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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAccessibility Adv - 2003-02-20 ONTARIO DISABILITIES ACT COMMUNITY FORUM MEETING Thursday February 20, 9:30-12:00 noon Waterloo Recreation Complex 9:30 - :[0:30 Municipalities/Townships Welcome and Review of Agenda Judy Bruyn, member of the interim K-W AAC, welcomed everyone to the meeting and reviewed the agenda. 2. Development of Terms of Reference Mlargaret Sanderson, Inclusion Co-ordinator with the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo, reviewed the draft Joint AAC "hybrid" organizational model and circulated copies of a proposed Terms of Reference template with core areas for the initial draft of the Joint Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. Following the January meeting, the intention of this meeting was to discuss and determine what would be included in the Joint AAC Terms of Reference to ensure both the best representation across the community and cross disability representation. Lynn Randall from the Region of Waterloo asked to address the proposed draft "hybrid Joint AAC model" and stated: · That GRT would not be considered a separate entity from the Region - would be included under "Region" in the draft Joint AAC model. · Difficult to see working under a Joint AAC that doesn't represent the whole region - absence of Wilmot and Cambridge. Region hasn't made a decision to join the Joint AAC but will attend meetings and then decide. The Region sees this as a 2-year commitment then may branch out on its own. Lynn stated they would still continue to consult with the existing advisory committee until such time as a decision is made. · Region of Waterloo received Council approval regarding interim process and to hire a staff person to work on ODA process. · Existing groups (AAC) does not fit the Region's needs. Gary Melanson from the City of Kitchener advised that the Joint AAC is a group comprised of volunteers who are there to assist/comment upon the municipalities' accessibility plan. Accessibility Plan - carried out by staff contains - what municipalities have done to address disability issues; ongoing efforts; and what municipalities will do in the future to remove barriers to participation of persons with disabilities. Accessibility Advisory Committee - Each municipality must either create its own AAC or be part of a Joint AAC. Reviewing selected site plans and drawings for new buildings or developments is one of the tasks of an AAC. Efficiency of site plan review is important, therefore a process could be established with the Joint AAC to review selected site plans or provide staff with guidelines for accessibility for developers prior to drafting site plans. \ODA\ODA February 2003 Meeting I ODA COMMUNITY FORUM MEETING Thursday February 20, 9:30-12:00 noon Waterloo Recreation Complex The discussion moved to the proposed terms of reference template for the .loint AAC. Information and discussion included: · At present the one legislated requirement of the .loint Accessibility Advisory Committee is that it maintain 50+ % persons with disabilities representation. · From ACTMO ODA training session - there is no residency requirement regarding the representation of persons with disabilities. · Woolwich staff advised they would like to see a representative with a disability from Township of Woolwich on the Committee. ~Vouldother Townships who are participating in discussions wish to have representation of a person with a disability on the ]ointAAC? Staff representatives to check back with their respective municipalities/townships. · Other representation could possibly include a parent of a child with a disability · What is best cross-disability representation to meet the definition of "disability" under the ODA? Don't need to know specific disability types, but rather best cross disability representation (wide range of persons with disabilities) to meet the intent of the Act. · Other considerations include "consumers of service" of various disability organizations. · Additionally what the .loint AAC group can reasonably undertake? Discussion of Committee of Council Requirements Gary Melanson advised that the only requirement of membership on a .loint AAC is that the majority of members of the committee shall include persons with disabilities. The .loint AAC therefore does not have to fall under current committee of Council requirements. If a municipality has a Committee by-law that applies, a municipality has freedom to amend bylaw to consider .loint AAC as different from "norm" Committee of Council model - "exemption bylaw". Therefore politicians, staff and citizens could sit on .loint AAC. Staff who writes accessibility plan could be part of the .loint AAC. Issues discussed for further consideration included: Ensuring different "classes of representation" - voting vs. non voting Require municipal representation- but at what level - to work together (voting/nonvoting) Important to get involvement of politicians - particularly in beginning. View .loint AAC as one group dealing with many arms Benefit of .loint AAC - you don't exhaust limited resources - limited number of persons interested in being part of a committee. Margaret Sanderson will forward Accessibility Advisory Committee Terms of Reference from other municipalities (London, Sarnia,etc) or links from web to members prior to next meeting. Muncipal Accessibility Planninq (Draft Model) Margaret Sanderson and Gary Melanson (City of Kitchener) shared and explained information via overheads on a proposed Accessibility Planning Administrative Staff Steering Committee (senior management) and an Accessibility Planning Technical Resource Group (staff) that is under consideration within the City of Kitchener and City of Waterloo. This model could be utilized :~) by participating municipalities in the .loint AAC process to implement in their "home municipalities" or 2) participating municipalities could tap into the respective existing Administrative or Technical groups. \ODA\ODA February 2003 Meeting 2 ODA COMMUNITY FORUM MEETING Thursday February 20, 9:30-12:00 noon Waterloo Recreation Complex Currently staff in K-W work with an existing group of volunteers with disabilities to review and seek input and recommendations regarding architectural drawings, site plans and other accessibility issues. A checklist could be drafted in cooperation with the AAC members that could be utilized by staff when developing/reviewing site plans. 10:30-11:30 Public Sector Orqanizations (Hospitals, School Boards, Colleqes, Universties,etc) The following notes are taken from flip chart session with representatives from WCDSB, WRDSB, WLU and minutes read from meeting of hospitals (GRH, St. Mary's, CMH) WRDSB Cross sectoral issues - key - and would like to access joint AAC as resource WCDSB interested in doing .loint plan across both boards Students and parents key to be involved in consultation * overall public consultation - key Commonalties around standards - wording/language - procedures i.e. Hiring Consultation - "endorse plans" - what is the criteria for "endorsing" plan - may not be quite right terminology - maybe more that the .loint AAC members ( persons with disabilities ) and other members can "advise" regarding plans and plan development. WLU Already has accessibility committee Universities invited to community committee but not in a "member" role Cross sectoral issues - would be interested in being part of that discussion Public process for universities - Alumni, board, students, etc. COLLABORATION E.g. shared training - i.e. Community forum Communication - newsletters - share plan - how to issues? Networking - who are the contacts - streamline the process Hospitals will pursue group approach to legislation want to come to agreement on how to "interface" with .loint AAC T.e. I rep attends meeting No voting rights Consultation - two way communication Prepared to assist financially (reasonable) *Ready with partial plan to consult - this could be carried out with the development of an adhoc advisory committee - persons with disabilities on current K-W AAC to begin to review/consult regarding hospitals plans. This item to be discussed with current interim K-W AAC members. Opportunities for staff to share training needs with .loint AAC \ODA\ODA February 2003 iVleeting 3 ODA COMMUNITY FORUM MEETING Thursday February 20, 9:30-12:00 noon Waterloo Recreation Complex Next Steps 1. Terms of Reference - draft 2. Membership in Terms of Reference 3. Tdentify budget costs 4. Keeper of budget The next ODA meeting will take place in the HAUSER HAUS Room on Wednesday March 19 at 9:30 am at the Waterloo Recreation Complex. \ODA\ODA February 2003 Meeting