YVR releases Year One Progress Report on Accessibility
YVR charts progress, innovations, and unique partnerships in first year of three-year plan to enhance the airport experience for all
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has released its Year One Progress Report on Accessibility. The report provides an overview of what YVR achieved during the first year of its comprehensive three-year Accessibility Plan as well as activities it will continue to advance through 2026 and beyond.
I am proud of the work accomplished over the last 12 months and recognize the support of our many community partners, who are integral to our success and share our vision and drive to create an accessible airport for all. Our path to becoming a truly inclusive airport is based on the belief that we can – and need to – do more. I am confident that, as we continue to be guided by community needs and inputs, we will deliver on our Accessibility Plan to become one of the most accessible airports in the world.
Since introducing its Accessibility Plan, Beyond Accessibility, in June 2023, YVR has made considerable progress across all seven focus areas outlined in its plan and in compliance with the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations.
Key achievements from June 2023 through May 2024 include:
- Becoming the first and only airport in Canada to include sign language on all gate information display screens, while also improving the contrast on flight information display screens throughout the airport.
- Engaging with community partners both online and in-person through surveys and working group meetings to gain new insights on disability-related trends to incorporate into future planning.
- Updating accessibility requirements of the YVR website following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from a grade of WCAG 2.0 AA to WCAG 2.1 AA and adding an accessibility tool for personalization options.
- Launching Paper Planes Café, a first-of-its kind food and beverage area that provides inclusive employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals with a diverse range of abilities.
- Partnering with Pacific Autism Family Network and AIDE Canada to create and launch a neurodiversity interactive video series to provide neurodiverse individuals an opportunity to familiarize themselves with various travel processes.
YVR’s plan and report also identify opportunities for improvement and priorities for the years ahead, which were developed with insights from public consultation and input from the accessibility community and airport partners.
Response and reaction to YVR’s Year One Progress Report on Accessibility from the accessibility community can be found here.
In years two and three of Beyond Accessibility, YVR will work to continue to enhance terminal facilities, communications technology, support programs, and procurement practices in order to deliver on its commitment to provide a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experience for individuals of all abilities.
To read YVR’s Year One Progress Report on Accessibility or for more information about accessibility features at the airport please visit YVR.ca/Accessibility.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a diverse global hub that connects people, cargo, data, and ideas and serves as a platform for our community to come together and thrive. We are motivated by supporting regional economic development and making a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians. We do this with a focus on serving our passengers, partners, workers, and community through digital modernization, climate leadership, reconciliation, and financial sustainability.
YVR Media Relations
604-880-9815
media_relations@yvr.ca