Measuring Up

Measuring Up aims to foster opportunities for the active engagement, participation and contribution of persons with disabilities in their communities.

The Measuring Up logo is comprised of two main graphical elements: a Measuring Up word mark and a graph-like illustration. The Measuring Up word mark is black and is written in all lower cased font to present a friendly and inclusive feel. On the left of the word mark is an illustration of a graph formed of blue and green circles that is shaped like an italicized “N”. This graph reflects the progressive values of the program and also undertones the economic opportunities associated with accessibility and inclusion. These two graphical elements help characterize the Measuring Up program as both inclusive and progressive.

2010 Legacies Now has a vision of BC as a place where people can easily live, work, play and visit. With support from the Province of BC and other partners, 2010 Legacies Now assists communities to become more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
 

What is Measuring Up?

Measuring Up is a process to help communities assess and improve local accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities and others including older persons, parents pushing baby carriages, tourists carrying luggage, and people with injuries. By increasing accessible employment opportunities and improving public spaces, recreation facilities, restaurants and shops, Measuring Up is assisting communities to become more accessible and inclusive, so everyone can benefit.
 
Since its development in 2007, Measuring Up has grown from eight communities involved to include over 100 communities across the province. Eighty-four of these communities received grants totalling $1.52 million from the Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund (Measuring Up Fund), established with financial support from the Province of BC’s Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
  

The Measuring Up process

Measuring Up: Communities of Accessibility and Inclusion (Measuring Up guide) is a guide to lead communities through discussions of diverse and often complex disability issues. The Measuring Up framework is built on elements which enable persons with disabilities to fully participate in their communities. The Measuring Up guide is based on four main elements:

  • Support Services: including transportation, housing, emergency preparedness, personal supports and universal design
     
  • Access to Information: including universal signage, plain language, and multiple formats (i.e. large print, Braille, ASL, etc.)
     
  • Economic Participation: including business and skill development, jobs and labour supply, disability market and consumer spending, and niche markets such as accessible tourism
     
  • Community Contribution: including bringing new energy and talent to the social, recreational, sport, environmental, business and cultural life of communities

These four elements depend on one another and when the four elements are in place, persons with disabilities are better able to fully participate in community life.
 

Starting the Measuring Up process

The Measuring Up process starts with a facilitated dialogue among key community members. This self-directed, practical, inclusive and collaborative approach helps people to understand the needs of others living in the community.

The Measuring Up process can be started by anyone - a person with a disability, a healthcare professional, municipal staff or an elected official, a community leader, or a not-for-profit organization. Other potential partners such as Spirit of BC committees or the local Chamber of Commerce can also offer input to during the process.

To find out more about how you can implement Measuring Up in your community go to Starting Up: Tips to Begin the Measuring Up Process.
 

How 2010 Legacies Now can help

2010 Legacies Now’s Measuring Up Team can help your community build a legacy of accessibility and inclusion. Throughout the Measuring Up process, this team can help you by:

  • Introducing Measuring Up, its purpose, the guide and process, and resulting social and economic benefits
  • Connecting you with local and provincial disability leaders and organizations
  • Suggesting partners and supporters
  • Recommending steps for your community’s process
  • Sharing information, tools and best practices from other communities
  • Linking you to other communities with similar circumstances
  • Connecting you with other financial and in-kind resources

2010 Legacies Now is also interested in hearing how your community is using Measuring Up. If you would like to share your experiences, stories or resources with the Measuring Up Team and other communities in BC, please send them to measuringup(at)2010LegaciesNow.com.
 

Measuring Up was created in partnership with the Vancouver Agreement, representing the provincial and federal governments and the City of Vancouver; the Vancouver Foundation; and over 80 disability organizations throughout BC.



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