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oversee Uniform, Investigative, Support, Information, Financial, Human Resource, Professional Development and Community 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 persons with disabilities number over 15 % of our population. They suffer substantial disadvantages and exclusion from the mainstream of society. They face numerous barriers in gaining access to and fully participating in important activities such as jobs, access to information/communication, education at all levels, public transit, and the use of goods, services and facilities that the public usually enjoys. These unfair barriers can be physical, technological, bureaucratic, legal, or attitudinal.
People with disabilities are a 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. Members of York Regional Police understand the importance of inclusion and will continue to develop strategies and programs that facilitate access to policing services.
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Our Customers
The customers of York Regional Police include all citizens, businesses and visitors to York Region. 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.
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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) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Community Safety Village. |
Architectural
Physical |
All |
York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee completed an accessibility audit of the CSV. Implemented a number of the recommendations made. |
| Continue to make enhancements to accessibility in the Community Safety Village. |
Physical |
All |
The parking lot was paved and repainted allowing for two accessible parking spots at the closest edge of the lot to the Safety Village. The
sizes of the spots were made to accommodate a van with a side opening. |
| 911 services for persons who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Communicational |
Sensory |
TTY calls can now be handled at every call taker position within the Communications Centre. |
| Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness |
| Workspace audits. |
Architectural |
Physical |
Established and trained internal staff group which conducted accessibility audits of workspaces within York Regional Police. |
| Increase awareness of staff to the needs of persons with disabilities through staff participation in inclusivity training. |
Attitudinal |
All |
To date, inclusivity training has been made available to all members of the York Regional Police Accessibility Advisory Committee. |
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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 |
| Communication devices for use by persons who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Internal technology review of communication devices (i.e. TTY phones, pocket talkers, FM Systems, amplification phones, etc.) currently used by York Regional Police to determine their effectiveness. |
2007 |
| Email 911 (for use by citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing). |
Research the feasibility of developing an email 911 for use by citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
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?) |
| Making Regional Services More Accessible |
| Develop short in-house training DVD to raise awareness of issues faced by citizens who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Will provide officers and support staff with better understanding of how to deal with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Officers and support staff will be trained with the use of this resource. |
Officers and support staff awareness is raised and policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing are improved. |
2007 |
| Create one accessible parking spot at the top of the ramp close to the entrance of the Community Safety Village. |
Physical |
Physical |
Easier access for persons with mobility issues to enter the Community Safety Village. |
Creation of an accessible parking spot closer to the entrance. |
Easier access to Community Safety Village for persons with mobility issues. |
2007 |
| 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 assist in raising awareness of the needs and issues of citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Membership on Equity Advisory Committee (representing diversity across the Service) will be more inclusive therefore, representing the community as a whole. |
The mission of this committee is to be the leaders in creating 'inclusivity awareness' through promoting an inclusive, diverse and highly skilled organization. |
2007 |
| 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. |
Communicate partnership initiatives through local media, newsletter and on web site. |
Policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing will be improved. |
2007 |
| Invite representative of Canadian Hearing Society to become member of York Regional Police Recruitment Community Insights Program. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
This program exposes officers to diverse community groups including religious, cultural, ethnic, persons with disabilities etc. to provide 'insight' into the various communities found within York Region. |
Officers will gain insight into the many diverse communities that make up York Region. |
Improved communications in a factual and integrative manner. |
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?) |
| Making it Easier to Participate in Regional Government |
| 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. |
Enhanced level of communication between parties. |
Feedback 'positive' from clientele utilizing this service. |
2007 |
| 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 thoughtful presentation of information about persons with disabilities to effectively overcome any negative attitudes and shape positive ones. |
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 understand- ing of the needs of people with disabilities. |
2007 |
Increase awareness of officers and Communica-
tions staff to the needs of citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing through Canadian Hearing Society participation in:
Diversity Speakers component of requalification training; and
Communica-
tions training. |
Attitudinal |
Sensory |
Will provide Officers and Communications staff with better understanding of how to deal with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Officers and Communica-
tions staff attending re-qualification training will receive this training. |
Officers and Communica-
tions staff awareness is raised and policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing are improved. |
2007 |
| Develop a workshop for specialized police units where hearing loss may be an issue as a result of 'potential' workplace exposure. |
Informa-
tional |
Sensory |
Will provide preventative education for staff at risk of becoming a person who is deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Proactive Hearing Conservation strategies in identified 'workplace environments' where noise induced hearing loss is a quantifiable identified 'risk factor'. |
Staff awareness is raised and hearing loss is prevented. |
2007 |
| Develop aids for officers to use with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. |
Communica-
tional |
Sensory |
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. |
Officers will receive training in the use of these aids. |
Policing interactions with citizens who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing will be improved. |
2007 |
(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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