Therapeutic Recreation Ontario Annual Conference May 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 3 Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 Background and Overview

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 4 Key Dates December 14, 2001 – Royal Assent of ODA February 7, 2002 – Proclamation of sections establishing the :  Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario  Accessibility 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 5 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 6 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.

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 7 Sector Profile 16.8% (1.9 million) of Ontarians have a disability 20% will have a disability in % of people with disabilities are not employed $20-$25 billion spending power in Canada source Royal Bank, April 2000

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 8 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 9 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.

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 10 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.

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 11 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 12 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 13 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 14 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 15 Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 Accessibility Directorate and Supports Available

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 16 Accessibility Advisory Council of 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 17 Accessibility 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 18 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 19 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 20 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 21 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 22 Public Education and Partnerships Activities EnAbling Change Partnerships Community AccessAbility Grant Program Promotion and resource development Stakeholder Outreach

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 23 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 24 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 25 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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 26 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.

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 27 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  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

Improving Opportunities for People with Disabilities 28 Accessibility Directorate Contacts Accessibility Advisory Council of Ontario  Phn 416–  TTY  Fax  Stefanie Marinich, Policy Advisor Accessibility Advisory Council Liaison Office  