and cultivating engaged audiences. Its lens of inquiry creatively responds to shifting perceptions of the world, through the histories and evolving technologies of photography and related media.
Our accessibility audits start with a pre-trip review of the website and information a visitor would access to plan their trip. We then go through the venue itself.
The photo above is an example of what we capture in the report we provide clients. About the photo, we stated:
“The washrooms on the main floor are marked as for everyone however they still include the male female stick figures. If these washrooms are equitable, there should be no need to identify male and females. During the disability awareness workshop, it was mentioned by a Polygon Gallery staff person that this may be a City of North Vancouver requirement. It would be good to follow-up on this. I also wonder what the Braille says whether it states genders or says “everyone”.
Additionally, saying everyone on washrooms that include non- accessible washrooms is ableist to people with disabilities. If a washroom is not accessible, it is not for everyone. It may be gender-inclusive but it is not for everyone.”