HomeMy WebLinkAboutGRAAC-2008-10-23Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday October 23, 2008 Kitchener City Hall, Conestoga Room
PRESENT: Sharon Ward - Zeller (Co-Chair),, Taposhi Batabyal (Co-Chair),, Myron Steinman,
Brad Ullner, Gail Brunsdon, Saul Herzog, James Hunsberger, Gordon Cummer, Amy Ross,
Councillor Kelly Galloway, Councillor Jane Mitchell, Councillor Karen Scian, Leigh Golden,
Deb Bergey, Val Hummel, Kelly Steiss, Linda Pretty (Recorder)
PRESENT (OTHERS): Anthony Cashin
REGRETS (MEMBERS): Ken Parker, Sharon Giles
REGRETS (OTHERS):
ABSENT WITHOUT REGRETS: Rosa Bustamante, Darryl Denny, Rik Louwagie
1.0 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Taposhi welcomed everyone to the
observers to introduce themselves.
meeting and invited members, staff and
2.0 APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES AND REVIEW OF OCTOBER AGENDA
• GRAAC has purchased a new recorder that will be used at the meetings.
Recordings will not be kept, but will be erased once they have been reviewed.
• As a point of clarification under Item 6.3 in the September minutes, the bus
service to Elmira will be regular transit, not Mobility Plus. A motion was made by
Sharon Ward - Zeller, seconded by Gordon Cummer to accept the minutes of the
September meeting. Motion to accept the minutes /carried.
• Motion (Sharon Ward - Zeller) /Seconded (Saul Herzog) /Carried to approve the
October agenda.
3.0 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
3.1 Transportation Sub - Committee (GTSC)
• The sub - committee met in early October and discussed bus shelters and future
routes.
3.2 Built Environment (GBESC)
• The October 20 meeting was cancelled as no plans were brought forward. The
next meeting will be on November 17 at which time plans for the Regional
museum and renovation to the Sunnyside Supportive Housing project will be
reviewed.
October 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 1
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday October 23, 2008
4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Region of Waterloo Accessibility Plan: Overview — Deb Bergey
Deb has accepted a new position at the Region of Waterloo and will no longer be the
liaison to GRAAC. She will, however, complete the Region's 2009 Accessibility Plan.
• Deb distributed and reviewed copies of a PowerPoint presentation plus she
highlighted status updates from 2008 as outlined in the draft plan.
• Deb is still waiting for further status updates from staff before completing the
document.
• The action plans are organized this year by the ODA " "barrier areas ", with each
area described and including questions and answers.
• The province has yet to come out with a reporting structure for the AODA, so the
Region is reporting its progress on progress for the Customer Service Regulations
in this plan as well.
• This year, the plan includes strategies on what is being done to comply with
customer service regulations.
Councillor Karen Scian entered the meeting.
4.2 AODA Customer Service Regulations (CSR)
• Due to the fact that many of the proposed standards for the AODA require
training, training for the CSR will be introduced in a staged implementation
process.
• The Region will meet the requirements of the CSR by January 1, 2010.
• Deb responded to Sharon Ward - Zeller's comment that it was heavy on process
rather than actions, that the project is now in planning stages and there is no
template to follow.
• Around 3000 full time, part time and temporary staff will be trained. The process
for third party contracts has to be clarified by the Ministry.
• Deb also stated that staff is accountable to the Ministry for ensuring staff training
was done and requirements are being fulfilled.
Councillor Kelly Galloway entered the meeting.
43 Barrier Area 1: Policy/ Practice/Attitudinal
• Comments from GRAAC are taken to specific departments where staff is
responsible to take care of it or put it on hold as necessary.
• Purchasing contracts will include a standard clause requiring that AODA standards
be met.
October 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 2
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday October 23, 2008
4.4 Barrier Area 2: Information /Communication
• The Region is now in phase two of their web redesign and is ensuring that their
website offers a text -only option. The Region is working toward a higher level of
W3 compliance. Information Technology Services develops the basic structure of
the website but each department adds its own content.
• Website accessibility should be improved.
ACTION: Leigh will check with IT to see what is required to make a
website W3 compliant.
4.5 Barrier Area 3: Physical /Architectural
• Improvements are done every year to increase accessibility in Regional facilities.
• Some items are shown as complete with a date of December 2008. Because the
report is not finalized and released until the New Year, items are projected to be
complete. Following Council approval in January, the document will be released
to the public, then will be presented to Cambridge and Wilmot in March.
4.6 Planned actions
• Myron shared his concern with the use of the word "compliance" which seems to
mean that the province is forcing municipalities to conform, and suggested that
another word be used.
Attitudinal Barriers
• Gord felt that the wording used was vague for the Human Resources item and
suggested more detail.
• Taposhi inquired as to how GRAAC will know what has been done and was told
that in every plan updates of past year are documented.
• Further detail needed for the HR item on recruitment and selection. (Deb will
follow up on this item).
Information and Communication
• Gail suggested that the Canadian Hearing Society be contacted regarding the
most up -to -date TTY technology.
• Consider further upgrades to TTY technology.
• Consider standards for print across the corporation.
P hys i ca I /Arch itectu ra
• Saul asked who provided feedback on architectural plans other than GRAAC. In
addition to feedback from GRAAC, comments regarding physical /architectural
barriers are received from Heritage Groups, mothers with strollers and others, but
mostly from G -BESC.
• Regional staff could be available to come back to GRAAC to provide an update on
Rapid Transit.
October 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 3
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday October 23, 2008
• Vehicles in the middle of the road are a concern for individuals who are visually
impaired.
• The Region is still discussing light rail transit within the area.
• Visual alarms should be installed in main buildings.
ACTION:
(i) Leigh will check the status of visual fire alarms in region buildings
and report back to GRAAC.
(ii) Members may send any comments or suggestions regarding the plan
to Deb and copy Taposhi and Sharon.
(iii) Deb will complete the 2009 report
5.0 CO -CHAIR REPORT
• Sharon and Taposhi will make a presentation to the Council in North Dumfries on
November 3 at 7:30 p.m. GRAAC members are invited to attend; anyone needing
transportation is asked to contact either of the co- chairs. The co- chairs are
always trying to get townships more involved with GRAAC.
• The K -W Joint Plan will be presented to GRAAC in November. There may possibly
be input in the plan from North Dumfries and Wellesley. By law, they don't have
to appoint a committee but they do have to consult people with disabilities.
• As Wellesley council chamber is not yet accessible, it will not be possible to give a
presentation there unless the meeting is held in another building. The township
will look at accessibility issues in the spring.
• As this is Deb Bergey's last meeting, on behalf of the committee, the co- chairs
thanked her and voiced appreciation for her assistance over the past years.
Roundabouts
• Gord brought forward his concern over the continuing issue of pedestrian
roundabouts. Roundabouts were initially only installed in rural locales but have
now become commonplace in busy urban areas and continue to be a problem for
pedestrians particularly people with disabilities.
• One of the themes in the GRAAC workplan is to have staff come back to the
transportation sub - committee to address concerns regarding the roundabouts.
Amy Ross also noted that the issue will be looked into by the Transportation Sub-
Committee in early 2009.
• Following GRAAC's tour of the roundabouts last May, a letter was sent to staff
detailing navigation problems. Leigh Golden received a response to the letter
which she will send on to the chairs.
• Councillor Mitchell said that roundabouts are becoming common as they keep
traffic moving and reduce accidents, but other groups are expressing concern as
well and the issue needs to be looked at. At the last GBESC meeting, Saul
October 2008 - GRAAC Minutes 4
Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC)
Thursday October 23, 2008
introduced a book on roundabouts which is available at the University of Waterloo
library.
ACTION:
(iv) Taposhi and Sharon will read the letter and report to GRAAC.
Members can also send feedback by e-mail to the co- chairs.
Additional Feedback on the 2009 Plan (submitted by Deb Bergey)
• Website accessibility should be improved
• Further detail deeded for the HR item on recruitment and selection. (Deb will
follow up on this item).
• Consider further upgrades to TTY technology
• Consider standards for print across the corporation
• Consider coming to GRACC regarding the LRT trains or buses. Vehicles in the
middle of the road are a concern for individuals who are visually impaired
• Visual alarms should be installed in main buildings
6.0 ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn was made by Saul Herzog at 3:30 p.m. The next meeting will
be held Thursday November 27 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Conestoga Room.
October 2008 - GRAAC Minutes Jr