AODA Alliance
February 3, 2017
Summary
It’s time to hop back on board the AODA Alliance Express as we make our way around Ontario, helping non-partisan grass roots advocacy efforts in support of accessibility for people with disabilities.
On Tuesday, February 7, 2017 Wilfred Laurier University is hosting a public forum on accessibility at 10 AM to noon. Later that day, at 1:45 PM, University of Waterloo is hosting a lecture for architecture students at its Cambridge campus, on the need to ensure all new buildings are fully accessible to people with disabilities. Then, at 3 PM that same day, University of Waterloo’s Cambridge campus will be the place to be, for another accessibility public forum. The announcements for these events are set out below.
The very next day, on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Federal Government will be hosting a public forum to get input from the public on what the promised Canadians with Disabilities Act should include. The AODA Alliance will be presenting there. So can you!
Here is where and when this takes place:
Wednesday, February 8th
4:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Chelsea Hotel Toronto
33 Gerrard Street West
Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4
Churchill Ballroom
Would you like some suggestions of what you might say to the Federal Government at these consultations? Here are easy-to-use resources at your fingertips. You can find it all in a short, 2 page leaflet, or a somewhat longer and more detailed 12 page tip sheet, or for even more detail, in a 33 page Discussion Paper. Find these resources.
To learn more about the Federal Government’s consultation on its promised Canadians with Disabilities Act.
All these events show how there are so many ways you can join in the effort to press for more action now on accessibility for people with disabilities at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
You can always send your feedback to us on any AODA and accessibility issue at aodafeedback@gmail.com
Have you taken part in our “Picture Our Barriers campaign? If not, please join in! You can get all the information you need about our “Picture Our Barriers” campaign by visiting www.www.aodaalliance.org/2016
To sign up for, or unsubscribe from AODA Alliance e-mail updates, write to: aodafeedback@gmail.com
We encourage you to use the Government’s toll-free number for reporting AODA violations. We fought long and hard to get the Government to promise this, and later to deliver on that promise. If you encounter any accessibility problems at any large retail establishments, it will be especially important to report them to the Government via that toll-free number. Call 1-866-515-2025.
Please pass on our email Updates to your family and friends.
Why not subscribe to the AODA Alliance’s YouTube channel, so you can get immediate alerts when we post new videos on our accessibility campaign.
Please “like” our Facebook page and share our updates.
Follow us on Twitter. Get others to follow us. And please re-tweet our tweets!! @AODAAlliance
Learn all about our campaign for a fully accessible Ontario by visiting http://www.www.aodaalliance.org
Please also join the campaign for a strong and effective Canadians with Disabilities Act, spearheaded by Barrier-Free Canada. Sign up for Barrier-Free Canada updates by emailing info@BarrierFreeCanada.org
MORE DETAILS
Announcement of the February 7, 2017 Accessibility Public Forum at Wilfred Laurier University
Originally posted at:
Sir Wilfred Laurier Event:
https://students.wlu.ca/academics/support-and-advising/accessible-learning-centre/news/2017/winter/implementing-the-aoda-at-laurier-an-open-dialogue.html
Implementing the AODA at Laurier: An Open Dialogue event with David Lepofsky
Join the Accessible Learning Centre (ALC) for a public lecture event called Implementing the AODA at Laurier: An Open Dialogue featuring David Lepofsky on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Paul Martin Centre.
David will speak about the legislative requirements under the AODA (the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005) and the requirements of the university under this legislation.
A commentary on efforts across the province to ensure compliance and the new directive to create an accessible education standard under the AODA legislation will be provided. This commentary is followed by a discussion period with students, staff and faculty on how we as an institution can work together to eliminate barriers for persons with disabilities and create a fully accessible education experience.
David Lepofsky is a visiting professor (part-time) at the Osgoode Hall Law School and an adjunct member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He holds three volunteer leadership roles in the disability community. He is chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, a member of the steering committee and former co-chair of Barrier-Free Canada, and the chair of the Toronto District School Boards Special Education Advisory Committee.
This event is in partnership with Laurier Alumni and LSPIRG (Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group).
This event is a public lecture. No registration is required and all are welcome.
If you are planning to attend this event and require accommodation needs, please email Erin Riggin at eriggin@wlu.ca, to make the appropriate arrangements.
For updates visit the Accessible Learning Facebook page.
——-
Announcement of the February 7, 2017 Lecture on Designing Fully Accessible Buildings, at the University of Waterloo (Cambridge Campus)
Originally posted at: https://uwaterloo.ca/accessability-services/events-0
The Equity Office and AccessAbility Services are excited to invite you to a Guest Lecture with David Lepofsky, disability rights advocate, lawyer, and chair of the AODA Alliance, and Thea Kurdi, Associate Accessibility Specialist for the Built Environment.
Date: February 7, 1:00-1:45pm
Location: Waterloo Architecture, 7 Melville St. South, Cambridge, Room: ARC 1001
Lunch: Provided
Audience: Students and faculty in architecture or other design professionals.
Summary: Public perception is that all new buildings are accessible to the 1.8 million Ontarians who have a disability. However, new buildings are still frequently designed with readily avoidable accessibility barriers. People with disabilities are advocating to architects and design professionals to change the way they view accessibility. The session will explore what future architects and other design professionals can do to avoid the mistakes of the past, and what we all risk if they don’t.
There will be a Town Hall meeting following this event. Please register in advance here as seating is limited: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ramping-up-action-the-aoda-and-the-developing-education-standard-tickets-31463618530
Kindly R.S.V.P by no later than Friday February 3, 2017 through Eventbrite. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Please notify us of any accommodation requests by contacting Jennifer Gillies at jlgillies@uwaterloo.ca. This event is kindly sponsored by the Equity Office.
About the Speakers
David Lepofsky is a life-long disability rights advocate, blind lawyer, and chair of the non-partisan grassroots Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. He is also former co-chair of Barrier-Free Canada, a non-partisan coalition now campaigning to win the Canadians with Disabilities Act. From 1994 to 2005, David Lepofsky led the fight to win enactment of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). In the early 1980s, he took active part in successful campaigns to get disability equality included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As well, he is chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee of the Toronto District School Board. He is now a visiting professor of legal ethics and public interest advocacy at the Osgoode Hall Law School.
Learn more at: www.www.aodaalliance.org and www.barrierfreecanada.org Follow on Twitter: @aodaalliance @DavidLepofsky @barrierFreeCa.
Thea Kurdi has worked for the last 16 years as an accessibility code and universal design specialist at Canada’s leading accessibility consulting firm, DesignABLE Environments. Thea provides drawing reviews for architecture firms and completes building audits. She is also a contributing author and illustrator, creating accessibility standards for every level of government and corporations. Thea’s recent presentations include IIDEX 2016 both as a panelist on the National Summit on Accessibility and as the presenter for, “How Smart Green Design Choices Help to Create Accessible Spaces”. She also gave a sold-out presentation last fall for architects and developers called “Living in Place”, which described the need for and the elements of visitable and adaptable design in housing. You will also be able to see Thea this spring at UTM’s Show Me the Green conference. When not at the office, Thea also loves teaching at Sheridan College’s Architecture program and CAD/CAM Institute, and last year added hosting a web radio show all about accessible architecture she named “The Accessibility Edge” on Voices4Ability radio.
——-
Announcement of the February 8, 2017 University of Waterloo (Cambridge Campus) Accessibility Public Forum
Originally posted at: https://uwaterloo.ca/accessability-services/events-0
The Equity Office and AccessAbility Services are excited to invite you to a Town Hall with David Lepofsky, disability rights advocate, lawyer, and Chair of the AODA Alliance to discuss the AODA and the developing Education Standard.
Date: February 7, 2017, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Location: Waterloo Architecture, 7 Melville St. South, Cambridge, Room: ARC 1001.
Summary: Premier Wynne recently announced in the legislature that the Ontario Government agrees to develop an Education Accessibility Standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Join the Town Hall with David Lepofsky to discuss what this standard will mean for post-secondary institutions. Moreover, this public event will explore a) progress made in Ontario related to accessibility, and why Ontario is lagging behind, b) the Canadians with Disabilities Act, a national law promised by the Federal Government, c) priorities for action on accessibility in the next months, and d) how you can get involved so you can quickly make a difference.
Kindly R.S.V.P by no later than Friday February 3, 2017 through Eventbrite. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Please notify us of any accommodation requests by contacting Jennifer Gillies at jlgillies@uwaterloo.ca. This event is kindly sponsored by the Equity Office.
About the Speaker: David Lepofsky
David Lepofsky is a life-long disability rights advocate, blind lawyer, and chair of the non-partisan grassroots Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. He is also former co-chair of Barrier-Free Canada, a non-partisan coalition now campaigning to win the Canadians with Disabilities Act. From 1994 to 2005, David Lepofsky led the fight to win enactment of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). In the early 1980s, he took active part in successful campaigns to get disability equality included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As well, he is chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee of the Toronto District School Board. He is now a visiting professor of legal ethics and public interest advocacy at the Osgoode Hall Law School.
Learn more at: www.www.aodaalliance.org and www.barrierfreecanada.org Follow on Twitter: @aodaalliance @DavidLepofsky @barrierFreeCa