Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Annual Conference

Therapeutic Recreation OntarioTherapeutic Recreation OntarioAnnual ConferenceAnnual Conference

May 29, 2003May 29, 2003

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 2

Presentation Objectives

• Background

• Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 overview

• Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario

• Accessibility Directorate of Ontario Accessibility Advisory Council Liaison Office

Policy and Accessibility Planning

Public Education and Partnerships


Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001

Background and Overview


Key Dates

• December 14, 2001 – Royal Assent of ODA

• February 7, 2002 – Proclamation of sections establishing the :

Accessibility Advisory Council of OntarioAccessibility Directorate of Ontario

• September 30, 2002 – Proclamation of sections establishing obligations for:

Municipalities Universities and Colleges School Boards Hospitals Public Transportation Providers Ontario government ministries


Key Dates

• December 31, 2002

Government Internet Accessibility

• September 30, 2003

First accessibility plans need to be completed

• 2006 / 2007

Five years from now the ODA allows for a review


The Purpose of the ODA

• To improve opportunities for persons

with disabilities and to provide for their

involvement in the identification, removal

and prevention of barriers to their full

participation in the life of the province.


Sector Profile

• 16.8% (1.9 million) of Ontarians have a disability

• 20% will have a disability in 2020

• 62% of people with disabilities are not employed

• $20-$25 billion spending power in Canada source Royal Bank, April 2000


Definitions

• Definitions of barrier and disability are quite broad and inclusive, address more than ramps and doors, wheelchairs and mobility disabilities

• Definition of disability is the same as that included in the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC)

• OHRC retains primacy over the ODA


Barrier

• A “barrier” is anything that stops a person with a

disability from fully taking part in society because

of that disability, including a physical barrier,

an architectural barrier, an information or

communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier,

a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.


ODA Definition of Disability (Same as the Ontario Human Rights Code)

• Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and includes, but not limited to:

- diabetes mellitus; epilepsy; a brain injury; any degree of paralysis; amputation;lack of physical co-ordination; blindness or visual impediment; deafness or hearing impediment; muteness or speech impediment; or

- physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal, or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device;

- a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;

- a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language;

- A mental disorder; or

- An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.


Government Obligations under the Act

Prepare and publish annual accessibility plan

Develop barrier free guidelines and comply with them in lease, purchase, construction or significant renovation of buildings, structures and premises

Have regard to accessibility in procurement of goods and services

Accessible Internet sites and publications

Employment accommodation and training for managers

Capital funding programs support projects which meet or exceed baseline accessibility criteria (SuperBuild)

Agencies (will be defined in regulations) must have accessibility policies


Municipalities

• Obligations include: Prepare and publish accessibility plans as part of regular capital

and operational planning processes; Consult with people with disabilities or establish an accessibility

advisory committees (if population 10,000+);

Consider accessibility in municipal planning, procurement and licensing;

Improve accessibility of elections process; Accessibility in new affordable housing development; Enforce increased fines for misuse of disabled parking

permits and parking spaces


Broader Public Sector

• Includes Scheduled Organizations (Universities, Colleges, School Boards, Hospitals) and Public Transportation Providers

Must prepare and publish annual accessibility plans, as part of regular capital and operational planning

Must consult with people with disabilities

May develop joint plans, as long as individual obligations are met


8 Steps in Creating an Accessibility Plan

1. Establish a consultation process

2. Create a working group

3. Review recent initiatives and successes in identifying, removing and preventing barriers

4. Identify (list / categorize) barriers that may be addressed in the coming year

5. Set priorities and develop strategies to address barrier removal and prevention

6. Specify how and when progress is to be monitored

7. Develop a draft plan; consult with people with disabilities on plan content

8. Make the plan public


Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001

Accessibility Directorate and Supports Available


Accessibility Advisory Council Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontarioof Ontario

• Advise the Minister and Government on: Implementation of the Act & preparation of regulations

Public information programs

Accessibility of government services

Accessibility of employment opportunities

Other matters and reports related to ODA upon Minister’s direction


Accessibility Directorate of OntarioAccessibility Directorate of Ontario

• Role is to: Implement the Act

Policy development, research and public education

Consult with ministries and broader public sector on their obligations under the ODA

Provide support in the development of accessibility plans and policies

Examine and review acts, regulations, programs and policies

Support the Accessibility Advisory Council


Organizational Structure of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

Three areas of responsibility:

• Accessibility Advisory Council Liaison Office

• Policy and Accessibility Planning

• Public Education and Partnerships


Role of Accessibility Advisory Council Liaison Office

• Support the Chair and Council members in fulfilling the Accessibility Advisory Council's legislative mandate

• Coordinate Accessibility Advisory Council Members’ activities and events

• Provide administrative and financial support to Accessibility Advisory Council


Role of Policy and Accessibility Planning Unit

• Provide advice to the Minister on accessibility

• Facilitate the implementation of the ODA’s legal requirements

• Policy and research on accessibility and disability issues

• Consult with, provide tools, resources and training to ministries and broader public sector on their obligations under the ODA

• Examine and review acts, regulations, programs and policies


Role of Public Education and Partnerships Unit

• Develop and promote public education and partnership initiatives

• Develop resources to promote accessibility and equal opportunity in business, services and employment through partnership projects, grants and public education

• Promote accessibility initiatives through stakeholder outreach activities


Public Education and Partnerships Activities

EnAbling Change Partnerships

Community AccessAbility Grant Program

Promotion and resource development

Stakeholder Outreach


EnAbling Change Partnership Projects

• Provide funding to projects with significant impact in increasing access

• Encourage leadership by business & non profit organizations

• Promote sector-wide or cross-sectoral strategies in key priority areas

• Generates results that can be used by other sectors


EnAbling Change Partnership Examples

• Employment - Related: Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division and

Global and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health

Conference Board of Canada Social and Enterprise Development Innovations

• Voluntary Standards: Canadian Standards Association Greater Toronto Hotel Association Ontario Community Transportation Association


Community AccessAbility Grant Program

• Encourages community partners such as

not-for-profit, non-government, community-based

organizations, local businesses, service

organizations and clubs, and people with

disabilities to work together to make their

communities more accessible


Community AccessAbility Grant Projects – Examples

Children’s Storybook - I’m Wendy Blair, Not a Chair! to increase disability awareness in primary educational settings

Video - Not So Fast, for training police officers on assisting people with Parkinson’s disease

Report - Parks & Trails Access Project on accessibility audits conducted on parks in St. Catharine’s with recommendations on improving access

MS Society – Halton Chapter to conduct physical accessibility audits of medical facilities, and to produce an accessibility guide that will be distributed throughout the community.


Promotion and Resource Development

• Accessibility Ontario Portal on MCZP Web Site Q’s and A’s, plain language guide to ODA Guide to Government of Ontario Services and Programs for People

With Disabilities Resources and tools for accessibility planning

• Paths to Equal Opportunity Web Site – information for business, service providers www.equalopportunity.on.ca 25,000 visits / month and 559 Gateway News subscribers 3100 English and French resources now available online Success Stories: best practices on accessibility solutions A model of web accessibility


Accessibility Directorate Contacts

Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario Phn 416–324-7545 TTY 416-212-4715 Fax 416-314-7467 [email protected]

Stefanie Marinich, Policy Advisor Accessibility Advisory Council Liaison Office

416-325-8694 [email protected]

Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Annual Conference

Documents

Transcript of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Annual Conference