Accessibility Plan: 2018 - 2023

Section 9: Initiatives

  • Budget Provisions Financial Planning

    Department: All departments

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments: Council and budget allocations

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Customer Service Training

    Department: All departments, administered by Human Resources, Planning and Development, Clerk's Office and Accessibility Advisory Coordinator

    Barriers: Attitudinal, communicational, policy / practice

    Resources / Comments:

    • Training to be organized by Human Resources representative, Accessibility Advisory Coordinator, Community Services representative and incorporated into the Corporate Orientation agenda

    Timeframe: Completed

    • Develop an in-house customer service training tool and necessary policies in compliance with the AODA's mandate of Customer Service Standard by January 1, 2010 for corporation and January 1, 2012 for agencies, boards and commissions
  • Policy / Procedure

    Department: All departments, administered by Accessibility Advisory Coordinator and Corporate Management Team

    Barriers: Communicational

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise
    • Incorporate accessibility considerations into policy / procedure

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    • Incorporate outcomes from all AODA standards as they become regulatory
  • Alternative format availability (Information Technology)

    Department: Planning and Development, and Corporate Communications which includes in-house creative services and web content review / digital communications

    Barriers: Attitudinal, communicational

    Resources/Comments:

    • Staff expertise, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation (for example, Regional materials available in alternative formats upon request, website regularly updated with accessible technologies, legible and clear writing for print products and print advertising)
    • Staff are currently developing a manual of resources to assist with provision / delivery of alternate formats and accommodation resources as requested.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    • Incorporate outcomes expected in the near future from the AODA's Information and Communication Standard
  • Develop Communications Standard

    Department: Administration, Planning and Development, Corporate Communications

    Barriers: Communicational

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation
    • Continue to ensure accessible communication between departments, staff and particularly with the public to promote and enhance communication (for example, document preparation, storage and distribution to use readable OCR PDF technology)

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    • Incorporate outcomes expected in the near future from the AODA's Information and Communication Standard
  • TTY Teletypewriters (local and toll free TTY to main switchboard)

    Department: Corporate Services, Community Services, Public Health Planning and Development, and
    Corporate Communications

    Barriers: Communicational

    Resources / Comments:

    • Ensure TTY contact information is included on website and on all published material
    • Continue to monitor further customer service needs for any additional TTY service

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Accessibility Events

    Department: All departments, administered by the Accessibility Advisory Coordinator

    Barriers: Communicational

    Resources / Comments:

    • Accessibility Advisory Coordinator supports events related to Regional accessibility

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Accessibility Legislation

    Department: All departments

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments:
    Accessibility Advisory Coordinator:

    • Ensures legislative compliance and implementation into practices
    • Ensures review of draft AODA standards when issued
    • Drafts Accessibility Plan as required for submission to Accessibility Advisory Committee and then Council

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Facility Accessibility Design Standards - Accessibility Guidelines

    Department: Corporate Services - Facilities/Properties Management

    Barriers: Policy / practice, architectural

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation, Accessibility Advisory Coordinator
    • Promote adoption to 12 municipalities within Niagara Region

    Timeframe:

    • Niagara Region has now adopted the 2007 version of Facility Accessibility Design Standards
      Incorporate outcomes expected in the near future from the AODA's Built Environment Standard
  • Facility Accessibility - New/Existing, Leased/Owned

    Department: Enterprise Resource Management Services - Facilities / Properties Management

    Barriers: Architectural

    Resources / Comments:

    • Use FADS as guideline for all improvements and as criteria for leasing and lease renewals

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Council Chamber

    Department: Enterprise Resource Management Services - Facilities / Properties Management

    Barriers: Architectural

    Resources / Comments:

    • Accessibility
    • Improvements to Council Chamber

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Employment and Workplace Accommodation

    Department: Human Resources

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise
    • Practices and procedures to promote employment of persons with a disability
    • Gain input from a corporate diversity team
    • Continue support of workplace accessibility and accommodation for all departments

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Policy Plan - Local Official Plans

    Department: Planning and Development

    Barriers: Policy / practice

    Resources / Comments:

    Planning regulations and practices that mandate accessibility:

    • Planning Act 2005, Section 2 (h1) Part VI, Policy 51(24)
    • Provincial Policy Statement Section 1.1.1 (f)
    • Regional Policy Plan Section 5, Urban Areas
    • Approval authority for local official plans Reviewed from Regional and Provincial perspective to meet or exceed mandates in the provision of accessibility

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Regional Emergency Management, Emergency Evacuation and Emergency Shelters Public Education Program

    Department: Community Services, Accessibility Advisory Coordinator

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise, Red Cross, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation, stakeholders, Ontario's Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities or Special Needs Guide, 2007

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Road Construction / Sidewalk Construction

    Department: Public Works

    Barriers: Architectural

    Resources / Comments:

    • Review with FADS and Design of Public Spaces - Built Environment Standard as guiding documents
      Work in conjunction with municipalities as sidewalks are their responsibilities

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed

  • Road Crossing Protection (Audible Signals)

    Department: Public Works

    Barriers: Architectural

    Resources / Comments:

    • Technical sub-committee, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation, CNIB consultation, Integrated Community Planning and Public Works

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    • Installation of new and replacement of existing traffic signals will comply with AODA requirements
  • Inter-Municipal Specialized Transit

    Department: Public Works

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments:

    • Staff expertise, Accessibility Advisory Committee consultation, community consultation
    • Expanded medical trip criteria now includes employment and education

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    • Incorporate AODA's Transportation Standard
  • Construction Projects and Snow Removal

    Department: Public Works

    Barriers: All

    Resources / Comments:

    • Consideration of barriers to accessibility during periods of construction or snow removal

    Timeframe: Ongoing, initiated and continually addressed


Section 10: Summary 2018-2023 Highlights Section 8: Status and Updates by Other Organizations and Agencies

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