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- Consult with community agencies and other Regional departments to develop and identify mechanisms to be incorporated into emergency preparedness plans that will address equal access to care and information needed to support clients and customers with disabilities.
Education and Outreach to Address Attitudinal Barriers
- Provide tools, information and training to staff to increase awareness and assist with the identification and development of solutions for York Region citizens with disabilities.
Addressing Information and Communication Barriers
- Work to remove barriers to information regarding services and programs and to increase and manage information for persons with disabilities.
Enhancing Accessibility to Facilities to Address Physical Barriers
- Continue to improve services, programs and facilities to increase physical accessibility to persons with disabilities.
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Our Customers
The Health Services Department consists of three operational branches, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Long Term Care and Seniors and Public Health together with one support branch, Business Services. Its mission is to protect, promote and enhance the health, safety and well being of our community.
Accordingly, the Department provides a wide range of programs and services to the residents of York Region that support safe, secure and healthy communities, promote wellness and healthy lifestyles and respond to the needs of vulnerable residents and support health care needs at all stages of life.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
EMS provides emergency and non-emergency land ambulance services to residents and visitors of York Region. Paramedics perform patient assessment, life saving treatment and provide skills and procedures which require medical control along with providing safe and timely transport.
Advanced Care Paramedics provide enhanced primary paramedic skills which enables advanced patient assessment and treatment to begin prior to arrival at hospital.
Ambulances are equipped with a variety of equipment to meet as many needs as possible of patients with physical disabilities. EMS continues to assess and implement new initiatives to ensure the safe transport of patients with disabilities.
Long Term Care and Seniors (LTC)
LTC provides programs and services that recognize the needs of individuals (18 years of age or older) who can no longer live independently. These programs and services focus on promoting the health, well-being, safety and independence of these individuals.
For example, medical/nursing and personal care services are provided to 232 residents at the Newmarket and Maple Health Centres. Special emphasis is placed on serving individuals with heavy, complex physical, cognitive and/or psychiatric care requirements.
LTC Day programs are also in place for adults who may suffer from cognitive impairment, physical disability, acquired brain injury, and/or communication disorders. These programs are offered in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of York Region, York-Durham Aphasia Centre, and York Central Hospital Behaviour Management Services.
The Alternative Community Living Program provides housing support services and essential homemaking to seniors so that they can stay in the community and remain independent. Client Intervention and Support Services for Seniors provides intervention and support services to vulnerable and at-risk seniors and persons with physical disabilities. These programs are offered in partnership with Community Services and Housing, Schomberg Lions and Non-Prophetic Homes.
Public Health
Public Health delivers programs and services legislated by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) to the residents of York Region. Public Health strives to ensure that programs and services are delivered in accordance with the provincial guidelines.
These programs and services encompass a wide range of approaches that are essentially population based and include such measures as restaurant inspections, immunization, prenatal and dental clinics, home visits, outbreak control, and health promotion activities designed to prevent the onset of disease. Public Health continues to evaluate, modify and adjust programs and services in an effort to address disability barriers and increase accessibility to persons with disabilities.
Business Services
Business Services ensures fiscal and program integrity within the Health Services Department through budget development and fiscal responsibility. It is also responsible for adherence to MOHLTC and York Region policies and procedures, human resource management, business continuity planning and emergency preparedness response. The Branch also provides administrative support and technical expertise related to a variety of program support needs which includes compliance under the Personal Health Information Protection Act.
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Accessibility Statement
The Health Services Department will continue to identify barriers, implement strategies to increase accessibility and evaluate programs and services to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access them.
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Progress Report on Accessibility Achievements - 2006
| Barrier Identified(1) |
Barrier Type(2) |
Disability Type(3) |
How the barrier was addressed(4) |
| Helping People Live Independently |
| Upgrading bathrooms (shower/ bath) in the client centres of the Alternative Community Living (ACL) program sites of Keswick Gardens, Genesis Place and Heritage East. |
Architectural
Physical |
All |
Renovations to the bath and shower areas were completed to ensure full and safer access into shower areas. |
| Need for more physically accessible supportive housing units within the ACL program that provides essential homemaking and personal care to seniors and adults with physical disabilities in order for them to stay in the community and remain as independent as possible. (Hadley Grange site renovation of seven units). |
Physical
Architectural |
Physical Sensory Cognitive |
Received final go ahead from MOHLTC to commence renovations on seven units. Originally we had anticipated renovating 14 units, however, due to increasing project costs, the number of units was reassessed. A recent change in by-laws requires that a mechanical engineer must be consulted on renovations; this may further impact the project schedule and/or costs. A meeting to establish timelines (i.e. tender) will take place and renovations will begin in spring of 2007 and the project will be completed in the fall. |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Inclusion of persons with disabilities into Health Services emergency planning, specifically for Pandemic Influenza. |
Physical Communicational |
Physical Sensory |
Consulted on mass immunization strategies. All sites selected were assessed for physical accessibility and are fully accessible. Informational handouts on Pandemic Influenza will be available in large print to accommodate people who have low vision.
Will continue to consult with Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) on pandemic contingency planning. |
| Access to universally funded influenza vaccine at York Region influenza clinics for people with developmental delays or disabilities. Access difficulty is related to these individuals not being able to leave their homes or ability to obtain appropriate transportation to such clinics. |
Physical Communicational |
Physical Sensory Cognitive |
Upon investigation, it was discovered that adequate provisions have already been made by Community Living Associations to ensure that their clients receive flu shots (e.g. through family doctor, York Region Health Services Department or agency-run flu clinics). Whenever any clients with disabilities attend York Region Health Services Department clinics, provisions will be made for expedited service wherever possible. No further action is required.
After conducting further research, it is evident that little promotion has been done by organizations. Thus, several recommendations will be considered to increase influenza awareness for individuals served by these agencies. For example, distribution of pamphlets on Universal Influenza Immunization Program to these organizations for upcoming flu season. |
| ACL brochures, pamphlets and service agreements require review and revision to ensure they are readable and incorporate accessibility practices. |
Communicational |
Sensory Cognitive |
Current materials were assessed to make changes as necessary to meet accessibility standards. A service agreement has been reviewed and revised. Font changes are still pending. A one page program descriptor was developed and is being circulated to agencies/public for informational purposes.
New brochures are currently in use. |
| Accessibility to private drinking water systems (PDWS) education and outreach program: PDWS testing service and retrieval of water test results from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care lab. |
Policy/Practice
Communicational |
Sensory |
Interviewed members of the York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee. MOHLTC are investigating feasibility of integrating TTY with the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system already in place. Policies and procedures revised to include York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee member's input. |
| Staff awareness related to the ODA and incorporation of accessibility practices into daily activities within Health Services |
Communicational Informational Policy/Practice Attitudinal |
All |
Health Services staff were encouraged to attend and participate in education related to increasing awareness of the ODA as well as the integration of accessibility concepts into daily work practices where appropriate.
Nineteen Health Services staff attended two Sensitivity Training sessions conducted by Psychogeriatric Regional Consultants in March 2006. Staff evaluations from the sessions indicated better awareness of how to relate to individuals with disabilities. Many stated that they would pay closer attention to clients' needs in the future. |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Thirty six staff members completed the sessions. |
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Barrier Identification for 2007
| By-laws, policies and practices to be reviewed |
Methods to be used to identify the barrier |
Timing(5) (when will this be completed?) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Audit Public Health offices to assess accessibility. |
Develop a checklist to identify accessibility issues including door widths and turning radius' for mobility devices used by people living in or using these facilities. |
Tool developed and at least one site audited by end of 2007. |
| Review Health Services fact sheets to identify potential barriers. |
Review sheets to identify communicational/informational barriers. |
Pilot project to start with Safe Water Program. |
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Barriers That Will Be Addressed for 2007
| Barrier Identified(8) |
Barrier Type(9) |
Disability Type(10) |
How the barrier was addressed(11) |
Means to prevent/ remove the barrier(12) |
Indicators of Success(13) |
Timing(14) (when will this be completed?) |
| Helping People Live Independently |
| Need for more accessible external and internal environments at the Maple Health Centre, to provide essential care to seniors and adults with physical disabilities. |
Physical
Architectural
Communication-al |
Physical, Sensory, Cognitive |
Increased accessibility to Maple Health Centre facilities for clients. |
Renovation of the following items at the Maple Health Centre:
• Pedestrian access route
• Central TTY Line
• Staff change rooms
• Power Assist Door Operator in Physiotherapy washroom
• Updated signage
• Assistive Listening Device |
Fewer incidents of user-identified situations where York Region web information was not accessible. |
2007 Additional Items to be identified for completion in 2008 - ongoing. |
Need for more physically accessible supportive housing units with the ACL program that provide essential homemaking and personal care to seniors and adults with physical disabilities in order for them to stay in the community and remain as independent as possible.
(Hadley Grange site renovation of approx. seven units.) |
Physical, Architectural |
Physical, Sensory, Cognitive |
Increased number of accessible apartments |
Renovation of specified units in Hadley Grange. |
Completed renovations with accessible features such as lighting, flooring, kitchen and bathrooms. |
2007 |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Need for more accessible internal environment and building system at the Newmarket Health Centre, to provide essential care to seniors and adults with physical disabilities. |
Physical Architectural Communication |
Physical, Sensory, Cognitive |
Increased accessibility to Newmarket Health Centre facilities for clients. |
Renovation of the Newmarket Health Centre to update the existing signage system and to install a Power Assist Door Operator in common washroom. |
Completed renovations with accessible features. |
2007 Additional items to be identified for completion in 2008 - ongoing. |
| Inclusion of persons with disabilities into York Region Health Services Department emergency planning process, specifically for Pandemic Influenza. |
Physical Communication-al |
Physical, Sensory |
Will provide clients with equal access to care and information in preparation for and in the event of an Influenza Pandemic. |
Consultation with CNIB and Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) on pandemic contingency planning. |
Educational materials will be adapted to incorporate accessibility and Regional standards. |
2007 |
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Barriers That Will Be Addressed for 2007
Barrier Identified
(8) |
Barrier Type(9) |
Disability Type(10) |
How the barrier was addressed(11) |
Means to prevent/
remove the barrier(12) |
Indicators of Success(13) |
Timing(14) (when will this be completed?) |
| Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
Will provide staff with an introduction to the information to effectively and respectfully serve persons with disabilities. |
Fifteen employees in the Health Services Department 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. |
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| Staff awareness related to the ODA and incorporation of accessibility practices into daily activities within Health Services. |
Communication-al
Informational
Policy/Practice
Attitudinal |
All |
Staff will feel an increased comfort level when dealing with persons with disabilities and more information will be provided or facilitated with accessibility concepts in mind, to be delivered in the community. |
Encourage and promote opportunities, both external and internal, for Health Services staff to attend and participate in education related to increasing awareness of the ODA as well as the integration of accessibility concepts into daily work practices where appropriate. |
Number of opportunities offered.
Number of staff attending internal or external ODA opportunities.
|
2007 - Ongoing. |
(1) 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 and facility.
(2) Indicates the type(s) of barrier (physical, architectural, informational, communicational, attitudinal, technological, policy/practice).
(3) Indicates the type(s) of disability affected by the barrier (physical, sensory, cognitive or other)
(4) Describes the action taken to identify, remove or prevent the barrier.
(5) The timing for addressing a barrier does not necessarily have to be set within 2007. 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.
(8) Indicate where the barrier was found. For example: was it in a program, service, by-law, policy or facility?
(9) Indicate where the barrier type (physical, architectural, informational, communicational, attitudinal,
technological, policy/practice).
(10) Indicates the type of disability affected by the barrier (physical, sensory, cognitive or other).
(11) Indicate how accessibility will be enhanced by removing or preventing this barrier.
(12) Describe what action will be taken to remove and/or prevent the barrier.
(13) Indicate how customer service will be improved by removing or preventing this barrier. Also indicate any other measure(s) that will be used to determine whether or not the Department was successful in removing/preventing this barrier.
(14) The timing for addressing a barrier does not necessarily have to be set within 2007; 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. |
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