York Region Receives 2006 Ontario Mainstreet Accessibility Award

Since the enactment of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001(ODA), York Region has planned and executed three, soon to be four, innovative and progressive accessibility plans which involved the development and implementation of over 250 accessibility planning initiatives. These initiatives have supported the Region’s accessibility planning objectives of:

• Helping People Live Independently
• Making it Easier to Move Around the Region
• Making Regional Services More Accessible
• Making it Easier to Participate in Regional Government
• Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness.

The Region has made significant strides to create better access to our programs, services and facilities. York Region’s residents, including those with disabilties have benefitted from these improvements which can be found:

• on our buses, bus stops and crosswalks through the purchase of new buses which include accessible features such as electronic signs and audible stop announcements, replacing concrete pads at bus stops and changing curbs to allow for mobility devices, and audible crossing technology assisting those who are blind or have low vision to cross the streets safely;
• on our website which is continually monitored to improve technologies allowing more access for persons with low vision;
• in our buildings, housing and long term care facilities including renovations to entrances, accessible washrooms, walkways and signage allowing more persons with disabilities to access our buildings;
• in our policies and practices through the development of accessibility meeting and multiple format guidelines allowing more people to participate in Regional Government; and to our procurement practices more accessible.
• in our training programs through the development of a corporate sensitivity and inclusivity training program. To date, close to 400 staff from across the Region have completed this course.
• in our policing services which established a Mental Health Support Team to assist our officers in responding to calls or incidents involving people with mental health disabilities.

These are just a few of the examples of the great things we have done to create better access to our services. The Region’s 2007 Accessibility Plan is under development and will be released in the coming months.

Along with the 2006 Ontario Mainstreet Accessibility Award, in 2004, York Region received an investing in Abilities Award from Future Abilities and Creative Employment (FACE) for our ongoing efforts to remove barriers for people with disabilities as both an employer and a promoter of accessibility. The Region was further recognized by the provincial government who identified York Region’s process for establishing its Accessibility Advisory Committee and accessibility planning process as a best practice and model to be used by other organizations.

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