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Accessibility

Our commitment to an inclusive and accessible championship experience

Accessibility Statement

The World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships 2025 (WDIHC 2025) is committed to ensuring that our event and website are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. This accessibility statement outlines our efforts to make both our physical venues and digital platforms inclusive and accessible to all attendees and users.

Our Commitment to Accessibility

As the premier international ice hockey tournament for Deaf athletes, we are particularly dedicated to ensuring an exceptional experience for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Our commitment extends beyond meeting basic requirements to creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, included, and able to participate fully in the Championship experience.

We are guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA for our digital content and by international accessibility standards for our physical venues. We continually work to improve accessibility for all participants, spectators, and online visitors.

Venue Accessibility

The Championship venues - Father David Bauer Arena and Protrans Arena at the University of British Columbia - feature comprehensive accessibility accommodations:

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrances and ramps throughout the venues
  • Elevators providing access to all levels
  • Accessible washrooms on each level
  • Designated accessible seating areas with companion seats
  • Service animal relief areas
  • Tactile wayfinding signage
  • Visual emergency notification systems

Venue staff are trained to assist visitors with accessibility needs and will be available throughout the event to provide support.

Website Accessibility

Our website is designed to be accessible to people with disabilities, following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. We strive to ensure that our site is accessible to people who:

  • Use screen readers or other assistive technologies
  • Navigate using only a keyboard
  • Need high contrast or enlarged text
  • Have color vision deficiencies

Key accessibility features of our website include:

  • Semantic HTML structure
  • Appropriate alternative text for images
  • Keyboard navigability
  • Sufficient color contrast
  • Descriptive link text
  • Resizable text without loss of functionality
  • Captions for video content

Accessible Seating

The Championship venues offer accessible seating options for spectators with various needs:

  • Wheelchair-accessible locations with companion seats
  • Designated areas for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing with clear sightlines to visual displays and interpreters
  • Reserved seating near aisles for people with mobility impairments
  • Priority seating for people who cannot stand in lines for extended periods

To request accessible seating, please contact our accessibility team at accessibility@wdihc2025.ca or call +1 (604) 555-0123. We recommend making accessible seating arrangements at least two weeks before the event to ensure availability.

Sign Language Interpretation

As the World Deaf Ice Hockey Championships, we place particular emphasis on sign language accessibility:

  • American Sign Language (ASL) and International Sign interpreters will be available at key locations throughout the venues
  • All ceremonies, presentations, and announcements will be interpreted into ASL and International Sign
  • Key staff members at information desks and ticket booths will be fluent in ASL
  • Large screens will display captioning and sign language interpretation during major events

For specific sign language interpretation requests or requirements, please contact us at accessibility@wdihc2025.ca at least two weeks before the event.

Assistive Listening Devices

For spectators who use hearing aids or cochlear implants, or who need audio amplification:

  • Assistive listening devices (ALDs) will be available for checkout at the customer service desks in both venues
  • Our venues are equipped with induction loop systems (hearing loops) in designated sections
  • FM systems compatible with telecoil-equipped hearing aids will be available

A valid photo ID is required to check out assistive listening devices. Devices are available on a first-come, first-served basis, though we recommend reserving them in advance by contacting us at accessibility@wdihc2025.ca.

Transportation Accessibility

Information about accessible transportation options to and from the venues:

  • All venue shuttle buses will be wheelchair accessible
  • Designated accessible parking spaces are available at both venues (limited quantity, advance reservation recommended)
  • Accessible drop-off points located near venue entrances
  • Vancouver's public transit system (TransLink) offers accessible buses and SkyTrain services
  • HandyDART, Vancouver's door-to-door shared ride service for people with disabilities, serves the venue locations (advance booking required)
  • Wheelchair-accessible taxi services are available throughout Vancouver

For more information about transportation accessibility or to request specific accommodations, please visit our Venues & Transportation page or contact us directly.

Accommodation Accessibility

We have partnered with several hotels near the Championship venues that offer accessible rooms and amenities:

  • Wheelchair-accessible rooms with roll-in showers and other accessibility features
  • Visual alerting devices for door knocks, telephone calls, and alarms
  • TTY capabilities and communication accessibility
  • Service animal-friendly policies

When booking through our official accommodation partners, please specify your accessibility requirements to ensure your needs are met. Visit our Accommodation page for more information about our partner hotels and their accessibility features.

Accessibility Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or requests regarding accessibility at the WDIHC 2025:

Accessibility Team
Email: accessibility@wdihc2025.ca

We welcome feedback on how we can improve our accessibility. If you encounter any barriers or have suggestions for enhancing accessibility at our venues or on our website, please contact our accessibility team.

This Accessibility Statement was last updated on April 11, 2025.