Meaford Council Chambers. Photo by Claire McCormack
Meaford’s committee of the whole is approving an accessibility multi-year plan.
During a meeting on Sept. 12, a report was brought forward by Director of Community Services and Clerk Matt Smith. It recommended the committee of the whole recommend council approve the plan ranging from 2023 to 2026.
As part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), municipalities need to establish, implement, maintain, and document a multi-year accessibility plan, with it needing to be reviewed and updated at least every five years. Under the AODA, the provincial government has set a goal of making Ontario fully accessible for people with disabilities by 2025.
Smith explains the 2025 goal is not an absolute deadline.
“While we should be absolutely striving to do as much as we possibly can by 2025, there is no drop dead date on that,” says Smith.
Mayor Barb Clumpus adds, “many of the timelines that were to be met by 2025, are in play and now the new goal is of monitoring and looking at ways to improve accessibility.”
The developed plan comes with six aspects, information and communications, employment, transportation, design of public spaces, customer service, and going beyond the AODA.
The goal of information and communications is to make sure all information coming from the municipality is delivered to residents no matter their varying abilities, by increasing the capacity of staff producing content.
Employment looks to ensure current and future employees are not facing any barriers at work, by providing training and reviewing the recruitment process.
The goal for transportation is to support integrated transit in a way that meets the needs of everyone, by looking for opportunities to enhance Meaford Moves+ specialized transit.
Designing spaces for people looks to ensure accessibility needs are met for newly constructed or redeveloped areas, by undertaking lifestyle upgrades and looking for feedback on accessible design features.
To prevent people from encountering barriers, the goal for customer service looks to identify and remove problems to allow people of all abilities to have equal access to services.
To go beyond the AODA, the plan looks to create and accessible and inclusive community, while being responsive to the needs and improving well-being and quality of life of people with disabilities.
The report says the 2023 draft tax supported operating budget will include $5,000 to complete accessibility work plan initiatives, with input from the municipal accessibility advisory committee.