HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC - 2004-08-26
GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday August 26, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
PRESENT: Taposhi Batabyal, Deb Bergey, Gail Brunsden, Laura Fiorilla, Lorie Fioze, Kathy
Glasser, Susan Harkins (Chair), James Hunsberger, Lori Ludwig, Jay Oswald, Kelly
Steiss, Brad Ullner (Vice Chair).
REGRETS: Val Hummel, Grace Niezen, Sharon Ward-Zeller.
ABSENT: Councillor Susan Foxton, Councillor Ron Hackett, Daniel LaJoie, Councillor Ian
Mitchell, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Carol Moogk-Soulis, Gerald Moore, Bart Toby,
Councillor Christina Weylie, Councillor Ruby Weber.
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Susan Harkins
2.ADDITION/ADOPTION OF AGENDA – Susan Harkins
A motion was made by Laura, seconded by Taposhi to adopt the agenda for the August
meeting. All were in favour; carried.
Site plans added under other business (Deb Bergey)
Workshop in London under other business (Lori Ludwig)
3.ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES – Susan Harkins
Discussion around having a bus visit this committee. Deb was not to arrange this for
today’s meeting, rather get direction from this committee, would they like to see one up
close and try a GRT low floor bus? Deb can arrange for a GRT low floor bus to visit a
GRAAC meeting.
A motion was made by Brad/Taposhi to adopt the minutes from the July meeting as
submitted. All were in favour; carried.
4.Business Arising:
?The committee discussed the purpose of having the low floor buses come. It was
decided that the purpose is to understand the buses which will then give us some
background information for future recommendations. Both an older bus (92) and a newer
bus (04) would be good for this purpose.
?Deb will ask GRT to provide buses, if both buses are available Deb will see if she can
arrange for a bus visit for September, if both can’t come on the same day due to
scheduling, then one will come in September and the other in October.
?It was decided that the committee would like to continue to communicate with GRT to
ensure they are aware of the needs of people with disabilities. Deb advised that there is
also a Specialized Transit Advisory Committee that GRAAC might want to connect with.
Sue Morgan is the chair of that group.
?Susan will send a thank you letter to Transit staff for their presentation last month once
letterhead is available.
5. Survey TOOL – Deb Bergey
?A presentation was given last month about the development and purpose of the tool.
1
\August 2004 - GRAAC Minutes
GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday August 26, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
?The tool has two main purposes: to identify existing barriers, and to act as a guideline
document for new initiatives.
?Three questions for feedback were given to the committee: What would you change?
What would you add? What is unclear and needs to be defined?
?The following feedback was given to the Region on the tool:
?Information needs to be communicated to affected people about service changes in a
timely manner. Information needs to go out in multiple formats. Website is one of the
best ways to get out information.
?Need to consult with with citizens about decisions being made.
?‘How to’ sections are good.
?For written documents, need more white space – suggestion of twice as much. Waterloo
low vision might be able to help for white space or publishing (‘leading’ is white space
around text).
?For the communication tool, need to have space to mark each individual document if you
are assessing more than one.
?What tool is being used to assess customer service training?
?Under physical tool, should add that toilet paper rolls are hard to handle if there are 2
rolls. Hard to start a roll. Need a better system.
?Automatic faucets are good.
?Light meters would be helpful to measure if lighting criteria are being met.
?Flourescent lighting is hard for people.
?Should keep exterior routes free of snow and ice – how often is this checked?
?Heating and cooling – should have standard temperatures.
?Accessible parking should be near main entrance – logical paths of travel.
?Ramped curb next to accessible parking – but not blocked by the car itself.
?For implementation of the survey tool, the following suggestions were made:
?Soft funds should be available for all areas to access for things like interpretation for
meetings.
?Should be a criteria for when plans will be implemented – is a budget designated for
this?
?Should be a general statement at the beginning to show the Region is serious about
becoming barrier free. Add a date to achieve 100% barrier free.
?Criteria should all be made more concrete – add measurement specifics.
?The committee requested a summary of themes for the pilot to be brought to the next
meeting. Deb will prepare this summary.
?The word Audit not survey tool would be stronger.
?The process was clarified that internal staff are trained as surveyors to look at
departments other than their own. The Region is only surveying sites and services which
they own or deliver. They are not taking this tool out to private sector etc. However,
the intent is to make this available to other organizations if they want it.
?It was discussed that in future we could involve people with disabilities in assessing sites
or services, through the ‘mystery shopper’ approach.
?Suggested that a customer response line could also be used.
2
\August 2004 - GRAAC Minutes
GRAND RIVER ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Thursday August 26, 2004 Catholic Family Counselling Centre
?As time for discussion ran out, Susan suggested that members can still discuss with Deb
their thoughts about the tool on an individual basis. The evaluation of the tool will be
complete in October and then Deb will begin to make revisions, so you can get feedback
to her before that time.
6. Logo
?At the request of Susan, the City of Kitchener had prepared some sample logos for
review. Dan and Laura have also submitted logo proposals.
?The following considerations were made in designing the logos: colour, font, photo copy
ability of lettering and gray-scale.
?After discussion about the various logos the committee voted to select the top three
choices. Those will be e-mailed out to all committee members to vote and then a logo
will be selected so that letters can be sent out.
?Dan and Laura were thanked for submitting letterhead designs.
7. OTHER BUSINESS
?Building plan – The Region is renovating the administration building for GRT and
would like to bring the building plans to the committee for review. The committee
agreed to do this. Facilities staff will come and present at the meeting and give an
orientation to reading building plans.
?Conference update. A free forum is being held on September 11 from 9-4:30,
includes lunch & light snacks. This is put on by the London area ODA committee. If
you are interested in attending contact: Kathy Lewis @ 519 645-0558 or e-mail
kathylewis@rogers.com. James is already planning to go and will provide a report
back to this committee. Laura would like to go, but transportation is a consideration.
Laura will submit costs to Kelly who will provide her with funds from the GRAAC
budget.
?Kelly announced this is her last meeting. Marg Sanderson will return on Monday
therefore Kelly’s is wrapping with this committee portfolio.
?The committee would like to congratulate Dan on the birth of his baby boy.
7. ADJOURNMENT/NEXT MEETING
A motion was made by Susan, to adjourn the August meeting. All were in favour;
carried.
Next Meeting: September 23, 2004 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Catholic Family
Counselling Centre at 400 Queen Street South in Kitchener
3
\August 2004 - GRAAC Minutes