Background: The prevalence of sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities in Canada underscores the need to address environmental barriers. This study adapts and validates the Stakeholders’ Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighborhoods (SWAN) tool to assess the challenges the built environment poses for individuals with disabilities, aiming to inform policy changes for accessibility and inclusivity. Objective: This study aims to (1) adapt the SWAN tool for those with hearing, vision, or cognitive disabilities; (2) validate SWAN tool for researching environmental barriers for people with disabilities, including older adults; and (3) offer insights for policy changes in the built environment, contributing to literature and guiding future research. Methods: The study uses a community-based research approach, carried out over 4 phases within an 18-month period in British Columbia. Phase 1 includes adapting and pilot-testing of the SWAN tool. In Phase 2, street intersections are identified for data collection using Geographic Information System tools and consultations with municipal officials. Phase 3 involves recruiting participants across four disability categories. The final phase includes analyzing the data and disseminating findings. Results: Data collection concluded in September 2024, involving 80 eligible participants across four streams in preidentified hotspots. The results are expected to be published in March 2025. To date, data collection is ongoing, and we are currently in the process of data analysis. Conclusions: This study will contribute to the growing body of research on built environment accessibility by adapting the SWAN tool for individuals with diverse disabilities. By identifying key barriers in urban spaces, the study aims to inform policy changes that will lead to more inclusive, accessible, and safe urban environments for all individuals.

As Canada’s population ages and disability prevalence increases, understanding the built environment’s impact on mobility and social participation is essential. This study evaluates the measurement properties of the Stakeholders’ Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN) tool, a user-led instrument designed to assess environmental factors affecting older adults and individuals with disabilities. Using community-based participatory research, we recruited 54 participants from five cities to assess the SWAN tool’s inter-rater reliability, construct validity, and internal consistency. The results indicated a high overall inter-rater reliability of 85.22%, with substantial Cohen’s Kappa coefficients across domains, particularly in the Safety domain (0.73). The construct validity was confirmed through moderate to strong correlations with established measures, notably a correlation of 0.79 between the Street Crossing subdomain and the Sidewalk Index. The internal consistency analysis showed excellent reliability in the Functionality domain (α = 0.95) and a lower consistency value in the Social Environment domain (α = 0.63), suggesting the need for further refinement. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the SWAN tool’s potential for evaluating neighbourhood accessibility. By identifying barriers and facilitators to mobility, the SWAN tool can guide urban planning efforts aimed at creating inclusive environments for aging populations and individuals with disabilities. Future research should focus on larger samples to explore structural validity. Ultimately, the SWAN tool can contribute to improving the quality of life of vulnerable populations and promote more equitable urban policy development.

BACKGROUND The prevalence of sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities in Canada underscores the need to address environmental barriers. This study adapts and validates the Stakeholders’ Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighborhoods (SWAN) tool to assess the challenges the built environment poses for individuals with disabilities, aiming to inform policy changes for accessibility and inclusivity. OBJECTIVE This study aims to (1) adapt the SWAN tool for those with hearing, vision, or cognitive disabilities; (2) validate SWAN tool for researching environmental barriers for people with disabilities, including older adults; and (3) offer insights for policy changes in the built environment, contributing to literature and guiding future research. METHODS The study uses a community-based research approach, carried out over 4 phases within an 18-month period in British Columbia. Phase 1 includes adapting and pilot-testing of the SWAN tool. In Phase 2, street intersections are identified for data collection using Geographic Information System tools and consultations with municipal officials. Phase 3 involves recruiting participants across four disability categories. The final phase includes analyzing the data and disseminating findings. RESULTS Data collection concluded in September 2024, involving 80 eligible participants across four streams in preidentified hotspots. The results are expected to be published in March 2025. To date, data collection is ongoing, and we are currently in the process of data analysis. CONCLUSIONS This study will contribute to the growing body of research on built environment accessibility by adapting the SWAN tool for individuals with diverse disabilities. By identifying key barriers in urban spaces, the study aims to inform policy changes that will lead to more inclusive, accessible, and safe urban environments for all individuals.