New Information and Some Changed Dates for Charles Beer’s Public Forums on How to Improve the AODA

September 27, 2009

SUMMARY

It is more important than ever for as many of you as possible to attend the public forums Charles Beer is hosting, to get input on what can be done to more effectively implement the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, so that Ontarians with disabilities can live in a barrier-free society. We need a large turn-out. Please circulate this information to others who may be interested.

Mr. Beer has asked us to circulate some updated information set out below. It includes an extension of the deadline to sign up, and a change in the date for the Sudbury Public Forum. Sign up for the public forum nearest to you. Share your experiences with Mr. Beer about the barriers you face, and the steps needed to remove them.

We are also pleased to let you know that Citizens with Disabilities Ontario (CWDO) has arranged for an on-line public forum with Charles Beer. They have asked us to circulate their announcement, set out below. It lets you know when the event is taking place, and how to take part. This is especially important for those of you who live too far away from the locations for the in-person public forums Charles Beer is hosting.

It will be several years before you have another comparable chance to have your voice heard. We campaigned hard to get legislation with safeguards built in, like the Charles Beer review, so that you can get your message and your experiences through! Don’t miss this important opportunity.

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Message From Charles Beer To The Community

Greetings,

I am writing to provide you with a further update on my Review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).

We have extended the registration deadlines for the public consultation sessions. Also, please note that the Sudbury public consultation session has been postponed. Please see an updated list of dates and registration deadlines below:

Session in Ottawa, October 6, 2009
Registration Deadline October 2, 2009

Session in Toronto, October 14, 2009
Registration Deadline October 9, 2009

Session in London, October 20, 2009
Registration Deadline October 16, 2009

Session in Sudbury, October 27, 2009
Registration Deadline October 22, 2009

There is still time for individuals and organizations to participate in these public consultation sessions. I want to encourage you to consider attending and presenting. You do not need to present a written brief in order to participate.

I would very much like to have a good cross section of participants from across the accessibility sector. If some of you are concerned about appearing at a formal public consultation session, I want to ensure you that I will chair the meetings in an informal and inclusive manner so that you can feel comfortable during your presentation. Your participation, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organization, is most welcome.

Please see the detailed instructions on how to participate and register for the public consultation sessions below:

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario/accesson/participate

If you have any difficulty in registering, please contact my associate Anna Robinson at arobinson@counselpa.com.

If you want to contact me directly I can be reached at: charles.beer@ontario.ca

Regards,

Charles Beer,
Independent Reviewer

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Message From Citizens With Disabilities Ontario

Citizens With Disabilities – Ontario
http://www.cwdo.org

“Together We Are Stronger”

AODA Consultation with Charles Beer

Charles Beer is doing the first 5-year review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). CWDO has arranged for Mr. Beer to meet with Ontarians on-line at a free, “Town Hall” type of meeting.

Date: THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 22, 2009
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm (Toronto time)
Where: On-line – IDEAL Auditorium 1
http://www.ideal-group.org/cwdo/

Who should attend? Anyone who cares about the AODA and accessibility standards should log on for this meeting. Show we care about the AODA!

Our rights may be in the balance. Businesses and municipalities are getting media coverage about their hardships in meeting the new standards. If we are not seen to be united in our desire to keep moving toward a fully accessible province, we may lose much of the ground we have gained.

This is a time to show our strength.

To help us plan the meeting agenda, we have made up a short survey to collect our members’ questions and comments for Mr. Beer. You may be asked if you can raise your own questions and comments if you attend the online meeting. But if you cannot come, we will still try to raise them on your behalf.

Your attendance is vital to achieving our goal to raise public education and awareness about the social and physical barriers that prevent the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ontario.

Please plan to attend and please do the short survey.

Do the survey at: http://www.formdesk.com/odell/AODA_Meeting_Survey .

Our on-line room is accessible for JAWs users and will be closed-captioned.

Personal ASL and intervenor service will be provided on request.

Not sure how CWDO’s on-line meetings work?

Contact Pat Seed at pat.seed@tbaytel.net for a tutorial or call the number below.