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Home My WebLink AboutGRAAC - 2005-06-23 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday June 23, 2005 Catholic Family Counselling Centre PRESENT: Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair), Brad Ullner (Co-Chair), Susan Harkins, Kathy Glasser, Ian Ardill, Jay Oswald, Frank Groenestege, Chris Douglas, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Laura Fiorilla, Tara O'Brien, Margaret Sanderson, Sharon Ward-Zeller, Gail Brunsden, Dawn Paxton, Councillor Ruby Weber, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Sparrow Rose, Deb Bergey, Lori Ludwig. REGRETS: Bart Toby, Valrie Hummel, Gerald Moore, James Hunsberger, Councillor Ian McLean, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor Ron Hackett ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Nj A 1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Introductions were made and Taposhi welcomed everyone to the meeting. 2.0 APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES AND REVIEW OF JUNE AGENDA A motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Chris, to adopt the agenda as submitted. All were in favour; carried. A motion was made by Susan, seconded by Ian, that the minutes of the May meeting be approved. All were in favour; carried. 3.0 DELEGATION NjA 4.0 BUSINESS ARISING NjA 5.0 NEW BUSINESS 5.1 Pedestrian Charter: City of Waterloo - Lori Ludwig Lori referred to an e-mail earlier sent to GRAAC members providing information on this item and asking members to respond to three questions circulated with the e- mail. Members generally felt the charter was a positive step but had some comments which included: · Concern that it doesn't address engineering and design. · Need to have places to sit on borders where people walk - people become fatigued. · What is the budget for this? · Gail explained about the surface on the downtown road in Milton - there were multiple surfaces to accommodate various disabilities. · Need a definition of "pedestrian". Lori also asked whether GRAAC would be interested in defining "pedestrian" to add to the charter. \June 200S - GRAAC Minutes 1 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday June 23, 2005 · Charter should also accommodate needs of parents/children with strollers, elderly people - anyone who may be slower - and cyclists. · Deb noted that a solution hadn't been found yet to address pedestrians and rou nda bouts. ACTION: Comments on the Pedestrian Charter are to be sent to Lori. Laura asked that it be noted in the minutes, her suggestion from the June meeting, that at election time, consideration be given to rotating the co-chairs in such a way that one newly-elected co-chair would serve with one experienced co-chair. 5.2 Municipalities 101 - Deb/Margaret Margaret and Deb together gave a PowerPoint Presentation (handout) giving general information about municipalities. 5.3 Access Ontario Conference Update No report. 5.4 Waterloo Region District School Board Accessibility Plan - Dawn Paxton Dawn reviewed the board's plan and explained the following: · The plan had to be passed through the board and staff have to follow it as it is received. · School Board has to ensure the legal component is there. · All schools have been assessed and all schools are listed as to how accessible they are and what needs to be done to make a building accessible. Each school has a blueprint identifying what needs to be done. · Some schools are very inaccessible and need much more to become accessible. · Staffs talk with parents of children with disabilities regarding what their children need to attend school. · Equipment is gotten through government grants. · Learning disabilities are harder to identify and therefore, harder to help. · Either Dawn or John will attend GRAAC meetings. · $200/000 has been allotted to assess needs and do work this year. · On a recommended that the school board ensure that playgrounds are accessible, Dawn noted that Ronald McDonald provides funds and that playgrounds are being looked at. · Services for students with a hearing disability are available - interpreters, notetakers, etc. · Timelines can't be identified until budget it known - plan looks at where board is now and goals for the future. · Parents are offered the choice to attend a school that is totally accessible or at what can be provided at the school they wish their child to attend. · All new schools are totally accessible. \June 200S - GRAAC Minutes 2 Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) Thursday June 23, 2005 5.5 Update on Accessibility Plans No update 5.6 Meetings During July/August Following discussion, it was decided that: · On a motion by Laura, it was decided that two meetings will be held in October to review the new accessibility plans (October 20 and 27). All were in favour; carried. · A GRAAC meeting will not be held in July, but the regular meeting will take place in August. 6.0 REPORTS 6.1 Site Plan Working Group - Carol Moogk-Soulis No report at this time. 7.0 OTHER BUSINESS · Sharon mentioned that a new guide dog was attacked at the GRT bus terminal and due to the trauma, may not be able to continue as a helping dog. Sharon also noted that two women who attend music therapy at the brain injury centre often can't attend the group due to issues with Mobility Plus. A suggestion was made to invite GRT staff to attend a GRAAC meeting to discuss (possibly in September). · Susan will book a room at Catholic Family Counselling for GRAAC meetings for the coming year. · Taposhi asked that people be sensitive to the needs of the interpreters when speaking during a meeting. A motion was made by Laura, seconded by Sharon, that Deb work with GRAAC members to form a sub-committee to deal with transportation issues. All were in favour; carried 8.0 Next Meeting · Thursday August 25/ 1 :OOpm - 3:30pm, Catholic Family Counselling Centre 400 Queen St S/ Kitchener 9.0 Adjournment A motion was made by Sharon, seconded by Brad, to adjourn the June GRAAC meeting. All were in favour; carried. \June 200S - GRAAC Minutes 3