HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2018-05-24
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee
Date: Thursday May 24, 2018
Location: Conestoga Room, City of Kitchener
Present: Sharon Giles (Co-Chair), Rob Bender, Greg Moore (Co-Chair), Rhonda-Marie Parke,
Ben Benninger, Brenda Robinson, Paula Saunders, Andrew Tutty, Councillor, Sue Foxton
(Region of Waterloo), Councillor Yvonne Fernandes (City of Kitchener), Sanjay Govindaraj
(Region of Waterloo), LoriAnn Palubeski (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener,
City of Waterloo), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Dawn Mittelholtz (Township of Wilmot)
Regrets: Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Keri Cameron, Jolene MacDonald, Donna
Hartzler, Mike Shipley, Gail Brunsdon, Jeff Smith (Township of Woolwich), Dawn Clelland,
Donna Hartzler, Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley)
Guests: Lynn Gazzola (Compass Kitchener), Roslyn Lusk, Aaron McCrimmon (City of
Kitchener), Dan Chapman (City of Kitchener), LoriAnn Palubeski (City of Kitchener), Dannon
Vasey, (City of Kitchener)
1.0 Welcome and Introductions
Greg called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m.
Round table introductions
2.0 Approval of April Minutes and May Agenda
Motion to accept the April minutes – moved by Brenda and seconded by Ben, carried
and May Agenda – moved by Paula, and seconded by Rob, carried.
3.0 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests
none
4.0 Compass Kitchener invite - Lynn Gazzola, Compass Kitchener
On behalf of the Compass Kitchener committee, Lynn Gazzola came to the meeting to invite all
of the Grand River Accessibility Advisory committee members to an All Committees meeting
scheduled for June 21, 2018 in the Rotunda at Kitchener City Hall. At the meeting, Compass
Kitchener will share results of the recent Environics survey and ask for input from committee
members of the advisory committees across the City. Formal invitation to come via email. Please
RSVP at your earliest convenience. Please arrive between 5:30-6pm if you wish for a small
reception that will include food and beverages. Greg shared that his experience from a previous
all committee meeting was a lot of enthusiasm and the information from the meeting considered
valuable. Attendance at these meetings dictates how many meetings scheduled in a year.
5.0 Update on Winter Sidewalk Maintenance Review – Arron McCrimmon, Roslyn Lusk
(City of Kitchener)
Discussion only. It was requested that the staff report get shared with the committee when
the report is ready.
6.0 Township of Wilmot Status Update – Dawn Mittelholtz
Dawn apologized for the lateness of the 2017 annual update:
King Street reconstruction included sidewalks brought up to current accessibility
standards and crossing locations with tactile plates installed.
Providing lightweight printed information for visitors to pick-up and read in each room of
the Castle Kilbride museum.
Introduced a photo exhibit of the contents on the Belvedere level, which is only
accessible by stairs. As this is a National Historic site, an elevator to this floor was not
possible. We have received positive feedback from visitors.
Service dogs and support workers (free of charge) allowed to accompany visitors.
Added closed-captioned text on our Castle Kilbride video.
In 2018, introducing a sensory experience for patrons of all ages by utilizing the talents
of a husband and wife duo who are making visual pictures in braille.
Expanded trail network and linkages at the Wilmot Recreation Complex.
Replaced several sets of doors at the Mannheim Community Centre to allow barrier free
access to the facility.
Constructed a compacted granular pathway from Schneller Court in Baden to the
parking lot in Sir Adam Beck Park.
Undertook minor washroom upgrades at the Petersburg park fieldhouse, to improve
access.
Working on the Kirkpatrick Park parking lot design/reconstruction project, which will
include enhanced lighting and barrier free ramps to allow access from the lower lot to
upper street level sidewalks.
AODA and the Human Rights code training delivered for multiple departments this year,
and incorporated into the new employee orientation along with the AODA and customer
service training.
Job postings include language for accommodations, as do all of the job offers.
Implemented a formal return to work program along with an accommodation policy and
all associated forms as per the employment requirements of AODA.
Planning and preparing for the 2018 Election with the goal of removing as many barriers
as possible. Report to GRAAC in 2018.
7.0 Councillor Reports – All Councillors
(City of Kitchener)
Councillor Fernandes attended a conference in Ottawa titled “Making the Invisible Visible”
Persons with a hidden mobility disability (HMD) are independently mobile but can only walk a
short distance or stand unsupported for a brief time without serious health consequences.
Common Health conditions resulting in HMD:
Arthritis
Asthma
Back, disc, vertebrae problems
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Diabetes
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Heart Disease
Hip or knee injuries
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia gravis
Neuropathy
Parkinson’s disease
Stroke
Examples of how to improve accessibility for those with HMD:
Replace waiting lines with numbers
Provide seated options for service
Provide seating in building lobbies near doors
Hold seated public consultations
Committee meeting next week, then June meeting, and break for the summer months.
(Region of Waterloo)
Councillor Foxton has no report.
BREAK
8.0 Accessible Taxi – Angelo Apfelbaum, Kris Fletcher
Tabled – no presenters
9.0 Built Environment Update – Paula Saunders
1. Outdoor gym presenters who presented at our last GRAAC meeting are now looking for
input on equipment for outdoor park. Rhonda and Brenda and volunteered to provide input.
Paula has linked the presenter with Rhonda and Brenda. Paula has linked the presenter with
Rhonda and Brenda.
2. ION stops audit
There are nineteen stops and seven of them audited so far. Several people showed up to take
part in the audit. Paula and Brendan are putting together a report to bring back to the Region.
Some of the issues found so far:
When you are at the station tactile strips needed to help get person with visual disability
to the validator machine and to the accessible door for the train.
Issues on platforms where there are two trains, how you do you know which side the
train is arriving on.
No braille on the trash bins.
Assistance button should not be for both information and an emergency. Remove
information button from the emergency button.
Major problem of all the stations is getting to the station.
Waterloo square and Blockline there are no railings.
King and Conestoga crossing is challenge to get across, as you need to walk diagonal
not straight but there is no way to know that if you are person with a visual disability. As
well, there is not enough time to cross.
Brendan and Paula feel like they need to audit all the stops to be fair to the report. A
schedule will be put together by Paula for the remaining stops and she will send it out to the
committee and everyone invited to participate.
Sue would like to take the issues to Regional Councillors on Wednesday however, Paula has
asked that she have a chance to speak with Brendan before moving forward to talking with the
Region Councillors. Sanjay to contact Brendan. Sue suggested perhaps taking a Regional
Councillor on the audit tour of the remaining ION stops. It was also suggested to bring the ION
Information to the All Committees meeting scheduled in June.
10.0 Co-chair/Staff Reports, Staff Reps
(City of Kitchener)
Janis to send the All Committees meeting official invite via email that will include details of the
event.
Lolita shared information about Rainbow crosswalk unveiling on May 29, 2018. The Mayor is
scheduled to attend.
(Region of Waterloo)
Sanjay shared that the Region of Waterloo is working on a Web access strategy to meet IASR
O. Reg 191/11 compliance. At the next GRAAC meeting, Sanjay will invite Communications
staff to share the plan.
(Co-Chair)
Greg Moore
There are gas stations in the area that if you call ahead, they will come out and pump the gas
for you, however, the problem with this service is that you must give your credit card with pin
number. Greg reminded all members to turn off any electronic devices prior to the start of the
meeting. Ben asked whether there would be updated AODA training and Greg replied yes,
when there is room on the agenda.
Motion to Adjourn by Andrew, seconded by Ben and carried.
Next meeting will be on Thursday June 28, 2018
City of Kitchener, 200 King St W – Conestoga Room
Please send regrets to:
Janis McKenzie at janis.mckenzie@kitchener.ca
or call 519-741-2200 Ext. 7225