The Accessibility Act

The Accessibility Act (2017) recognizes accessibility as a human right. It sets a provincial goal to make Nova Scotia an accessible province by 2030. It aims to do this by preventing and removing barriers that restrict people with disabilities from fully participating in society. It enables the government to develop standards for accessibility and outlines responsibilities for some public sector bodies, including municipalities, to make our goods, services, and spaces more accessible.

In response, the Municipality of Shelburne, in partnership with the Town of Shelburne, and the Town of Lockeport, created Accessibility Plans, and an Accessibility Advisory Committee, described below.

Read the full Act.

Additional References

Accessibility Directorate – Government of Nova Scotia

Eastern Shelburne County Accessibility Plan

Eastern Shelburne County Accessibility Plan 2025-2028 (PDF, Large Print)
This is a joint Accessibility Plan for the Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne, and Town of Lockeport.

Eastern Shelburne County Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC)

About the Committee: The Municipality of the District of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne and Town of Lockeport have developed a joint committee called The Eastern Shelburne County Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC). The role of the AAC is to advise municipal councils on identifying, preventing, and eliminating accessibility barriers to municipal goods, services, and spaces. At least one half of the members of the advisory committee must have a disability or be representatives from organizations representing persons with disabilities.

For more information on the AAC, review the AAC Terms of Reference (PDF)

AAC Members

  • Terry Stacey  – Town of Lockeport
  • Holly Perry – Town of Shelburne
  • Catherine Jones – Town of Shelburne
  • Wanda Buchanan – Municipality of Shelburne
  • Eric MacIntosh – Town of Shelburne
  • Vacant
  • Craig Hillen – Councillor, Town of Lockeport
  • Therese Cruz – Councillor, Town of Shelburne
  • Ron Coole – Councillor, Municipality of Shelburne
  • Vacant – Town of Lockeport staff member (Special thanks to former staff member, Frances Scott, Community Coordinator)
  • Adam Dedrick, Director of Recreation & Parks – Municipality of Shelburne
  • Jessie Dyer, Administration & Human Resource Officer – Town of Shelburne

Local Accessibility Resources

Accessible Resources in Eastern Shelburne County

This is a list of “who does what” in accessibility services, programs and resources in the Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne, and Town of Lockeport.

You can view or download the list here:

Accessible Resources in Eastern Shelburne County (PDF, Large Print)

211 Nova Scotia

211 Nova Scotia is a free and confidential information and referral service available to everyone in Nova Scotia experiencing unmet social and human needs.

211 features “accessibility” as one of its many topics and provides information on disability grants and benefits, disability support programs, ways to access wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and much more!

Call or text 211 for help (you will be able to talk to a person!), or review their online database!

A hand holding a phone with the 211 Nova Scotia logo and text that reads "Shelburne, we're here if you need us."

Accessibility Funding

For a full list of grants and benefits that may include accessibility as a component, try the NS Federation of Municipalities’ Guide to Finding Grants , call or text 211 (you will be able to talk to a person!), or review 211’s online database.

Learn About Everyday Accessibility

When a document is in plain language, more people can easily read, understand and use the information in it.

Plain Language includes:

  • Using clear and simple words that your audience knows
  • Writing short, clear sentences and paragraphs
  • Designing documents and websites that are easy to understand and use
  • Giving information clearly and logically
  • Sticking to the information your audience needs
  • Writing that is inclusive and unbiased
  • Accessibility features that make text useable for people with disabilities

The links below can help you understand more about plain language:

Tip Sheet: Plain Language – SeaChange CoLab
Plain Language Checklist  – SeaChange CoLab

If you or your organization uses digital communication, there are ways to make your digital communication more inclusive, accessible, and equitable for everyone.

Some of those ways include:

  • The use of Plain Language (as described above)
  • The use of alt-text (Alt-text is a brief text description of an image or non-text element on a website, in a document or in a social media post, to be read aloud by assistive technology such as screenreaders, to be seen by those with slow internet connections, etc.)
  • Contrast between foreground and background colours
  • The use of a non-decorative, sans-serif font
  • Font size of at least 12
  • Structuring your content using headings
  • Using accessible links
  • Providing digital information in alternate formats, such as advertising in physical print as well as online, providing Large Print versions of documents, etc.

The links below can help you understand more about digital accessibility:

Tip Sheet: Digital Communications – SeaChange CoLab
Digital Accessibility Checklist – SeaChange CoLab
Write Helpful Alt Text – Harvard University
Microsoft Alt Text Support – Microsoft

Inclusive Language:

Using inclusive language is a way to discuss or speak to any person with disabilities in a way that respects them and their identity. i.e., it’s up to them how they want to be addressed or identified.

Person-first Language and Identity-first Language:

Person-first language is used as the default by many organizations, if they are unsure of how their audience identifies. However, it is always important to listen to the language people use to describe themselves and mirror that language back to them whenever possible.

Person-first language may be used when people identify as a person first and their disability is only a part of who they are. For example: a person with a disability, a person with a vision impairment, person who uses a wheelchair.

Identity-first language may be used when people identify with their disability or understand it to be an important part of who they are. For example: Deaf person, or Autistic person.

The link below can help you understand more about inclusive language:

Tip Sheet: Inclusive Language for Disabilities – SeaChange CoLab

Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia/National AccessAbility Week
Date: The last week in May

Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion
Date: The Wednesday of Access Awareness Week Nova Scotia/National Accessibility Week

Disability Pride Month
Date: July

Disability Employment Awareness Month
Date: October

Light It Up! for Disability Employment Awareness Month
Date: The third Thursday in October

International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Date: December 3

Nova Scotia Human Rights Week
Date: December 3-10

International Human Rights Day
Date: December 10

What are Disabilities?

  • Video by NSCC Online Learning, in collaboration with the NS Accessibility Directorate
  • (3:15 minutes) (Animated video- Closed captions and ASL)
  • Features definition of disability, including mental, physical, invisible, visible, permanent, and temporary disabilities
  • Outlines the social model of disability

Access Includes Everyone

  • Video by NSCC Online Learning, in collaboration with the NS Accessibility Directorate
  • (3:33 minutes) (Animated video- Closed captions and ASL)
  • Features definition of accessibility
  • Provides examples of barriers to accessibility, including physical, systemic, technological, informational, and attitudinal

ACE (Accessibility Confident Employers) Trainings

  • SeaChange CoLab offers a series of free ACE (Accessibility Confident Employers) training.
  • Targets a range of sectors in Nova Scotia including businesses, public service organizations, and the impact (non-profit) sector.
  • Includes self-paced, on demand, online and in-person courses that can help everyone better understand accessibility and the barriers that people with disabilities face in work, life and play.

ACE (Accessibility Confident Employers) Resource Hub

  • Are you looking to make your organization more accessible and inclusive?
  • SeaChange CoLab offers a series of free ACE (Accessibility Confident Employers) learning resources through this searchable resource hub, to give you the tools you need to move to the next stage of your journey.
  • Targets a range of sectors in Nova Scotia including businesses, public service organizations, and the impact (non-profit) sector.
  • Focuses on accessibility training, resources, tip sheets, and guidebooks.

Emergency Preparedness Guide for Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults

Emergencies are happening more frequently, and can affect everyone. They often have a bigger effect on persons with disabilities and older adults.

“Are You Ready?” is an emergency preparedness guide created by the Government of Nova Scotia for persons with disabilities and older adults living in the province. The guide includes an Emergency Kit Checklist, an Emergency Go-bag Checklist, and much more.

You can view or download this guide here:

Are You Ready?: Emergency Preparedness Guide for Persons with Disabilities and Older Adults in Nova Scotia (PDF)

Questions or concerns about accessibility in the Municipality of Shelburne? Fill out our Accessibility Questions or Concerns Form:

You can also contact accessibility staff by phone or email:

Municipality of Shelburne

Adam Dedrick, Director of Recreation & Parks
902-875-3544 ext. 225
Adam.Dedrick@municipalityofshelburne.ca
414 Woodlawn Drive, Shelburne

Town of Shelburne

Jessie Dyer, Executive Coordinator
902-875-2991 ext. 4
jessie.dyer@shelburnens.ca
162 Mowatt St., Shelburne

Town of Lockeport

Currently unfilled/to be decided.