HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2012-09-27Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAA C)
Thursday September 27th, 2012 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Gordon Cummer (Co- Chair), Anthony Cashin (Co- Chair), Mike Shipley, Ken Parker,
Carrie Speers, David Kuhn, Amanda Moorhead, Paula Saunders, Dawn Griffen, Kaitlyn Draker
(Township of Wellesley), Councillor Jean Haalboom, Councillor Kelly Galloway, Councillor Jeff
Henry, Julia Sippel (Township of North Dumfries), Val Hummel (Township of Woolwich), Vanessa
Lopak (Region of Waterloo), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener /City of Waterloo), Karen Panchaud
(ASL Interpreter), Lesley Roach (ASL Interpreter), Johanna Ellis (City of Kitchener, Recorder)
REGRETS: Dorothy Staal
ABSENT: Stephannie Leach
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:
• Gord Cummer called the meeting to order.
• Gord welcomed all members; round table introductions.
2.0 APPROVAL OF AUGUST MINUTES & SEPTEMBER AGENDA:
• Moved by Carrie Speers, seconded by Ken Parker to accept the August minutes; carried.
• Motion by David Kuhn, seconded by Carrie Speers to accept the September agenda; carried.
3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS:
• There were no pecuniary interests to declare.
4.0 TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH ACCESSIBILITY PLAN (DRAFT):
• Val Hummel, Deputy Clerk for the Township of Woolwich presented a power point
presentation for the Township of Woolwich Accessibility Plan (Draft). Val highlighted some
key points to the draft plan;
• Proposed work plan for 2012 through 2014;
• Review of 2011 projects, training and other initiatives;
• Accessible Services List;
• ASL Interpreters available for town council meetings upon request.
• ASL Interpreter services were made available for 2 hour periods at all three Advanced Polls
during the 2010 Municipal Election and will be made available at the 2014 Municipal Election
as well.
• The current TTY unit will be replaced with TextNet and will be in place for January 2013.
TextNet is a software that enables people who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate
with Township staff through a software program instead of a TTY unit.
QUESTIONS:
Q. What formal training is given to new staff?
A. When a new person starts, they get resources on accessibility and what the requirements
are.
Q. Do Enforcement Officers check dates on Accessible Parking Permits and checking to see
if they match the drivers using the permit?
A. Enforcement is checking dates. Suggested to bring enforcement to speak about accessible
parking permits at a future GRAAC meeting.
Q. Elmira and St. Jacob's library(s), are they accessible?
A. Elmira is working and has accomplished some upgrades. St. Jacob's library is not
accessible because it is in a historic building.
September 2012 - GRAAC Minutes
• October 18th deadline for ideas for Woolwich Accessibility Plan. Please get your ideas to Val
by then.
5.0 CITY OF OTTAWA CHECKLIST:
• Vanessa discussed with the committee an initiative at the City of Ottawa, whereby they have
implemented a mandatory section in all reports to council describing accessibility impacts.
The City of Ottawa has also produced a checklist on accessibility impacts to help guide staff
in addressing these issues in council reports.
• Checklist can be found on the City of Ottawa website. Many items focus on AODA
standards.
• GRAAC members would like to see the City of Ottawa checklist before deciding if
recommendations should be made for our council reports.
• Vanessa will send Ottawa's checklist and sample reports to GRAAC members.
• GRAAC members would like to hear more about how this is working at the City of Ottawa,
and are interested in hearing from Ottawa's accessibility coordinator about their process at a
future GRAAC meeting.
BREAK
6.0 BUILT ENVIRONMENT UPDATE:
• Paula shared plans for an Accessible Community Gardens project lead by the Region of
Waterloo.
• Looked at the design for the Accessible Garden at Chandler Mowat Community Centre.
• Questions were raised as to the height and width for wheelchairs.
• Committee members agreed that they are not approving the design of the accessible tables,
they are giving suggestions.
• Paula will respond back to the Region with GRAAC's comments.
7.0 COUNCILLOR'S REPORT(S):
• Councillor Jeff Henry (City of Waterloo): New website possible launch date will be New
Year's Levee.
• Tax increase for 2013 is down from 2.26% to 1.55 %.
• Pilot project for the uptown Wayfinding signage for businesses will be up soon and located
on Regina St.
• City of Waterloo Council has endorsed continuing the project of identifying how to infill
missing sidewalks in Uptown west despite opposition. Final decisions will need to be made,
likely in 2013.
• Councillor Kelly Galloway (City of Kitchener): Year end Centennial event will be held on New
Year's Eve.
• Group home bylaw is as follows; group homes for persons with disabilities can locate
anywhere. Group homes for discipline purposes need to be 400 meters from residential
homes.
• Councillor Galloway is now a committee through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The committee is; Increasing Women's Participation in Municipal Government.
• October 11th marks the International Day of Girl /Child.
• Grand opening of the Auditorium will be mid - October.
• Councillor Jean Haalboom (Regional of Waterloo): Commissioner of Social Services, Mike
Schuster has retired.
• A meeting to be held this evening (September 27th, 2012) discussing the LRT, King & Victoria
St. hub. This meeting will be held at the School of Pharmacy located at the corner of King
and Victoria.
• Canada will be celebrating 150 years in 2017. Suggestions and celebration ideas can be
made on the Region's website.
September 2012 - GMAC Minutes 2
The Region of Waterloo has to update Sewage Plants to comply with new standards. The
project will be completed by 2017.
8.0 REGION OF WATERLOO (Guides to Accessible Information Communication)
• Vanessa presented three manuals intended for Region of Waterloo staff for feedback and
advice: Accessible Style Guide, Guide to Accessible Formats, and Guide to Communication
Supports. The committee commented as follows:
1. Include accessible style for PowerPoint presentations, including background, fonts, and
colour contrasts so people with limited vision can read it without straining.
2. Include a section about setting defaults and templates that follow the accessible style guide.
Remind staff to revise their templates.
3. It may be helpful to include a summary page or quick checklist for staff to easily review, in
addition to the details available in the Accessible Style Guide.
4. Consider including information about public meeting set up, including preferential seating
from people who lip -read or who have low vision.
5. Consider providing communication boards at main service areas for people with speech
disabilities.
9.0 COUNCIL SENSITIVITY TRAINING:
• Staff received request through the Kitchener Mayor /Council office that we consider setting up
sensitivity training for council.
• Staff brought to Co- Chairs meeting.
• Co- Chairs suggested to bring to GRAAC members.
• GRAAC decided to explore this request. David Kuhn, Andrew Tutty and Gord Cummer have
volunteered to meet to discuss and report back to GRAAC at a future meeting.
10. RESPONSE TO AODA DRAFT STANDARD - DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES STANDARDS
(Accessibility Standards for the BUILD Environment):
• Document has been approved by GRAAC and Gord will be sending to the Ministry tomorrow,
September 28th, 2012.
11. CO- CHAIRS REPORT:
• Reminder about the Dialogue on Diversity event on October 18th, 2012 at Kitchener City Hall
in the Rotunda. Please register if you plan to attend.
• Gord attended yesterday's GRAAC /CNIB Accessibility Workshop held at City of Cambridge,
City Hall. Commented that useful discussions about pedestrian safety. Also in attendance
from GRAAC was Carrie Spears and Mike Shipley.
• Self- Evaluation: Each member of GRAAC committee to give feedback on GRAAC. Form to
be handed out by the end of the year. More to follow at the next month's GRAAC meeting.
12. ADJOURNMENT /NEXT MEETING:
• Motion to adjourn by Andrew Tutty.
The next meeting will be on Thursday October 25th, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall.
September 2012 - GRAAC Minutes 3