Read Articles 8-15 of The Toronto Star’s Online Metroland Publications’ Amazing Ground-Breaking “Restricted Access” series of Articles on Disability Barriers Around Ontario

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update

United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All People with Disabilities

Website: www.aodaalliance.org

Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com

Twitter: @aodaalliance

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

Read Articles 8-15 of The Toronto Star’s Online Metroland Publications’ Amazing Ground-Breaking “Restricted Access” series of Articles on Disability Barriers Around Ontario

December 13, 2024

SUMMARY

Here is a second set of articles from the fantastic Metroland series of articles on disability barriers in local communities and efforts to tear them down. It is entitled “Restricted Access.” The first 7 articles were included in the December 12, 2024 AODA Alliance Update, along with our synthesis of their major points. The entire package of articles fills an astonishing 87 pages. There are 8 articles set out below.

You can find the entire excellent series in one place on the Metroland website. We have previously shared three of the articles in this series in AODA Alliance Updates: The November 25, 2024 report announcing the AODA Alliance’s event to take place that day at Queen’s Park celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the grassroots accessibility movement, the November 29, 2024 report on our community public hearings at Queen’s Park, and the November 29, 2024 Metroland report on the timeline of the 30 years of this campaign.

How You Can Help

These are the same tips we offered you in the December 12, 2024 AODA Alliance Update. They get even more helpful each day you take them out for a spin!

Please send a letter to the editor, 300 words or less, to Metroland at thenewsroom@metroland.com Thank Metroland for producing this ground-breaking series. Tell them about disability barriers you face!

Forward this coverage to other news organizations. Challenge them to cover disability barriers as extensively as has Metroland.

Publicize this Metroland series on website and social media.

Let us know what you try. Email us at aodafeedback@gmail.com

MORE DETAILS

Durham Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/ontario-has-failed-people-with-disabilities-people-with-disabilities-in-oshawa-whitby-and-clarington-speak/article_d1103860-d9bf-59e4-98e6-727d4262119d.html

‘Ontario has failed people with disabilities’: People with disabilities in Oshawa, Whitby and Clarington speak bluntly about what accessibility act means to their lives

‘As a disabled person since 2010, the improvements I’m seeming in my community are absolutely minimal’: Jim McEwen

This article explores Ontario’s progress toward a barrier-free province for people with disabilities amid the impending AODA deadlines through personal experiences.

By Tim Kelly

Dot McFarlane

Dot McFarlane, who has lived with a disability for a number of years and often uses a scooter to get around Oshawa, cuddles with two of her pet dogs, Morgan (on top), a schnauzer mix, and Riot, a poodle mix.

A barrier-free Ontario was the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), unanimously passed by MPPs in 2005. With the province’s 20-year deadline for the implementation of accessibility standards looming on Jan. 1, 2025, Restricted Access: Will Ontario meet its barrier-free goals? explores this quality-of-life issue for the millions of people living with disabilities — a demographic that’s expected to skyrocket as the population ages.

When passed nearly 20 years ago, the AODA, as its most commonly known, was created to “establish, develop, implement and enforce standards related to goods, services, accommodation, employment and buildings before Jan. 1, 2025.

The legislation applies to every person in both the public and private sector. Its ultimate aim is to work toward a barrier-free Ontario.

Has it met that goal? Has it come close? Has much even changed?

DurhamRegion.com asked four people who live with disabilities and who have been members of local accessibility advisory committees in various municipalities whether the legislation has been effective.

Here are their stories, through their own lived experiences and in their own words:

Dot McFarlane, 58, of Oshawa

Dot McFarlane is the current chair of Oshawa’s accessibility advisory committee.

She has “back issues that when I walk certain distances, my legs start to go numb. I also have a genetic endocrine issue and vertigo. I was diagnosed with my endocrine issue when I was in my teens. It causes problems with my face, my neck is very bulgy. It creates hypothyroidism, but my hypothyroidism manifests itself in my neck and it makes my neck look a lot bigger than most people.”

The City of Oshawa insisted on this disclaimer about McFarlane’s comments: “The opinions reflected by the member are their own personal comments and are not endorsed nor representative of the advisory committee, the City of Oshawa or Oshawa city council.”

“Because of my hypothyroidism I get a lot of comments on my face, that I’m fat, that I should lose weight, all that kind of stuff; I get negative comments in regard to that. I started needing to use a scooter six or seven years ago … At first, I wasn’t approved for a scooter, so I ended up getting my own. The doctor had prescribed it. I faced comments in regard to that too. Even people that sort of know me, here in my building, they look at me and they say, you’re too lazy, you shouldn’t need that scooter. So it’s a prime example of attitudinal disability. They think that just because they can see me walk that I shouldn’t need that scooter at all, but they can’t see what’s going on, on the inside,” she said.

How do you feel now as far as accessibility goes in 2024, compared to about a decade ago?

“We have made progress, but there is still a long way to go … In my own life, it’s been in transportation. I don’t drive, my scooter is my car. When I’m going on public transit, with the buses, I’ll go back 20 years ago when we were riding buses — the buses were not accessible at all. I used to have a roommate that used a wheelchair and I would always have to fold her wheelchair up to carry it on the bus and she managed to almost crawl on to the bus. Nowadays, it’s much better.”

Kathryn Bremner, 73, of Oshawa

Bremner’s adult son Scott lives with a disability. She is a longtime disability rights advocate and former member of the City of Oshawa accessibility advisory committee.

“We are six weeks away from the AODA deadline for an accessible Ontario and two decades removed from when it became law and it’s clear that Ontario has failed people with disabilities, miserably. This will come as no surprise to Premier Doug Ford. Four reviews raised alarms about Ontario’s lack of progress. Just north of me in Oshawa, thousands of homes are being built with no thought to accessibility. Homes that will last for decades. The construction industry and the politicians who make the laws need to wake up to the reality that roughly 2.6 million Ontarians are disabled and the number is growing, as the population ages.”

Mike Moraites

Mike Moraites, who lives with a disability, is a former member of the Whitby accessibility advisory committee. He said he was frustrated with the committee and stepped down a few months ago.

Mike Moraites, 63, of Whitby

Moraites lives with osteoarthritis diabetes and neuropathy and retired at age 53 from his job in Toronto, when he moved to Whitby. He is a former member of the Whitby accessibility advisory committee.

“One of the things I find in the Town of Whitby is the lack of enforcement for disabled parking, an inability to find a space, and people violating the laws by parking in the space, or parking in the space with a permit and waiting while they have their friend run into the store. There are all kinds of enforcement issues. That’s the town we live in,” he said.

“There are also two examples of how it’s not working. When I went to visit my doctor’s office, and I went to go into the accessible washroom, the door was shut. I pushed the door open, went to go in, and it was a storage room. I still went in, use the bars to get up and down. I waited and spoke to my doctor; she agreed it shouldn’t be like that. On my next visit, I went to use the accessible washroom and the door was locked. I spoke to the doctor, but they had put a bar in the other bathroom, so it was not adequately equipped in a doctor’s office. What it comes down to, there’s nobody to complain to, nobody to call. What do you use if you come in with a walker or a wheelchair?” he said.

“My biggest worries and concerns are the AODA is not going to be fulfilled by the Jan. 1, 2025 date. I mean, I’m 100 per cent sure they are not going to be able to do that. I understand a lot of people fought for this, but maybe the province should have another look at the act and see what’s doable and reset some achievement dates and try and figure out where the general public is going to come up with the funds to do what they have to do with regards to accessibility. Enforcement (of standards) is an important part for the province. In the town, we pay enough tax. We don’t have money to hire more bylaw enforcement, and it should be a provincial responsibility,” Moraites said.

Jim McEwen

Jim McEwen of Clarington, a member of the Region of Durham’s accessibility advisory committee, has lived with a disability since he suffered a stroke in 2010.

McEwen, a retired civil engineer, has lived with a disability since 2010 after suffering a stroke. He is a member of the Region of Durham accessibility advisory committee.

“As a disabled person since 2010, the improvements I’m seeing in my community are absolutely minimal. I’m not seeing the improvements I would like to see in restaurants. In most restaurants, I have to go to the women’s restroom with my wife. Twenty years ago, there was no standard to have proper bars in handicapped stalls. Twenty years later, I’ve been in so many washrooms where they don’t have enough bars and I’m trying to grab on the back of the toilet because they don’t have accessibility,” he said.

He said he’s frustrated that the need for accessible washrooms seems to be an Ontario Building Code requirement rather than an AODA standard.

“There seems to be a disconnect between the AODA and Ontario Building Code with respect to providing a barrier-free Ontario.”

“I like it when places have a washroom that is only for the disabled. I can go into it, use it and I’m totally fine with it. I have no issues with it and come out on my own. I know how to deal with them. They have a push-button door opener, and they’ve got proper bars in them. I’m totally safe in them,” he said.

With the advisory committee, he said “we’ve had an impact. Durham Region was proposing a new long-term-care home in north Pickering and our committee had the opportunity to review the proposed drawings for accessibility, which was good.”

Tim Kelly is a reporter with durhamregion.com. He can be reached at tkelly@durhamregion.com

Almaguin News December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/tactile-sidewalks-in-south-river-helps-alert-walkers-including-those-visually-impaired-that-they-are/article_d885fd99-0f6f-58ef-a1bd-63a702be78c1.html

Tactile sidewalks in South River helps alert walkers, including those ‘visually impaired that they are approaching an intersection and are about to step on the road’

One project sees village install tactile sidewalks as aging infrastructure replaced.

By Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Monday, December 2, 2024

It’s been a busy period for the Village of South River as it removes barriers to improve the lives of people facing accessibility obstacles.

The village initiated three major projects over the last year and is in various stages this fall of seeing them completed.

Perhaps the most visible project is the use of tactile sidewalks.

Don McArthur, the village’s clerk-administrator, said the tactile sidewalks are steel plates located at intersections.

McArthur said they are designed to let a visually impaired person know the sidewalk is about to end.

“Sometimes the plates are made of rubber but ours are made of steel,” McArthur said. “They have small knobs that stick out that a foot will pick up or someone with a cane. This will alert the person who is visually impaired that they are approaching an intersection and are about to step on the road.”

South River’s tactile sidewalks are about one square metre in size and painted a bright yellow.

McArthur said the municipality has been installing the tactile sidewalks as part of its water main replacement projects.

He said since the water main projects automatically called for the rehabilitation of the roads and sidewalks after the underground infrastructure was installed, the village installed the tactile sidewalks as the last part of the work.

And since the steel plates were going to be installed, McArthur said the sidewalks were also sloped down next the road so a visually impaired person or someone on a scooter or wheelchair could smoothly move from the sidewalk onto the road without having to step off a curb.

“So, the ability to transition from the road to the sidewalk or sidewalk to road is an important feature,” McArthur said.

There are about 30 tactile sidewalks spread across the village.

Quite a few are located on Eagle Lake Road and the several streets it intersects with like Ottawa Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Johnston Drive and Marie Street.

A set of four plates is found at the intersection of Highway 124 and Ottawa Avenue and more at Ottawa Avenue and Broadway Street as well as the intersection at Cedar Court and Ottawa Avenue.

McArthur said there are a lot of sidewalks in South River and as more rehabilitative work is done, he said residents can expect the installation of more tactile sidewalks.

Another project that will make accessibility easier for people is a new trail that cuts through a bush area and leads people to the very popular Tom Thomson Park.

The trail is three metres wide and will easily accommodate people on wheelchairs and scooters.

However, for now the trail has a hard-packed surface and still needs to have asphalt applied to smooth out the surface.

McArthur said because it’s late in the year, this work won’t be done until next year.

But in the meantime, the trail can accommodate walkers and joggers.

Tom Thomson Park is on Ottawa Avenue and the section near the park has no sidewalks.

McArthur said it’s not feasible to install sidewalks in this particular area because in some sections the road is next to privately-owned land.

This section of Ottawa Avenue is heavily travelled because it leads to the industrial area and consequently has a lot of truck and logging traffic on it.

Additionally, it’s an access point to Algonquin Park meaning a great number of tourists use the roadway.

“So, it was best to deviate around this,” McArthur said in explaining the rationale for building a trail to the park.

“It’s much safer and about 600 metres long. At its end you just cross Ottawa Avenue and into the park.”

The third significant project involves the former train station on Ottawa Avenue.

The building hasn’t been used for passenger service for years and until recently was going to be repurposed as a small museum to reflect South River’s history.

This was a slow-moving project.

However, when the Ontario Government announced that it plans to bring rail passenger service back to Northern Ontario and South River is a major stop, work on the old station picked up steam.

McArthur said the entire station will be fully accessible.

“The doorways are wider, there is a level entrance coming from the parking lot where it’s all one grade and there is a fully accessible washroom,” he said.

Even during the heydays of train travel the station never had a washroom.

The single washroom will serve males and females and includes a change table.

When fully complete, the train station will accommodate passenger train customers and also house the museum.

The cost for the train station work is $450,000.

But the village only has to cover 18 per cent since the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor are picking up the lion’s share of the cost.

McArthur said the municipality has also added one more accessible parking spot at the town hall office and put more accessible parking spots through the main core of the community along Ottawa Avenue.

Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

Durham Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/discriminated-against-me-because-of-my-disability-ajax-pickering-critics-say-ontario-is-not-fully/article_712bd18a-1a99-5157-93ae-37932254b373.html

‘Discriminated against me because of my disability’: Ajax, Pickering critics say Ontario is not fully accessible

Critic says province focusing on wrong areas

In 2005, the provincial government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which requires Ontario to become accessible by 2025. Critics say the goal won’t be met by Jan. 1.

Kristen Calis Metroland

Kathreen Smith is the co-chair of the Ajax accessibility advisory committee and uses a wheelchair, facing constant obstacles in the community. Sarah Moore is the town’s legislative specialist. They are pictured outside of council chambers

Ajax resident Kathreen Smith had high hopes that the provincial target set 20 years ago to make Ontario accessible by 2025 would make a bigger impact.

But her biggest wish still hasn’t come true, and it’s not looking like it will by Jan. 1.

“My wish would be to be able to go about my day and not think about accessibility, just be able to get on a bus, go to a store and not face issues,” said Smith, the co-chair of the Ajax Accessibility Advisory Committee

But she still faces barriers when she goes to the bank and can’t see over the counter. It’s there, but it isn’t reserved for her or anyone else using a wheelchair.

When she goes to the grocery store, she wishes employees were more willing to help when she can’t reach an item.

“I do find other people within Ajax are very helpful, but the actual staff, they should be helping,” she said.

And it was a slap in the face when she was told that her longtime hair stylist could no longer cut her hair because her disability, which had progressed, had become an insurance issue.

“They blatantly discriminated against me because of my disability,” she said.

“I had been going there for years. I was happy.”

In 2005, the province passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), which requires Ontario to become accessible by 2025. The government was to lead the charge by setting and enforcing regulations stating what employers and providers of goods and services must do to remove barriers.

Accessibility advisory committees are required in communities with populations of 10,000 or more and help with matters such as site plans for developments, raising awareness in the community and providing input on a municipality’s accessibility plan.

Tim Higgins, Pickering’s accessibility co-ordinator, said he and his wife, who has a disability and uses a cane, face similar obstacles to Smith’s.

He spoke of a trip to the bank.

“It’s really clear she’s struggling to move around or even to stand in line,” he said. “But they’re happy to let her stand in line. They don’t intervene in any way, don’t say, ‘Have a seat.’”

Sarah Moore, the Town of Ajax’s legislative specialist, says she hears a lot of similar complaints.

Although the town is not responsible for addressing these concerns — it should be the province — Ajax will send a letter of understanding from the accessibility advisory committee.

Moore explained the town has many responsibilities, such as creating a multi-year plan every two years.

The town has shifted to a mentality that accessibility is not just up to one staff member.

“it’s something that we all have a responsibility to move toward — better inclusion and accessibility in all the different aspects of services that we provide to the Ajax community,” she said.

In the smaller community of Uxbridge, according to the township’s clerk, Emily Elliott, Uxbridge is continuously striving for improvement in the area of accessibility, and has implemented plans and procedures to help meet requirements, such as its own multi-year accessibility plan, facility accessibility design standards and an accessible customer service policy.

Being fully accessible can be challenging for a small historic town like Uxbridge, as many of its facilities predate the AODA and do not meet the current design requirements.

“The township is committed to making any minor adjustments that may help this issue, and follow Building Code and Accessible Design Standards when these spaces are being renovated,” she said. “Progress is ongoing, but the township is committed to making whatever improvements it can to reduce barriers for all.”

Being a small municipality, the township faces staffing challenges such as workload and turnover, which makes accomplishing large accessibility initiatives challenging at times. Budget constraints are also a factor impeding accessibility goals

She said making all of the necessary changes will take years, but “the township is committed to keeping up momentum, continuing to partner with organizations that can help, and by engaging the community and those with lived experience to help enhance and improve accessibility.”

According to Higgins, the province spends too much time focusing on whether municipalities are compliant and not enough time on the issues that matter, such as customer service, accessible housing and employment standards.

“Largely speaking on behalf of Pickering, we have been in compliance in the nine years I’ve been here,” he said. “Fully compliant and nothing else has changed. The controversy is more about what the province hasn’t done and less about what municipalities are not doing.”

Higgins, who worked for the province on this exact file when it was being implemented in 2005, explained the Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility has rolled out one consolidated regulation that addresses five areas: customer service, information and communications, employment, public space design and transportation.

By now, all organizations should be compliant.

“The province really hasn’t been setting a pace of leadership in this area,” he said.

Higgins said currently there are employment standards, but they are weak “and they need to be beefed up.”

He said there are about twice as many people with a disability who are unemployed than the general population who are without work, a number that is actually higher.

“(Many) just give up hope and opt out of the employment setting and they’re not counted in the statistics,” he said.

Higgins explained the Ontario Building Code, the Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA are three pieces of legislation that work together to promote accessibility.

The Building Code specifies things like door and ramps requirements in public buildings, but it doesn’t speak to residential properties such as condos, town homes, detached homes and bungalows, Higgins said.

“You could build anything pretty much with very limited expectations on the builder to meet any specific rules,” he said. “They’re building tall narrow townhouses, often lots of stairs, narrow staircases, narrow garages that you can hardly get out of the car in to begin with.”

There are accessible parking requirements, but “You get into that space, with a wheelchair, but you have no place to go because the next thing you see is a staircase.”

Wallace Pidgeon, director of communications to the minister of seniors and accessibility, Raymond Cho, said in a statement that Ontario is meeting, achieving or exceeding the AODA across the province.

“This includes historic spending in infrastructure, school upgrades, new and retrofitted hospitals and long-term-care facilities, as well as public transit upgrades, including over 2,200 new accessible buses being delivered provincewide,” he said.

Higgins and Moore both referred to four scathing reviews on the province’s AODA progress.

The AODA requires the province to appoint a mandatory independent review of the AODA’s implementation and enforcement, roughly every three years, to recommend reforms needed to ensure that Ontario becomes accessible by 2025.

These were released by former cabinet minister Charles Beer in 2010, a then-University of Toronto professor Mayo Moran in 2015, former lieutenant governor David Onley in 2019 and accessibility expert Rich Donovan, who released his report in 2023.

Moore explained in these, there were “substantial and numerous recommendations from high-profile leaders in the access and inclusion community … and it’s a little bit disappointing even as an able-bodied individual who works within this community realm that there hasn’t been a lot of action toward the feedback that’s been collected publicly on the legislation.”

Pidgeon said the ministry works directly with organizations to help them understand their accessibility obligations, submit accessibility compliance reports (public sector, private sector and non-profit organizations), inspect and audit organizations each year, provide online tools and resources and offer one-on-one assistance to address instances of noncompliance.

“In 2023, 98 per cent of audits conducted were resolved working directly with the public, private and not for profit as compliant,” he said

Moore feels “we’ve outpaced the legislation as well,” which doesn’t speak on things like social media and AI.

“I think there needs to be some additional reflection and review,” she said.

Higgins agrees the road can’t end here.

“The government should take the lead and review where it’s at, renew its commitment and localize its resources and so on for the next 20 years,” he said.

Durham Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/i-think-we-will-always-be-trying-to-do-better-the-clash-between-accessibility-and/article_80eaca47-4bf3-53c6-813b-b7d546eb86e8.html

‘I think we will always be trying to do better’: The clash between accessibility and heritage continues in Clarington and beyond

Officials, businesses get creative in journey to barrier-free Ontario

Clarington’s historic Bowmanville downtown is a challenge for accessibility as heritage guidelines and historic buildings clash with modern needs.

By Moya Dillon

Lesley Scherer

Moya Dillon Metroland

Lesley Scherer, chair of Clarington’s accessibility advisory committee, at the recently renovated Veteran’s Square — a project that included accessibility considerations, including a ramped entry and mobility device charging stations.

In Bowmanville and other heritage downtowns across Canada, the journey to a barrier-free province requires some creativity.

As the January deadline for the AODA’s vision of a barrier-free Ontario approaches, experts say the reality of a fully accessible province is much more nuanced.

“I don’t think you can put a time frame on it,” said Lesley Scherer, chair of Clarington’s accessibility advisory committee, which advises the municipality on accessibility issues and improvements at municipal facilities.

“I don’t see there ever being an end to making the world accessible,” Scherer continued. “I think we will always be trying to do better.”

One recurring issue in Clarington is the accessibility of downtown businesses, where aging heritage buildings can require expensive upgrades that often run in contradiction to heritage guidelines.

“That’s probably the biggest complaint we hear from the community, and that’s where the trouble lies,” said Scherer, noting the committee can only provide guidance and recommendations to Clarington, and has no authority over private businesses, although they will often work with those looking for ways to improve.

“If the shop owner rents the space, they can’t make changes, and if it’s a heritage building, they have to look at how they can work with the guidelines to make it accessible, and it’s not always through the front entrance,” she explained, noting many businesses with steps at the front door have created second entrances at the back to provide more accessibility.

“While it might not be the best option, it’s the best option they can do,” Scherer said. “That’s the important thing, that people are trying to make those changes and doing the best they can to improve accessibility.”

Ron Hooper, chair of the Bowmanville BIA, said accessibility is a focus for many business owners.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve accessibility at all of the buildings,” he said of the organization. “Some have put ramps at the side of their buildings or opened back entrances. We’re always on the lookout for solutions.”

Mayor Adrian Foster said the municipality has made accessibility improvements at their own facilities a priority, including the installation of mobility device charging stations — which now total 16 at indoor and outdoor locations across Clarington — accessibility renovations at the Bowmanville and Orono library branches, audio announcements and braille added to elevators at town hall and the Bowmanville Library, and the installation of accessible fitness equipment at the South Courtice Arena.

He stressed the importance of accessibility improvements in the face of an aging population, with a greater percentage of residents likely to need accommodations in the coming years.

“We talk about having an inclusive community and we can’t be inclusive if we don’t think about all of these things,” Foster said. “A lot of this doesn’t even come through council because it’s done automatically at the staff level and I think that’s a testament to how far we’ve come that a lot of it is just a no-brainer, of course you do it.”

The municipality has no authority over private businesses and facilities, however, and recognizes many challenges still exist.

“For some mom-and-pop restaurants and such, the cost of putting in an elevator would equal the entirety of their annual receipts, so there needs to be provisions for that,” he said. “I know the greater issue is getting into some of our historic buildings and there you run into heritage issues; for instance, the sidewalk downtown isn’t wide enough to accommodate a ramp, so many challenges remain.”

As for the AODA’s vision of a barrier-free Ontario, Foster thinks it will be an evolving goal.

“This is very much an evolving issue; the things we thought we were dealing with in 2004, a lot of that is the same, but there have been a lot of changes as well in recognizing folks amongst us that might need to be accommodated that we didn’t appreciate at the time,” Foster said, citing neurodivergent conditions, mental health accommodations and more.

“We’re clearly not there and I don’t know if we’ll ever get there because things change, the needs of our community change and I think that’s probably a good thing that we’ll always be considering what’s next. I don’t think we’re ever going to achieve that perfection,” he said. “Maybe the 2025 change isn’t that we’re fully accessible, but that the culture has shifted to the realization that we need to do everything we should to be as accessible as possible.”

Scherer says an important focus of the committee is to view accessibility beyond just physical disabilities. Members bring a wealth of perspectives, including physical disabilities, visual impairments and neurodivergence.

“I think Clarington does a great job of making things as accessible as possible. When someone brings up an issue, we will address it as quickly as we possibly can, but one thing I do notice is that physical disabilities tend to get more attention, and I think that’s one reason committees like the AAC are so important, because they can look at issues from so many different perspectives,” she said.

“I don’t think we could ever make the world as accessible as we want it to be, but as long as we’re trying, that’s the important part.”

Muskoka Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/i-was-scared-gravenhurst-councillor-recalls-frightening-moment-with-spouse-supports-accessibility-awareness-event-for/article_d115c68c-40d6-5c86-8402-648f7a366ead.html

Restricted Access

‘I was scared’: Gravenhurst councillor recalls frightening moment with spouse, supports accessibility awareness event for 2025

Initiative aims to promote inclusivity and understanding within the community

Former councillor/advocate also praises the town’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of creating allies for promoting accessibility in Muskoka.

By Brent Cooper

Coun. Penny Varney speaks to Gravenhurst council at its Oct. 15 meeting regarding the accessibility advisory committee planning an accessibility awareness event in 2025.

Penny Varney was frightened.

The Gravenhurst councillor was in Yonge Street subway in Toronto in late October, expecting to meet with her husband Tony, who was blind in his left eye, the result of an infection.

The issue was the couple were at different parts of the station, and Tony, with his disability, was having issues finding Varney.

“He was at one end of the station, and I was at the other, and I realized what had happened. He couldn’t even see the sign for Yonge Street. I said, ‘well, I’m going to stay where I am because I don’t know if I’ll find you. So you can stop somebody and ask them how you get to this particular spot on the subway station.’ That’s what he had to do. I just stayed where I was, and finally I saw him coming toward me … I was scared.”

Trying to understand what it is like to manage everyday life with a disability is one of the reasons the Town of Gravenhurst is planning to host an awareness event next year.

The committee of the whole passed a motion at its Oct. 15 meeting, directing the recreation, arts and culture department staff to work with the town’s accessibility advisory committee to plan an accessibility event in 2025 “that encourages the public to experience what it’s like to be a person with a disability.”

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, introduced in 2005, has the goal of making the province of Ontario fully accessible for persons with disabilities by the year 2025.

Jonathan Gilston, the deputy clerk, said planning for the 2025 accessibility awareness event is still in its infancy and the date is not confirmed. He did say the idea is to have the event in the spring, and have it open to the public potentially at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre.

“When (committee members) initially discussed it, it would be in one location one day where they’d be within the given room. Different booths would be set up for experiencing what it’s like to be blind, deaf, all the range of accessible needs based on the equipment available for us to be able to use, whether it be from the (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), or other organizations who are able to provide us the equipment,” he said.

Varney said at the October meeting where she proposed the motion, the committee wants Gravenhurst to be “an inclusive community where all are valued, respected and thrive.”

“May 2025 is accessibility month throughout Muskoka. We will be asking some councillors and senior staff to take part in some of the activities. We will work in pairs where you might be blindfolded or ears covered or in a wheelchair in order to experience the life some people live.”

That’s the understanding Sandy Cairns hopes many residents will have at the prospective daylong event. The Gravenhurst councillor, who has a niece born with spina bifida — a condition that affects the spine usually at birth — recalls a visit by her niece to Gravenhurst around 10 years ago, watching as the then 27-year-old tried to get around town in her wheelchair.

“Thank goodness she’s a strong young lady because there was definitely a lot of obstacles for her to get over through town. She had to pop wheelies to get over the curbs,” Cairns said.

She went on to say Gravenhurst has since become very proactive with its accessibility measures, thanks to the efforts of one determined person.

“I have got to give credit to Bob Calhoun, our past councillor, who’s now passed away. He was the one who got us all involved in realizing (the situation), and then after that is when the town started to really implement putting in better curbs, gutters, anything that you think of that a person with a disability could fall into,” she said.

One former Gravenhurst councillor and accessibility advocate is applauding the town for its accessibility initiative.

“I think it’ll be extremely eye opening for many people,” said Graeme Murray, the Canadian sledge hockey star who was elected to council in 2018. “You can see the challenges that many people with disabilities have to deal with. Having an event like this really gives you an opportunity to wear their shoes, so to speak.”

Murray added the event could also help find more advocates and allies from different backgrounds to assist with promoting future programs.

“We can’t do this by ourselves. We’re about putting a team together to really advocate for accessibility in Muskoka … leading to beautiful properties or parks and tourist destinations, and we can’t get that because (advocates) don’t exist in all of those places,” he added.

Durham Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/it-s-about-time-we-get-it-done-pickering-council-chambers-to-become-more-accessible/article_4745634d-7f53-5f3f-bef0-98cfe4ff9a7c.html

‘It’s about time we get it done’: Pickering council chambers to become more accessible

Staff chooses favourite option

The City of Pickering’s council chambers have numerous challenges for people with mobility and accessibility challenges.

By Kristen Calis

Pickering council chambers will be renovated mostly to reflect requirements to make it more accessible.

Pickering residents using mobility devices will have an easier time getting around council chambers now that a design has been approved.

At the Nov. 25 meeting, council endorsed in principal the schematic design concept for the renovations.

The Pickering Civic Complex opened in 1980, when accessibility was not a requirement of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). Also, use of personal computers and digital technology were in their infancy.

“The main impetus for this is the accessibility upgrades to this to make it available for everybody,” said Brian Duffield, director of operations.

The existing council chamber performs poorly against contemporary accessibility design standards, which include several updates to the OBC and the introduction of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The province passed legislation 30 years ago with the goal of making Ontario fully accessible by 2025.

The stairs and central depressed bowl of the chamber are the most obvious impediments, though there are numerous other challenges, according to the report.

Scooters, for example, are far more commonplace as mobility aids than they were in 1990, and have grown larger in size.

“Council chambers struggles to provide suitable clearances, even for smaller wheelchairs,” the report said.

The report explained staff visited all other lakeshore municipalities in Durham region to see their council chambers, including the regional headquarters building. In all cases, the floor of the chamber is at, or nearly at, the same level throughout, using minimal ramping.

The proposed concept would see Pickering’s existing bowl depression infilled to provide a consistent floor level throughout.

Duffield said the accessibility advisory committee has provided input on the plan and will continue to give feedback on the design.

Ward 3 regional Coun. David Pickles noted other city buildings have been updated, saying “it’s about time we get it done.”

Pickering chief administrative officer Marisa Carpino said the council chambers renovations have been in the works for many years.

“The city has an annual accessibility plan and we have had in the past accessibility audits,” she said. “We get a lot of feedback from the accessibility advisory committee and this was a key concern of theirs — the chambers that is really meant to be for the people is really not accessible to all of its members.”

While council was engaged on the plans at the time, COVID-19 changed meetings from in-person to virtual, causing a pause to the renovations.

Additional upgrades in the design concept include a separation between public seating and council and staff seating, and adding two additional seats for future council positions, which may be needed as Pickering grows.

Kristen Calis is a reporter with durhamregion.com. She can be reached at kcalis@durhamregion.com

Georgina Advocate December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/murc-walking-tracks-could-be-game-changer-as-georgina-strides-toward-full-accessibility/article_5198e6de-0bba-5fe3-ae06-900dfccd95c7.html

Restricted Access

MURC walking tracks could be ‘game-changer’ as Georgina strides toward full accessibility

Georgina aims to lead in accessibility and inclusion, says the town.

By Yoyo Yan

Cindy Paisley on the MURC walking track

Cindy Paisley, left, and her walking buddy enjoy their walk on the accessible, walker-friendly track at the MURC in Keswick.

Cindy Paisley photo

Cindy Paisley, a resident of Keswick in her mid-50s, has found a new rhythm and new companions at Georgina’s newest facility, the Multi-Use Recreation Complex (MURC).

Recently, Paisley took to social media to find walking buddies at the MURC. It wasn’t long before she found a steady companion to join her three times a week for light strolls, which they both complete with a walker.

“We only manage about 20 to 30 minutes,” Paisley shared. “It’s not far, but it means a lot to have someone to go with.”

Paisley’s mobility is limited due to “drop foot,” a condition requiring her to wear a supportive brace, along with a rare lung condition called pulmonary hypertension.

“It makes anything with endurance very hard,” she explained.

But at the MURC, she finds the facility’s accessible setup to be a game-changer.

“The track is beautiful, with windows all around, giving a nice view while you walk. It’s smooth, clean and never too busy.”

Paisley’s enthusiasm for the track was clear. The space boasts three lanes — one each for walking, passing and running — and offers stunning views through large, light-filled windows.

The thoughtful design, from smooth rubber flooring to easy elevator access, ensures the MURC remains inclusive and approachable, she said.

“It’s just a wonderful experience,” Paisley said. “Everyone respects each other’s pace and space.”

Paisley recalled her days walking in the local mall, but emphasized the MURC is a step above.

“There’s less impact on the rubber floor, and it’s just easier all around,” she explained. “MURC is a perfect fit.”

Mobi-chair and Mobi-mat at De La Salle beach

The Mobi-chair and Mobi-mat are available to wheelchair users, children and adults with special needs at De La Salle beach in Georgina.

Town of Georgina photo

Georgina has been praised for its commitment to accessibility, with the MURC and other key facilities like the Link and Georgina Ice Palace designed to meet AODA standards.

The town’s accessibility team works closely with the community and regional partners to make Georgina a model of inclusion. From wheelchair-friendly pathways to inclusive play structures, the town’s focus on universal design is as refreshing as the MURC’s rubber-paved track.

The town’s partnership with platforms like Access Now also helps residents review and rate local spots for accessibility, and the upcoming replacement Civic Centre is expected to set a new standard.

“Georgina continues to make great strides in ensuring an accessible community for all,” said a town spokesperson. “It is Georgina’s goal to be seen as a leader in accessibility and inclusion.”

As Paisley and her fellow walkers continue their meetups at the MURC, Georgina’s vision of a barrier-free town marches forward — one inclusive step at a time.

Yoyo Yan is a reporter for YorkRegion.com. Reach him at yyan@metroland.com

Muskoka Region December 2, 2024

Originally posted at https://www.yorkregion.com/news/huntsville-moves-toward-full-accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-but-challenges-remain/article_1c62f80a-1e9a-5986-9851-dcb59c580e7e.html

Restricted Access

Huntsville moves toward full accessibility for people with disabilities, but challenges remain

A Huntsville man, with the help of his support worker, advocates for better accessibility in Huntsville

By Megan Hederson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Glen Slater is a longtime Huntsville resident in his mid-60s. He and two roommates live downtown in a bungalow-style home.

All three residents seek services from Community Living Huntsville due to the developmental and physical disabilities they live with.

Slater has cerebral palsy — a condition that affects motor control and posture and leads to varying levels of movement disability. This disorder can involve sensory, cognitive and communication challenges, which Slater experiences.

Alex Sherar, a support worker with Community Living Huntsville, has been advocating for Slater’s needs for more than six years. He’s built a strong bond that goes beyond the support role.

“We’ve worked pretty close together for a long time, so I feel like I know when he wants to say something and I try to do my best for him,” Sherar said.

Huntsville formed an accessibility advisory committee in 2001 to advise town staff and council members on all matters about persons living with disabilities.

Slater sits on the committee’s board and Sherar will often attend meetings with him. “When someone’s speaking about a topic and it reminds us of a situation we’ve been in, we’re like, ‘hey wait a second, we struggled or there was an error at this point’ and we confront it,” Sherar said while Slater nodded his head.

Their lived experiences bring necessary perspectives to the group. This allows those in power to make changes where possible and create a more accessible town.

Karaoke nights used to be a challenge

Music on Main exterior during the day

Music on Main now has a modular ramp, which allows for mobility device access into the venue.

Music on Main photo

Slater said his favourite activity is singing karaoke at a local bar just behind his house.

On nights out, a Community Living worker will accompany Slater on the five-minute walk to Music on Main. The sidewalks and roadways are fairly easy to manoeuvre in a wheelchair. Other times, they use an accessible van for transport.

As of Oct. 31, Music on Main procured a modular accessibility ramp. “It’s important to be able to reach people on a human level by giving them the gift of live music. With the help of Jennifer Jerrett from Community Living, the amazing people at Home Comfort Care, we are now wheelchair accessible,” owner Mike McAvan said in a Facebook post.

Before the ramp, Sherar said they used to have to interrupt the band and ask for help to lift Slater and his wheelchair into the building.

While not all businesses are required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to have accessible ramps, they must make efforts to ensure accessibility based on their building type and available resources.

Generally, new buildings are designed to include accessibility standards during the planning stages, but for older buildings like Music on Main, meeting these standards can be challenging.

Sherar said there’s limited space inside and the washrooms aren’t accessible for Slater’s wheelchair, but there’s only so much the owners can do.

“I’m glad that they’re now accommodating him,” Sherar said.

Accessibility at the Summit Centre

Another one of Slater’s pastimes is swimming. Being submerged in water, especially warm water, is therapeutic for his body and mind.

While Slater can access the facilities to get changed and go swimming, there are still barriers. Sherar said the change room is “just like a broom closet” and there have been instances when the mechanical lifts were broken or unusable.

Malfunctioning equipment presents an uncomfortable obstacle for Slater. As a young man, he lived in an institution for the disabled. “He has a lot of trauma from being moved around and lifted … So when we lift him, we want to make sure it’s safe and he feels comfortable. But if we don’t have access to the right equipment, it’s not good,” Sherar said.

To comply with accessibility design standards, the town commits to regular maintenance and performs routine checks on accessible features in public spaces.

This includes handling temporary issues, like when an accessible feature is out of order.

More on Huntsville’s accessibility efforts

The Town of Huntsville’s 2023 – 2027 Accessibility Plan states websites have been upgraded to meet the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. Ongoing accessibility maintenance costs for web content include staff’s time to maintain at $2,945 annually.

In terms of architectural barriers, municipal buildings in Huntsville require 20 additional accessible door openers that should be replaced going forward at an approximate cost of $5,000 per door. These will be included in the 2025 – 2026 multi-year budget.

The majority of physical barriers relating to transit services, sidewalks and intersections, and roadways are still under review and pending budget approval. The 2021 Diggin’ Downtown project led to improved sidewalk and streetscape accessibility.

Planning and development in Huntsville also needs to be looked at through an accessibility scope. The town’s AAC promotes accessible housing by reviewing and making recommendations based upon Universal Design for residential, institutional, industrial and commercial development.

The Town of Huntsville encourages the public to report any accessibility issues to the deputy clerk at 705-789-1751, ext. 2258 or to Dione Schumacher, the accessibility advisory committee chair, at 705-646-8260.