December 29, 2022
Dear Unifor Prairie Regional Council Executive:
Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK) thanks you for your generous $5000 donation which will assist us as we move forward with ongoing accessible work especially for the inclusion of the blind and deaf community. Monies will be used for the cost of ASL interpreters and materials in braille for all upcoming momentum.
Barrier Free Saskatchewan’s forthcoming work includes the exciting work of ensuring that the upcoming Saskatchewan Abilities Act truly reflects “Nothing About Us Without Us,” and truly meets the needs of persons with lived experience.
After seven long years of consultations and lobbying on Monday November 12, 2002, the First Reading of the Saskatchewan Accessibilities Act took place followed by its Second Reading on November 16, 2022. The Third and Final Reading of Bill 103 will take place in the Spring of 2023 which will give BFSK. a time frame of four to five months to carefully review the proposed legislation and ensure that people with lived experience will be at the table.
Barrier Free Saskatchewan has also been involved with research partnerships and collaboration with the University of Regina. We completed one project, “Nothing About Us Without Us,” in the Fall of 2022 and are now engaged in another research project to educate and involve University of Regina students on the barriers faced by university students with lived experience. The Unifor Prairie Regional Council donation will also assist us in meeting budgetary costs in this research.
In the spirit of collaboration and reciprocity BFSK will proudly acknowledge your support and display a Unifor logo on our webpage. Please share a logo with us so that we can do this as soon as possible.
Once again, thank you for your generous donation that will assist us in ongoing research and involvement in Saskatchewan history as we usher in a Saskatchewan Abilities Act that is collaborative, inclusive, and meets the needs for a barrier free province and society.