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Home My WebLink AboutGRACC - 2022-12-15 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee Date: Thursday, December 15, 2022 Location: Zoom Meeting Present: Donna Hartzler, Paula Saunders, Carrie Speers, Teresa McQuillin (Co-Chair), Amy Ross (City of Waterloo), Janis McKenzie (City of Kitchener), Jennifer Walker (Region of Waterloo), Rob Bender, Ashley Sage (Township of North Dumfries), Jolene MacDonald, Brenda Robinson (Co-Chair), Candice Greenley (Township of Wilmot), Trevor Tamlin, LoriAnn Palubeski (City of Kitchener), Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo) Regrets: Councillor Jason Deneault (City of Kitchener), Lolita Paroski (City of Kitchener), Robyn Jackson, Chad Curtis (Township of Wilmot), Councillor Sandra Hanmer (City of Waterloo), Ilidia Sa Melo (Township of Woolwich), Amy Harron (Township of Wellesley), 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of October Minutes and November Agenda Carrie motioned to accept December agenda; Trevor seconded; All in favour. Jolene motioned to accept November minutes; Donna seconded; All in favour. 3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interests None 4. "New" Councillor Introductions and Councillor Reports • Councillor Chantal Huinink (Region of Waterloo) — no updates 5. Township of North Dumfries, 2022 Status Update Highlights of 2022 • Ensure accessible and inclusive municipal election and meet all reporting requirements. • Ongoing improvements to enhance the Township website such as making more information, services and forms available online. • Staff are working to correct outstanding AODA issues on our website, to achieve a fully complaint website. ➢ Some legacy PDF documents posted on the Township's website may not be compliant with WCAG 2.0 Level AA specifications. Staff continue to address the accessibility of PDF documents by removing outdated documents, posting information directly on the website where possible, remediating inaccessible documents, or providing an alternative format for anyone who requests it. Staff are also working to make utilize form builder, rather then posting PDF documents online. ➢ Accessibility issues remain outstanding in the news module section and staff are looking to purchase an upgrade for this that will help accessibility for this function in 2023. Work on this is ongoing. • Staff continue to address the accessibility of PDF documents by removing outdated documents, posting information directly on the website where possible, remediating inaccessible documents, or providing an alternative format for anyone who requests it. Ongoing staff training will continue in 2022 to address inaccessible documents on the Township's website. • Building a new tennis/pickleball courts at Schmidt Park, Ayr that will include any inclusive features. • Renovation/construction occurred for a barrier free washroom at Victoria Park. Input from GRAAC was sought prior to the commencement of this project. • Sidewalk improvement project at Gibson Street, Northumberland Street to 88 Gibson Street, also on the south side of Inglis Street, from Elliot Street through to Colquhoun Street, which reduces tripping hazards and improves mobility for those in a wheelchair. • Two (2) park washrooms were updated to be AODA complaint at Cowan Park and Schmidt Park. • Development Services (building and planning) working to provide more online services that include options for online submissions for various applications. • Annually, staff will review policies and procedures as they pertain to accessibility and update and/or make changes if required. • Provide ongoing training to staff and provide required training to any new hires. • Continue to incorporate accessible features into Township projects when reasonable to do so. • Continue to seek GRAAC's input on matters where required. • Attended GRAAC meetings and sought GRAAC's input on matters when required. Looking Ahead to 2023 The Township of North Dumfries is committed to eliminating barriers and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in a manner that respects dignity, independence, integration and equal opportunity. The Township recognizes the diverse needs of all our residents and customers and will respond by striving to provide services and facilities that are accessible to all. The Township is committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements. • Upgrade news module section of Township website to address accessibility concerns with this module. • Retrofit of barrier free lift at Ayr Community Centre, pending grant approval. This will provide more independence to those using it. This was moved to 2023, as grant was unsuccessful in 2022. • Retrofit the Ayr Community Centre community hall bathrooms. • In 2023 design work for the new Township Office renovation / rebuild will begin, which will include accessible elements. • Sidewalk improvement project that reduces tripping hazards and improves mobility for those in a wheelchair. This will be conducted in various locations in Ayr by a panel-by-panel removal and replacement, as necessary. • Play equipment is reviewed and replaced on a yearly basis, as required. Recommendations are made by staff for which play structures are priority for the following year, at this time staff intend to replace the play equipment at Schmidt Park and Branchton Park. • Trail construction (pending permission from GRCA) — Nith River, Piper Glen Park, to Greenfield Road West which will improve mobility. • Schmidt Park improvements — including an accessible trail system throughout the park • Freer/Challenger— a new parkette will be added with an accessible trail, half multi-purpose court and play structure • Legacy/Broos subdivision — a new park will be added with an accessible trail, multi-purpose court and play structure and a potential splash pad and junior ball diamond. • Reconstruction of Township roads, which will help improve the overall usability of the surface and will incorporate any accessible features, as approved in the annual budget. • In 2023, the Public Works Depot and Fire Hall (administration area) are expected to undertake a renovation/construction, which will include accessible elements. • Annually, staff will review policies and procedures as they pertain to accessibility and update and/or make changes if required. • Provide ongoing training to staff and provide required training to any new hires. • Continue to incorporate accessible features into Township projects when reasonable to do so. • Continue to seek GRAAC's input on matters where required. Council and staff continue to work towards creating a universally accessible community by systematically removing barriers for persons with disabilities. Feedback on the accessibility of Township facilities, programs, and goods and services is always welcome. Please contact the Corporate Services department to provide any feedback. 6. Township of Wellesley, 2022 Status Update • No update 7. Region of Waterloo, 2022 Status Update Welcoming and Accessible Spaces • Redesigning of signs and next step is installation — spaces will continue to be monitored and evaluated by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) team • Training and support for staff in accessible spaces is ongoing and will be maintained by DEIB • Reviewing the Region's Accessible Design Standards is included in the 2023-2027 MYAP • Facilities audits were conducted for approximately 25 buildings, including WRPS (Police) and WRH (Housing) Access to Services • Review of our Interpreter and Translation guidelines will take place in 2023 as part of developing our Client Experience framework • Volunteer management policy includes reference to our accessible customer service training for volunteers Communication and Engagement • Accessible videos — process for staff will be reviewed as part of digital transformation and online training to create accessible videos will be explored in 2023 • Training, resources, and monitoring of the Region's website is ongoing — primary websites comply for 2022 • Additional training was provided to communications and administrative staff for accessibility, plain language and PDF remediation, further training on accessibility for the Region's Engage platform (EngageWR) • Data collection on demographics and diversity is ongoing, with guidelines being reviewed and updated regularly to reflect best practices Inclusive Workplace • Learning event on serving customers with invisible disabilities • Staff census was conducted in 2022 — help to build our workplace of the future and support staff • Full needs assessment was conducted on the disability management/return to work accommodation and benefits program • Consultant engaged to review all HRC policies to reflect best practices; reviews of recruitment and retention practices • GRT bus operators participated in the Working Mind training with plans to expand to others in 2023 • Ongoing work to review and refresh our internal diversity and inclusion resources Next Steps • 2022 accessibility status report will go to Council for information in January 2023 • New membership appointments will go to Regional Council in January • GRT will provide annual update in February 2023 • Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (2023-2027) is planned to go to Council in February 2023 Comments/Feedback • Staff training —will anti-ableism training be a part of it? Taking back to staff for their information • This committee was not involved in any accessibility audits, disappointed that committee was not included • Were the Region of Waterloo housing units included? Yes, any owned by Region of Waterloo were included 8. Built Environment Sub-Committee Updates • New firehall in Maryhill — major communication glitch, turned out there was a separate second 17-page report with a diagram and there will indeed be washrooms in the building. Accessible washrooms have been addressed and this committee's paper on accessible washrooms has been shared 9. Co-chair/Staff Reports LoriAnn Palubeski, (City of Kitchener) • Thank you to all the departing members, Brenda, Rob, and Donna Jennifer Walker, (Region of Waterloo) • Wanted to be sure everyone had received an email from high schools inquiring about public parks. They have noticed a lack of accessibility in the region's parks and were wondering if there were any plans to update them so that all children would be able to have fun on the equipment regardless of ability. Now they are working on a social initiative project for their Grade 12 World Cultures class at Waterloo Oxford to see if there are any plans in motion to update the playgrounds for their research. It is recognized that in the community some playgrounds have need to be updated and it is more prominent now than ever. Waterloo Region is a community that prides itself on being inclusive and they wanted to know if all or most of the playgrounds will be updated to be more accessible now or in the future for our school project (for example, if there are any plans to alter playgrounds for additional wheelchair accessibility). • Several committee members have or will respond. Amy Ross, City of Waterloo • 50% new council members starting 2023 • Public meeting regarding budget money 10. BREAK 11. Year End Social Please send regrets to Janis McKenzie — ianis.mckenziep_kitchener.ca Next Regular Meeting —Thursday January 26, 2023, at 1:30pm, ZOOM