Accessibility Directorate

Built Environment Standard Development Committee

About the Committee

The Built Environment Standard Development Committee will assist the Accessibility Advisory Board with making recommendations to the Minister of Justice on the content and implementation of a proposed standard to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility in the built environment.

Member terms

Members will serve on the committee for a term of 3 years.

Meeting location and frequency

Meetings will happen in Halifax every 6 - 8 weeks, as determined by the Chair, depending on work volume and timelines. Members will also be expected to conduct work outside of the meetings.

Committee size and composition

The Built Environment Standard Development Committee must have at least 10 but no more than 20 members, including the chair and vice-chair.

The committee must include:

• persons with disabilities, or representatives from organizations that represent persons with disabilities (half of the committee members)
• representatives from sectors impacted by the standards, such as the municipal, construction and business sectors
• representatives from the Department of Municipal Affairs and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal

Members of the Accessibility Advisory Board can be committee members.

Member compensation

Committee members who aren’t provincial public service employees will be paid for their time.

Position	Compensation per meeting
Member	$100 plus expenses
Vice-chair	$150 plus expenses
Chair	$200 plus expenses

Member selection criteria

Members will be selected based on:

• experience and expertise, as outlined in eligibility requirements
• committee composition requirements under the Accessibility Act
• diversity considerations, including geographical location, gender, disability, ethnicity, expertise, and experience

Member eligibility

Members must have:

• demonstrated leadership in, knowledge of, and commitment to identifying, preventing and removing barriers to accessibility in the built environment
• demonstrated experience and expertise in one or more of the following sectors:
  • architecture
  • assistive devices
  • building code compliance
  • building construction
  • building contractor
  • building inspection
  • engineering,
  • interior design
  • municipal government
  • planning
  • private business (including the restaurant industry)
  • private landlord
• demonstrated experience and expertise in one or more of the following subject areas:
  • the impact of barriers in the built environment on a range of disabilities (including physical, mental, intellectual, learning or sensory impairment)
  • existing accessibility standards in the built environment (including Schedule “C” Barrier‐Free Design in the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulation, Canadian Standards Association B651-12 (Accessible Design for the Built Environment), or the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification program)

Members should also have:

• Informed judgment:
  • ability to provide wise, thoughtful contributions from a broad perspective
  • ability to analyze information, and ask relevant, strategic questions
  • ability to consider the perspectives of diverse stakeholder groups
  • capacity for intellectual humility and self-awareness of personal biases
  • ability to understand issues by considering underlying causes, and to propose solutions
• Integrity and accountability:
  • willingness to be accountable for committee decisions
  • commitment to meeting the expectations outlined in the committee terms of reference
  • motivation to serve not in one’s own interests, but in the interests of Nova Scotians
• Impact and influence:
  • awareness of the impact of system-level issues, policies, and decisions on public interests
  • capacity to be sensitive to the diverse needs and interests of multiple stakeholders
• High motivation and commitment to excellence:
  • commitment and keen interest in playing a leadership role in developing accessibility standards in the built environment that will lead to equitable access for persons with disabilities

Member applications

The deadline for member applications was 17 January 2019.

The Accessibility Advisory Board is reviewing applications against the selection criteria and will recommend potential members for the Minister’s approval. Applicants will be notified of decisions by March 2019.

Contact us

If you have questions or want to submit your application in an alternate format, contact the Accessibility Directorate.

Related information

• Accessibility Directorate
• Accessibility Advisory Board

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