2006 AAC YAK Newsletter-Text Version

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AAC YAK VOLUME 1, SPRING 2006 Since the advent of the ODA and the AODA, we have all been working diligently to help provide barrier-free living for all residents of Windsor and Essex County. For that, we all deserve a pat on the back. City, town and county councils are providing the opportunities for us to envision our futures by saying not "if", but "when". For this, they too deserve our respect and thanks. In order to continue our journey it is important that we work together and support one another. It is our hope that this newsletter can help to keep us connected and inspired. We are open to any comments and suggestions that you may have. Thanks to those who have helped us to bring this newsletter to fruition. Without further ado, let's get busy! AAC UPDATES ESSEX COUNTY ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Essex County Accessibility Advisory Committee (ECAAC) has several current initiatives. * Our 4th Annual Accessibility Workshop will take place on October 25, 2006 at the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Hall in Essex. Stay tuned for more information. * Our Committee has been working on the creation of a Volunteer Program, which would take place in all of our 14 library branches within the County. Our specific intent has been to provide volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities at these libraries; however, the program would also be available for any volunteers. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to demonstrate to the Essex County Library Board, the value of a Volunteer Program in our Libraries. * Check out the "Connecting Windsor-Essex" Community Portal at www.windsor-essex.info/wps/portal. This is a source for key information, services and contacts in our region. ECAAC wishes to set up a chat room where people with disabilities and any interested individuals and organizations can meet to discuss and collaborate on disability issues. At the present time we are working on setting up and test-running this service. More information will follow as we have it. For more information, please contact Mary Brennan at 776-6441 ext. 335 or mbrennan@countyofessex.on.ca. LEAMINGTON ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Leamington Committee has been hard at work on the following projects: * Sidewalk construction - Leamington Council has tripled their budget for sidewalks this year * Installation of a second accessible pedestrian signal (audible traffic signal) * Removal of an ice machine from the ramp at Mac's Milk store * Snow removal issues at ramps around town * Currently working on an "awareness" day for Town employees to see what it is like to have a disability (spend some time in a wheelchair, blindfolded, etc.) For more information, please contact Doug Morrish at 326-5761 or dmorrish@leamington.ca . ESSEX ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The following accomplishments have been realized in the Town of Essex. * In 2004, automatic doors were installed at the exterior and interior entrance to the Essex Memorial Arena as well as wider accessible parking spots and levered handles on doors * A new and fully accessible library was opened in Essex in 2005. * Automatic doors were installed at the Municipal Office on both the interior and exterior entrance doors. Levered taps have replaced the turn taps in washrooms. Additional accessible parking spots were designated. * A lift has been installed at the Essex Aquatics Centre as well, a lay down counter that accommodates adults has been added to the family washroom to provide privacy to these individuals when they are changing. * Ongoing replacement of sidewalks and purchase of new universal picnic tables * Started a program to encourage private businesses to become barrier-free. Businesses that meet the criteria receive an "Accessibility Approved" sticker to post on their doors to signal that they are accessible. For more information, please contact Wayne Miller at 776-7336 or wmiller@townofessex.on.ca . AMHERSTBURG ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The following initiatives are being worked on. * An update review of municipal buildings regarding accessibility issues * Advocating improvements to the main municipal building such as proper accessible door openings * Provided the Municipality with information and pricing regarding continued sensitivity training * Started the process for purchase and installation of a fully accessible playground * Providing input in local site plans and other accessibility issues For more information, please contact Dave Mailloux at 736-0012 or dmailloux@town.amherstburg.on.ca . WINDSOR ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Windsor's AAC continues to be very active. The following are their current major projects. * A form has been approved for City departments to use when applying for access to the Capital Accessibility Fund for retrofitting older buildings * Reviewing plans for a $400 Million Casino expansion and a new City and Greyhound bus terminal * Working closely with the Parks Department to prioritize the accessible retrofitting of city parks, which will take place in the next year * Plans to make Windsor Stadium more accessible * Put electrical outlets on two major trails in order to provide power for electrical scooters and wheelchairs For more information, please contact Melinda Munro at 255-6222 ext. 6430 or mmunro@city.windsor.on.ca . LAKESHORE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE The following includes Lakeshore's current projects: * Through funds raised during the 2005 Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event an accessible swing set will be placed in Lakeview Park which is adjacent to the Marina and Splash pool * Stairwells at the Municipal Offices have been retrofitted to provide better lighting, non-slip surface applied to each stair and handrails have been improved to make them easier to grasp * Accessible picnic tables have been installed at some of the Lakeshore parks * Tim Hortons in Belle River has responded to a letter sent on behalf of the AAC and will be installing automatic doors at their Notre Dame location For more information, please contact Mary Masse at 728-2700 or mmasse@townoflakeshore.on.ca . ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS Accessible pedestrian signals are audio signals that prompt a person with a visual disability to cross an intersection. These audible traffic signals are cropping up all over Canada and the United States. The Transportation Association of Canada developed guidelines for the use and installation of these back in 1991. Recent news has come about stating that these national guidelines will soon be updated. A steering committee will be created to look at the following key issues: * The need for these signals * Recent technology * Possible impacts on other people with disabilities * Operational strategies * Liaising with people with visual impairments Their goal is to have these guidelines updated for the end of 2007. Ottawa has accessible pedestrian signals at 218 of its intersections. They are currently the Canadian leader in number of installations. Indicating passage north and south across the road are cuckoo noises. Indicating passage west and east across the road are bells and buzzers. The bells and buzzers will be gradually phased out, leaving different cuckoo sounds for all directions. When at the intersection, one must push the button and hold it down for 5 seconds to activate the sound. This is so that people will not have to listen to constant sounds and possibly go cuckoo! Kudos to the Municipality of Leamington for installing 2 accessible pedestrian signals (from Nexus). Surely, all of our municipalities could use this important adaptive aid. Yes the cost may be high, but safety of our pedestrians must be our concern. _______________________________________________________ Accessibility Tip --> When traveling to another municipality, check beforehand what their by-laws are regarding accessible parking. In some municipalities, if you have an accessible parking permit, you may park in a municipal lot for free. Other municipalities require someone with an accessible parking permit to pay in municipal spots, but may park on the street for free. Inquiring before you go will eliminate any chance of getting a parking ticket! ______________________________________________________ ACCESSIBILITY FORUM ON HOUSING On Tuesday April 25, 2006 several of our ECAAC members attended this forum. This event lasted for approximately 3 hours and there were 4 presentations. The first presentation was from Melinda Munro, the Diversity and Accessibility Officer of the City of Windsor. She spoke about the need for awareness of the issues and how the municipalities play a role in the development of accessible housing. She discussed types of barriers and the City of Windsor's mission, planning strategy and community vision for the future. Certainly, Windsor has the leading edge and the rest of us have much to learn from their efforts in the area of accessibility. The second presentation focused on Flex housing. It is a building concept that allows people to more easily adapt their homes to meet their future needs and lifestyles. If homes are built with these 3 arrangements, the cost can be cut down considerably when the time comes that renovations have to be made. * At grade entrance * Wider doors and hallways * Bigger bathrooms The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation says that this concept is really based on adaptability, accessibility and affordability. I'm sure we would all agree that building homes that are barrier-free is a big step towards greater independence for all of us. The third presentation focused on Universal Design. With 12% of Ontarians over the age of 15 having some type of mobility disability, it is easy to understand the importance of Universal Design. People's environment affects the type and quality of their activities and their quality of life. With weather keeping them indoors more and the lack of truly accessible housing, these people can become prisoners in their own homes. There are many cool new products out there now that could make life with a disability much easier. The problem is...we can't usually afford them! Hopefully, the cost will come down so that people with disabilities can truly live the way they want and know that they are capable of. The last presentation of the day was about funding programs for people with disabilities. A representative from CMHC spoke of financial assistance that can be used to fund renovations or modifications to their homes. Most often these loans are given only to homeowners. If you want to know more about this, go to their website, www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642. If you wish to obtain any of their publications in alternative formats, they are available. At the very least, people with disabilities can get a little excited about our future homes and thus, our future lives. Whether it happens in our lifetimes or not may be in question. But, we can dream, can't we? - 1 -