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Executive Summary
York Region is pleased to present Accessing York: York Region's 2010 Accessibility Plan. The plan reflects our commitment to make our region welcoming, inclusive and accessible. It moves us closer to the goal of creating an accessible environment that encourages the independence, inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of our community.
Accessing York: York Region's 2010 Accessibility Plan addresses the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to people with disabilities in all aspects of business from by-laws, policies and practices to programs, services and facilities. It is made possible with input from people with disabilities who contribute their experience and expertise as members of the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee, as well as members of Regional Council and staff in every department, including York Regional Police (YRP).
York Region departments continue to work together to break down a wide range of barriers to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. People with disabilities face physical, architectural, communicational, technological, attitudinal, policy and practice, and informational barriers. In addition, York Region is addressing both visible and invisible disabilities by including physical, cognitive, sensory and mental illness disabilities.
This is York Region's seventh annual accessibility plan under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA). It provides detailed descriptions of what individual departments, including York Regional Police, did to increase 'ACCESS-ability' in 2009 and reports on how departments will make 'Accessing York's' programs, services and facilities more achievable in 2010.
As in previous years, all initiatives are categorized into five themes that represent the key aspects of life that have an impact on people with disabilities:
- 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
York Region Implements Two Accessibility Legislations
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) may eventually replace the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA), however, the Province has indicated that the ODA will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Until the ODA is repealed, public sector organizations, including local municipalities and the Region, must continue to implement both Acts simultaneously. This includes the continued development, implementation and monitoring of annual accessibility plans like this one. |
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