Accessibility
Thank you Keimi Nakashima-Ochoa, Rabbit Richards and Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice for your guidance with our first steps towards accessibility.
Accessibility Information
SWAN Vancouver
325-1101 Seymour St. Vancouver, B.C. V6B 0R1
Last updated: June 2024
Location
SWAN Vancouver is located on the third floor of 1101 Seymour St. It is a City of Vancouver building shared with four other non-profit organizations. SWAN is situated on the stolen ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Getting to SWAN
The nearest SkyTrain station is Granville. Exit by the Seymour St entrance. (800m)
SWAN is also near the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line station. (400m)
The building is accessible by bus routes 4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 16 and 50.
Bus stops nearby:
NB Granville St. @ Davie St, ID: 50220 (210m away)
- 4, 7, 10, 14, 16, 50
EB Davie St. @ Granville St., ID: 60116 (220m away)
- 6
SB Granville St. @ Davie St., ID: 50535 (300m away)
- 4, 7, 10, 14, 16, 50
There is no public parking lot attached to the building and meter parking on the street is subject to availability. There is an EasyPark lot nearby on Seymour St. SWAN’s office building has one accessibility parking spot that is shared among all tenants in the building and may be available upon request.
Bike racks are located alongside the building at Helmcken St. If bike racks are full, a limited number of bikes and e-scooters can be parked inside the SWAN office. Our outlets are available for charging.
Main space
The building is open to visitors Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors may need building staff to open the front door for them. Our office is primarily a working space for staff and is only accessible through a fob, whether taking the stairs or elevator. Visitors are encouraged to contact SWAN staff if they’re planning to visit to ensure someone can let you into the office. Overhead lighting in the office can be dimmed.
Doors
The two front doors to the building are usually open during visiting hours and can be opened via push buttons. Taking the stairs to the office requires opening a manual door to access the third floor. There are three doors into the SWAN office that are quite heavy. The door closest to the stairs and elevator has a push button for entry and exit into the SWAN lobby and lounge area. The two other doors have manual entry, with one door to the community and office space that requires access to a narrow hallway (approximately 95 cm wide).
Washrooms
The washrooms are not fully accessible. There is one private, gender-neutral bathroom equipped with a shower and it requires a key that SWAN staff can provide to you. The binary washrooms are not wheelchair accessible and the stalls are one size. There is no changing table available.
Scent policy
SWAN is committed to providing a scent-reduced environment. We ask visitors to please refrain from wearing fragrances and cologne. Due to limited space, we store LUSH gift sets at our office during the holiday season, to be distributed during outreach. We will provide timely updates about when these items are stored in our office and we understand this may prevent people from visiting our location. Please note, that although our office is a scent-reduced space, this may not apply to communal spaces within the building.
Mask policy
Staff are not usually masked when working in the office but are happy to wear masks (including lip-reading-friendly masks) to accommodate visitors. Currently, masks are not mandatory at our public events, but this is subject to change according to visitors’ needs as well as public health requirements. We ask visitors to be mindful and respectful of others who may choose to wear masks when engaging in public spaces. Three-layer, non-medical masks are available for visitors to use. The office is also equipped with an air purifier.
Surveillance/safety concerns
There is one security camera in the building which only films the front door of the first-floor organization. The front entrance is not captured.
Please note, SWAN is not the only non-profit organization in the building and there may be a police presence in the area for reasons unrelated to our organization. SWAN supports communities that have historically and continually been targeted by law enforcement and is mindful of how police presence can impact the personal safety of individuals coming to our office space. Staff are available to accompany people entering our building.
Feedback
If you have any questions or concerns related to your own accessibility needs while visiting the SWAN office, or if you have any feedback, please email us. We also welcome collaboration and support from disability justice organizations.
Updates
SWAN is working in consultation with community members to improve accessibility. This page will be continually updated as we reduce barriers.