RCD History
Led by founding member and first chair, Frances Clark, the Richmond Centre for Disability (RCD), formerly the Richmond Committee on Disability, was established in 1985 as a registered charitable society through the joint effort of the United Way of the Lower Mainland, Special Needs & Social Planning divisions of the City of Richmond along with several people with disabilities from the community. RCD is an accredited member of Independent Living Canada (IL Canada) and works collaboratively with IL Canada Centres throughout Canada.
The Society’s purpose is to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in the community of their ability and desires and to improve their quality of life by working for – inclusion, independence & empowerment. RCD serves as an advisory body and spokes group to local government, businesses and community organizations on issues and barriers faced by people with disabilities. The society’s work has contributed to overall physical and attitudinal accessibility of the city.
Key Highlights
RCD launched the Accessible Parking Permit Online Portal (APPOP) in December 2022 for online renewal of accessible parking permits.
Van Accessible Parking Space was adopted by the City of Richmond bylaws, with specific signage and layout, in October 2018; RCD was instrumental to the changes.
In 2008, RCD changed its name from the Richmond Committee on Disability to the Richmond Centre for Disability.
RCD hosted the inaugural Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel in 2007.
RCD worked closely with the City of Richmond’s Transportation Department since 2007, in a liaison role to the community representing people with vision loss, in the development of “Accessible Pedestrian Signals” throughout the city.
In 2005 RCD began providing the Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Training to caregivers, agencies, businesses and Government officials.
Working with RCD, City staff developed accessibility requirements for city buildings, greater than the provincial standard for use in construction or renovation of all City owned facilities along with assisting developers in creating more user-friendly projects.
A curb cut design created by RCD for the Cent Centre area, which addressed the needs of both wheelchair users and the visually impaired, is now being used in other provincial communities.
As part of our community education initiative, RCD worked with City staff to develop a Scooter Safety awareness brochure for the community, a project supported by funding from ICBC.
To promote the accessibility of the City of Richmond, RCD created the accessible Richmond website in 2005 for tourists and people interested in moving to the area.
RCD was a facilitator and partner in the 1995 establishment of the Richmond Therapeutic Equestrian Society, which provides a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and youth with disabilities.
As a result of the working partnership with the City, Richmond was presented with the “5 Star Award for Accessibility” in 1991 by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Secretary of State and National Committee on Disabilities. Richmond was the only City in Canada to be given this prestigious away for accessibility.