Developing our new accessibility plan
Our vision
Chinook School Division is committed to providing an engaging environment that meets the holistic needs of all children.
We recognize that some individuals, groups and communities have needs that may require tailored support and resources. Guided by the principles of equity, we are committed to reducing barriers and fostering more inclusive school environments where everyone can fully participate.
Our approach
We are developing a three-year accessibility plan as a first step to formalize our efforts and to support our commitment to meeting the requirements of The Accessible Saskatchewan Act. This plan will guide our priorities, budgets and short, medium and longer-term actions to advance accessibility across all schools in the division.
Have your say: Take the Chinook School Division Accessibility Survey
Your voice matters. Take the survey and help us shape meaningful change. It’s open until June 23.
Choose the survey that best fits your point of view:
For students and families
For the community / general public
For school staff and administrators
If you require accommodations or assistance to participate in the survey, please connect with us at the Chinook School Division office: Email or call 306-778-9200 or 1-877-321-9200.
Community consultation process
We are launching a consultation process to gather input about our schools from students, families, staff and others in our school communities to make sure our accessibility plan reflects real experiences and needs. Key steps include:
Creation of an Accessibility Advisory Group
- Working with Squarely Accessible, an accessibility consultancy, our division will create an Accessibility Advisory Group and hold regular meetings to develop and refine consultation tools, including surveys and focus groups.
- Feedback from these meetings will shape the overall approach to our accessibility plan.
Engagement activities
- A survey to collect input about accessibility barriers and solutions
- Focus group sessions to gather in-depth feedback from families, students and staff
Accessibility plan development
- After public engagement activities, a full draft report will be developed with stakeholders, summarizing key findings and next steps.
- The finalized report will be developed and submitted to the Province.
Project background
Why we are undertaking this work now
We have made significant progress in removing accessibility barriers to create a more inclusive, welcoming environment for all. However, there is still work to be done, and we will continue to address gaps and improve our practices.
Our new accessibility plan will capture a clear picture of the current state of accessibility. It will highlight existing policies and processes and will lay out the steps to build on the work already underway.
The plan will also outline how we will keep identifying and removing remaining barriers on an ongoing basis. We will continue to listen, learn and adapt to meet the evolving needs of our community.
What is a disability?
The Accessible Saskatchewan Act defines disability as any impairment that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders an individual’s full and equal participation in society. It includes physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairments and a functional limitation. These can be permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not.
The Act aims to remove all types of barriers that prevent or limit full participation for people with disabilities.
Please refer to the Province of Saskatchewan’s Accessible Saskatchewan Act website for additional definitions and other helpful information.
Why we are launching a survey
Your insights and feedback will help us better understand the barriers people face and what meaningful accessibility looks like in our schools.
We encourage you to share your experience so we can create spaces that reflect everyone’s needs.
If you don’t identify as a person with a disability
The survey is open to everyone in our community. You do not need to have a disability to participate. We encourage division and school staff, family members, students and the general public to share their experiences and perspectives.
By including a variety of voices, we can better understand the needs, challenges and opportunities within the Chinook School Division community. This information will guide our efforts moving forward.
Is the survey anonymous?
Yes, the survey is completely anonymous.
Your privacy and confidentiality are our top priorities. We have engaged a third-party specialist, Squarely Accessible, to collect and interpret the data, which means your responses will be protected by the highest standards in research ethics, legal requirements and data storage.
Your feedback will be used only for the purpose of enhancing our accessibility plan, and we will never share or misuse your personal information.
Which barriers to accessibility are expected to be addressed as a result of the survey findings?
The information gathered from the survey will help us identify key barriers, concerns and preferences. This data will play a key role in shaping our accessibility plan by helping us identify themes, priorities and areas of improvement to inform strategic decision-making.
While certain barriers may not be fully removed due to existing constraints (i.e., structural or financial), we are committed to making every reasonable effort to identify and address any gaps and improve accessibility wherever possible.
How will the findings of the survey be shared?
We will publicly share our accessibility plan across a variety of channels, including our website and social media, in late 2025.
What happens after the plan is developed?
The plan will guide the first three years of activities. Updates on progress will be released according to the guidelines set out in The Accessible Saskatchewan Act.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Chinook School Division office: Email or call 306-778-9200 or 1-877-321-9200.