Accessible Heritage, an Imperative for Sustainable Heritage Conservation

Accessible Heritage Initiative (Ontario Historical Society)

Nikki Zhang CDNS 4901 - Heritage Conservation and Sustainability

Sustainable Heritage Case StudyDec 8th, 2014

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

Accessible Heritage Initiative

Ontario Historical Society

Spencer, A. (2014). A Message from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. Retrieved 2014, Nov 24, from Ontario Historical Society: http://www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/en/Accessible_Heritage_127

Lessons

Canada, as a nation, is actively addressing the essential human rights issue of achieving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities

—this must be an integral part of the sustainable heritage conservation movement as well.

According to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act,

people are not disabled, poorly designed environments create barriers that disable people.

Making heritage available to future generations is the core purpose

of conservation, which should include people of all abilities.

Image 2

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Mbjobs. (2014). Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Retrieved 2014, Nov 24, from Mbjobs: http://www.mbjobs.ca/Employers/1463

Description

The Assessable Heritage program initiated with the publication of the Accessible Heritage Tool Kit, a resource

for managers of heritage properties to improve barrier-free access.

It was developed in partnership by the Ontario Historical Society and the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario in

response to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005).

Timeline

Establishment of the Ontario Historical Society | 1888

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act | 2005 Last amendment | December 15, 2009

Accessible Heritage Initiative | 2008Accessible Heritage - An Accessibility Tool Kit For Ontario's Heritage Organizations and

Institutions published by The Ontario Historical Society partnered with the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario | 2008

Accessibility Standard for Customer Service implemented by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

Businesses & organizations | January 1, 2012 Public sector and large Ontario businesses | January 1, 2014

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Implementation Goal | January 1, 2025

Natural/Cultural Heritage

Improving accessibility in historic buildings and sites poses unique challenges for conservation architects, especially in designated National Historic Sites.

Traditional conservation viewpoints present potential conflicts between universal-design and heritage conservation

New attitudes about human rights and sustainable heritage conservation are synergistic.

Environmental Sustainability

Making existing buildings adaptable to future needs is more resilient, and saves infrastructure waste and embodied energy.

A major component of environmental sustainability is biodiversity, which includes the human genome. Our built environment should be supportive of human diversity.

Socio-economic Sustainability

Accessible tourism is a growing market as the Canadian population is ageing.

With the AODA, and updates in other standards, places that are inaccessible will not be allowed to continue to operate.

Socio-cultural Sustainability

Consider intangible heritage and the sense of place. Keeping a place alive with community involvement is as important to preserving heritage value as its physical structure, and people of all abilities should be able to fully participate.

Promoting cultural diversity, differently-abled populations have history and culture that should be visible and shared. An essential step is to remove the barriers that inhibit different cultures from interacting.

StakeholdersOrganizer: Ontario Historical Society

Organizing Partner: Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

Legislating Bodies: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario Building Code.

Target organizations: heritage properties, local historic sites, community museums

Communities of interest: Council of Canadians with Disabilities, Citizens with Disabilities — Ontario, Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD), DisAbled Women's Network Canada (DAWN Canada), National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), National Network for Mental Health (NNMH), People First of Canada, Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada

ASL interpretation provided for the Museum Highlights Tour, ROM, Toronto

Government of Ontario. (2014). Access Programs and Services. Retrieved from ROM: http://www.rom.on.ca/en/visit-us/accessibility/access-programs-and-services

Tactile Tour, ROM, Toronto

Government of Ontario. (2014). Access Programs and Services. Retrieved from ROM: http://www.rom.on.ca/en/visit-us/accessibility/access-programs-and-services

References

Disabilities, C. o. (2013). Member Organizations. Retrieved from Council of Canadians with Disabilities: http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/about/members

Government of Ontario. (2014). Access Programs and Services. Retrieved from ROM: http://www.rom.on.ca/en/visit-us/accessibility/access-programs-and-services

mbjobs. (2014, Nov 24). Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Retrieved from mbjobs: http://www.mbjobs.ca/Employers/1463

Queen's Printer for Ontario. (2008). About the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Retrieved from Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure:

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/understanding_accessibility/aoda.aspx

ServiceOntario. (2009, Dec 15). Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Retrieved from E-laws Ontario: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_05a11_e.htm

Spencer, A. (2014, Nov 24). A Message from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario. Retrieved from Ontario Historical Society: http://www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/en/Accessible_Heritage_127

The Ontario Historical Society. (2014). About. Retrieved from The Ontario Historical Society: http://www.ontariohistoricalsociety.ca/en/