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2008 Departmental Accessibility Plans
York Regional Police |
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| Environmental Scan |
York Regional Police proudly serves its communities through the efforts of its 1,296 officers and 457 civilian members. We maintain headquarters in Newmarket and support facilities in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket, Georgina, and Aurora, delivering community-based policing, investigative and specialized services to both urban and rural communities. The organizational structure includes Operation and Administrative Branches which oversee District Patrol Operations, Investigative and Support Services, Information Services, Financial and Staff Services, Community Services, and Court Services.
As the region's population continues to grow, there will be pressure on infrastructure and service providers resulting from the expectations of our citizens. As we consider the significant population growth, it is important to remember that there are approximately 140,000 York Region residents with a disability (2006). People with disabilities are a significant part of the diverse composition of the population we serve. The legitimate needs of all persons drive the need for responsive public services that enhance quality of life.
York Regional Police ensures information and communication barriers are minimized through the wide array of mechanisms available to access our services and programs, including telephone, web, and other technology applications. There are specific crime prevention tips available for persons with disabilities to help them feel safer and more secure at home. We will focus on consulting with groups, agencies, and partners to develop further ways to incorporate access to services and information, needs to support persons with disabilities. Members of York Regional Police understand the importance of inclusion and we will continue to provide tools, information, and training to increase their awareness. We will work to remove barriers to information and services to facilitate equal access to policing services for all the residents of York Region and will continue to improve strategies, programs, and facilities to increase physical accessibility for persons with disabilities. |
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| Our Customers |
| The customers of York Regional Police include all citizens, businesses, visitors to York Region, victims, suspects, witnesses, and perpetrators of crime. Our partnerships include regional and municipal Councils, other Regional departments, the judiciary and corrections, policing partners (such as other police services, by-law enforcement, CISO, Interpol, etc.), public agencies and human service providers (such as school boards, fire services, emergency medical services, etc.), and a multitude of community agencies and groups, amongst others. Providing quality policing services requires a concerted effort to ensure the protection of all citizens, giving specific attention to vulnerable groups and locations in our communities. |
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| Accessibility Statement |
| York Regional Police will evaluate accessibility as it relates to persons with disabilities requiring policing services regardless of the event(s) giving rise to the need for interaction. Education, outreach programs, communication strategies, human resource practices, and criminal investigations will all be reviewed as a precursor to implementing necessary changes that reflect our desire to better serve the public and minimize and/or eliminate barriers to access. In past accessibility plans, we have worked in partnership with various disability groups to raise awareness among our officers and members. This year we will continue to partner with the Canadian Hearing Society to raise our awareness of people who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing and issues that affect their community. |
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York Regional Police
Progess Report on Accessibility Achievements - 2007 |
Barrier Identified
(Gives a description of the barrier and indicates where the barrier was found. For example, was the barrier in a program, service, by-law, policy, practice or facility?) |
Barrier Type
(Indicates the type(s) of barrier (physical, architectural, informational, communicational, attitudinal, technological, policy/practice) |
Disability Type
(Indicates the type(s) of disability affected by the barrier (physical, sensory, cognitive or other) |
How the barrier was addressed
(Describes the action taken to identify, remove or prevent the barrier) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Communication devices for use by persons who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Communicational,
Technological |
Sensory |
Reviewing internal technology of communication devices (i.e. TTY phones, pocket talkers, FM Systems, amplification phones, etc.) currently used by York Regional Police to determine their effectiveness. This initiative will not be fully completed in 2007 and will be included in the 2008 plan. |
| Email 911 (for use by citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing). |
Technological |
Sensory |
Researching the feasibility of developing an email 911 for use by citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. This initiative will not be fully completed in 2007 and will be included in the 2008 plan. |
| Develop short in-house training DVD to raise awareness of issues faced by citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Will provide officers and support staff with a better understanding of how to deal with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Create one accessible parking spot at the top of the ramp close to the entrance of the Community Safety Village. |
Physical |
Physical |
An accessible parking spot was created close to the entrance of the Community Safety Village creating easier access for persons with mobility issues. |
| Making it Easier to Participate In Regional Government |
| Appoint a York Regional Police member who is deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing to sit on York Regional Police Equity Advisory Committee. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Participation of this person on the committee will help to raise awareness of the needs and issues of citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Preparation of Media Marketing Campaign for Canadian Hearing Society partnership initiatives. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Media Marketing campaign will promote relations between police and citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Invite representative of Canadian Hearing Society to become member of York Regional Police Recruitment Community Insights Program. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Officers will be exposed to diverse community groups, including religious, cultural, ethnic, persons with disabilities etc. to provide insight into the various communities in York Region. |
| Develop Canadian Hearing Society Sign Language Interpreter Services protocol. |
Policy/Practice |
Sensory |
Provision of Sign Language Interpreter Service Protocol will enable appropriate and timely access to Sign Language Interpreter Services. |
| Chaging Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Increase officers' awareness of the needs of citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing through Canadian Hearing Society participation in Diversity Speakers component of re-qualification training and communications training. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Improving policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Develop a workshop for specialized police units where hearing loss may be an issue as a result of potential workplace exposure. |
Informational |
Sensory |
Provided preventative education for staff at risk of becoming deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Develop aids for officers to use with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Communicational |
Sensory |
Notification cards, sun visor cards and tips for Officers in pocket calendars are being developed to assist in communicating with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Eight staff participated in inclusivity training 2007. | |
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York Regional Police - 2008
Barrier Identification for 2008 |
By-laws, policies and practices to be reviewed
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Methods to be used to identify the barrier
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Timing
(When will this be completed? The timing for addressing a barrier does not necessarily have to be set within 2008. The nature of the action may be phased in over a number of months or years depending on the resources and priorities of the Department) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Communication devices for use by persons who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Internal technology review of communication devices (i.e. TTY phones, etc.) currently used by York Regional Police to determine their effectiveness. |
2008 |
| Communication system (TTY) used by persons who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Research availability of software that will provide better options than the current TTY system and that will interface directly with Computer Automated Dispatch (CAD) system. |
2008 | |
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York Regional Police - 2008
Barrier That Will Be Addressed for 2008 |
Barrier Identified
(1)
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Barrier Type
(2)
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Disability Type
(3) |
What will be gained by removing or preventing the barrier
(4) |
Means to prevent/remove the barrier
(5) |
Indicators of success
(6) |
Timing
(7) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Parking lot at 2 District. |
Architectural |
Physical |
Policing services will be easier to access from the parking lot by people with disabilities. |
Relocation of accessible parking spaces. |
Policing services at 2 District will be easily accessed by persons with physical disabilities. |
2008 |
| Aids for officers to use with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Communicational |
Sensory |
Policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing will be improved. |
Notification cards, sun visor cards, and tips for officers in pocket calendars will be developed to assist in communicating with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
The use of communication aids will enhance officers' ability to communicate effectively with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
2008 |
| Making it Easier to Participate in Regional Government |
| Canadian Hearing Society membership of the York Regional Police Recruitment Community Insights Program. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Enhance officers' knowledge of the communities they serve in York Region including the community of people who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Continue to invite representation from the Canadian Hearing Society to become members of the YRP Recruitment Community Insights Program. |
Improved communications in a factual and integrative manner. |
2008 |
| Representation of persons who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing on the York Regional Equity Advisory Committee. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Membership on Equity Advisory Committee (representing diversity across the Service) will be more inclusive, representing the community
as a whole. |
Appoint a York Regional Police member who is deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing to sit on York Regional Equity Advisory Committee. |
The mission of this committee is to be the leaders in creating inclusivity awareness through promoting an inclusive, diverse and highly skilled organization. |
2008 |
| Canadian Hearing Society Sign Language Interpreter Services Protocol. |
Policy/Practice |
Sensory |
Provision of Sign Language Service Protocol will enable appropriate and timely access to Sign Language Interpreter Services |
Access to Sign Language Interpreter services. |
Enhanced level of communication between parties and positive feedback from clientele using this service. |
2008 |
| Chaging Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Awareness of officers and dispatchers to the needs of citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Will provide officers and dispatchers with better understanding of how to deal with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Officers and dispatchers to participate in re-qualification training through the Canadian Hearing Society to receive:
a) Diversity Speakers component
re-qualification training
b) Communications training. |
Improved policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing are improved. |
2008 |
| Training curriculum for specialized police units where hearing loss may be an issue. |
Informational |
Sensory |
Raising awareness through preventative education for staff at risk of becoming deaf, deafened, or hard of hearing. |
Review the training curriculum for specialized police units where hearing loss may be an issue. |
Staff awareness is raised and hearing loss is prevented. |
2008 |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through continued staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Will provide additional staff with an introduction to information to effectively and respectively serve persons with disabilities. |
An additional 6-10 York Regional Police employees will participate in the inclusivity and accessibility training course being offered corporately. |
Staff awareness is raised and staff report having a better understanding of the needs of people with disabilities. |
2008 |
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