THIRD MEETING OF THE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY

 

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Canada Room

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

 

MINUTES

Members                                                                                  Regrets

Robert Hunn (Chair)                                                                 Connie Weber

Vito Bigioni (Vice-Chair)                                                          Regional Councillor Jack Heath

Carole Robertson                                                                    

William Broger

Sherry Setnyk

Dr. John White                                                            

Sam Jhangiani

 

Staff

Yvonne Hurst, Committee Clerk

 

The meeting convened at the hour of 7:00 p.m. 

 

1.         MINUTES OF SECOND MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE MEETING IN 2005 HELD ON FEBRUARY 16, 2005

           

            THE TOWN OF MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the minutes of the Town of Markham Accessibility Committee meeting held on February 16, 2005, be adopted.

CARRIED

 

            Vito Bigioni advised that a group of parents, including he and his wife, have requested the Town to establish a swim program for the physically challenged at the Angus Glen Community Centre.  The program will be a type of ‘aquafit’ will possibly commence in the spring. 

 

 

2.         WHEELS IN MOTION

 

Catherine Rogers, Regional Co-ordinator – Central Canada for Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion provided information to the Committee with regard to annual events that are held to raise awareness and raise funds to help improve the quality of life of people with spinal cord injury (SCI).  Ms. Rogers noted that 50% of the fund is directed to research and 50% is directed back to the community hosting the event to go towards a quality of life project (e.g. accessible doors, ramps, accessible playgrounds, etc.).

 

Ms. Rogers asked that the Committee consider providing its support to an event for the Town of Markham. 

 

Jonathan Haas, ambassador for the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion program, provided information on events held in Aurora and Newmarket.  Mr. Haas has been confined to a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury in 1996 when he was 21.  He noted that the Lions Club of Newmarket supported the Newmarket event and helped with the organization.  He also noted that he presents to schools to raise awareness of spinal cord injury and request support from the students.  He explained that his visits put a face to the event and provide students with an understanding of how a young person copes with a disability.  He noted that there will definitely be an event held in York Region in 2005. 

 

Mr. Haas indicated that the 2004 event was held on a weekend and this may have resulted in lower participation from the schools.  Further, the early morning start on a Sunday morning may have been difficult for high school students.  These are issues that will be addressed in future events in order to increase participation.

 

Ms. Rogers noted that the events in York Region are only 3 years old.  She noted that the main theme of her presentation is to build strong committees across the Region and perhaps bring several committees together to build one large committee.  She stressed that these events build awareness for SCI and disabilities in general as well as raising funds for disability programs.  Mr. Haas noted that events target not only people in wheelchairs but those who use canes, walkers, etcetera.

 

Ms. Rogers advised that each event is tailored for the community and venue where it is being held.  It is often a 10 km course with a shorter course for participants with disabilities.  She noted that support is provided in the form of brochures, banners, pledge forms together with her assistance in helping the committee organize the event.

 

She noted that local businesses are usually very supportive of these events, especially physiotherapy clinics that are involved with persons with physical challenges.  Generally a committee starts preparations in the previous October and then meets approximately once per month. 

 

The Committee indicated their support for an event for the Town of Markham.  Once information is received from Ms. Rogers, Sherry Setnyk will deliver the information to the school.

 

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility supports establishing a Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event for the Town of Markham and requests that Town Council provide its support for this endeavour.

 

CARRIED

 

 

3.         MARKHAM CENTRE

 

The Committee reviewed the Markham Centre Performance Measures document and agreed that the document is a well-prepared and detailed checklist covering many issues.  However, the Committee noted that there is no mention of accessibility issues in the performance measures.

 

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT the Town of Markham Council be requested to appoint one member of the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility to the Markham Centre Committee to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are represented.

CARRIED

 

 

4.         ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT

           

Robert Hunn, Chair, indicated that he is reviewing the checklist for accessibility audits.  He noted that Whitchurch-Stouffville have forwarded complaints regarding accessibility issues at the Markham-Stouffville hospital.  There was a query as to whether the Town of Markham Accessibility Committee should conduct an accessibility audit of the hospital.

 

It was pointed out that the audit document was distributed to the committee at a previous meeting; however, Carole Robertson and Bill Broger will require a copy.  The audit document will be discussed at the April meeting as a possible template for a new audit tool.  Sam Jhangiani will forward an electronic copy.

 

 

5.         ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE

 

Robert Hunn, Chair, advised that he has a number of letters from municipalities across York Region indicating their support for the development of a regional accessibility guide.  A meeting is to be held with the regional accessibility committees on March 30, 2005 and Robert Hunn indicated that he will mention the issue of the accessibility guide sub-committee.  Vito Bigioni noted that he wanted to hear by April so that the first meeting of the sub-committee can be set up for some time in May.

 

 

6.         INVITATION TO ATTEND UNIVERSAL DESIGN WORKSHOP – 27/04/05

 

Invitations were distributed with respect to the Universal Design Workshops.  The Committee expressed interest in attending the “Creating Accessible Communities” workshop to be held on April 27, 2005 in the Town of Markham Canada Room.

 

THE MARKHAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ACCESSIBILITY RECOMMENDS:

 

THAT up to four members of the Markham Advisory Committee on Accessibility be authorized to attend the “Creating Accessible Communities” workshop to be held on Wednesday, April 27th in the Town of Markham’s Canada Room at a cost of $40.00 per person.

CARRIED

 

 

7.         INCLUSION OF ACCESSIBLE ESTABLISHMENTS IN MARKHAM COMMUNITY GUIDE 2006

 

Sam Jhangiani reviewed a number of points that he had developed with respect to inclusion of accessible establishments in the Markham Community Guide for 2006.  Issues covered included: communicate with the publisher of the guide; recruit volunteers; prepare survey to establish criteria; publish accessible businesses in hard copy and on line; have space on the Markham website for accessible restaurants; and if a hard copy is required ensure that it can be provided; list should be updated once or twice per year; should indicate wheelchair, hearing and accessibility for the visually impaired.  A contact name will be needed to arrange for information to be included in the Community Guide.

 

The Committee stressed the importance of ensuring that the business is truly accessible.  Vancouver did not visit the establishments and the guide is a poor example.  The committee noted that visits must be made to each establishment to determine if the criteria is met. 

 

 

8.         UPDATE ON TOWN OF MARKHAM ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

 

Robert Hunn, Chair, noted that he had asked the Clerk’s Department about the timing for an update of the Town of Markham Accessibility Plan.  He was advised that an updated plan may be ready in the Spring.  The Committee expressed its concern that an update is not yet available.

           

The Chair was requested to prepare a letter to Council indicating that the Committee has not received a draft of the updated Town of Markham Accessibility Plan and that receipt of the draft plan prior to approval would allow the Committee an opportunity to provide comments.

 

 

9.         NEW BUSINESS

 

            Change in Name

 

Carole Robertson, President, noted that the former name of her organization ‘National Federation of the Blind’ has been recently changed to ‘Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians’.

 

            Angus Glen – Accessibility Issues

 

Robert Hunn, Chair, advised that a letter has been forwarded to Angus Glen with respect to accessibility issues noted by the Committee in a recent tour of the facility.  No response has been received to date.

 

10.       NEXT MEETING

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Accessibility Committee is on April 20, 2005.

 

11.       ADJOURNMENT

 

            The Advisory Committee on Accessibility adjourned at the hour of 8.35 p.m.