Appendix I - Corporate Projects

1. Accessible Transportation: Family of Services Project:

This project includes the development and implementation of a “family of services” model to deliver accessible transportation services to Peel, including:

  • Partnership with Brampton and Mississauga Transit to maximize use of the accessibility features of the conventional transit fleets
  • Continued TransHelp focus on people with physical disabilities and mobility impairments
  • Creation of new accessible transportation programs to meet the needs of people with all types of disabilities

Status and Accomplishments:
The former Accessible Transportation Coordination Office has officially merged with TransHelp to create the Accessible Transportation section of the Transportation Division of the Public Works Department. The merger has allowed the two groups to combine resources and create synergies to improve the delivery of accessible transportation services in the Region of Peel. The newly formed group’s mandate is to establish a family of services framework that deliver client-focused services to individuals living with different types of disabilities in the Region of Peel.

In the last year, the section has launched a number of pilot programs including the Passenger Assistance Program, Taxi Scrip, Community Bus and Conventional Transit Access Initiative.

Time Frame: A pilot program is already in progress and being assessed and evaluated.
Priority: High
Project Sponsor: Public Works
Standards: Transportation and Customer Service

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2. Accessibility Education Project
Develop and implement an effective learning program for staff about accessibility to raise awareness and sensitivity to accessibility issues, knowledge of accessibility policies and best practices. Training program is designed to build the capacity of staff in regards to disability and accessibility. It would incorporate key messages of Accessibility and Diversity as determined by the annual Accessibility Plan and Regional Diversity Strategy. Learning and Development is working on Customer Service Training and they have consulted with the Accessibility Program.

Status and Accomplishments:
Incorporated accessibility related information into current learning programs and Regional events, where appropriate, including staff orientation. This training plan will be developed to coincide with the AODA Compliance Projects (refer to Project #7).

Time Frame: Accessible Customer Service Training (ACST) for Regional employees was completed in December 2010. Since then, other training initiatives remain ongoing, including orientation training for all new hires and summer students positions provided by ACST.
Priority: High
Project Sponsor: Employee and Business Services
Standards: Customer Service and Information and Communication

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3. Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Consultation Process for Buildings, Structures or Premises
Develop and implement a process to seek advice from the AAC regarding the accessibility of Regional buildings, structure or premises

  1. that the Region purchases, constructs or significantly renovates;
  2. for which the Region enters into a new lease; or
  3. that a person provides as municipal capital facilities under an agreement.

The process must permit compliance with subsection 12(4) of the ODA including the process for seeking advice, incorporating the advice and resolving competing priorities. The project will also consider the use of standards for accessibility, and which standards should apply.

Status and Accomplishments of 4(a) and (c):

  • Review current timing for project planning process for budget and scope
  • Review list of upcoming projects and status
  • Consult with Facilities Construction and Real Estate and Leasing
  • Review land acquisition and leasing policies
  • Review process with AAC for input
  • Confirm applicability of standards
  • Develop process to resolve conflicting/competing priorities

Time Frame: Phase I-Review of project planning and consultation with stakeholders and leasing (2009). Phase II-Proposal to AAC (2010). Phase III - Implementation (2011).

Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Consultation Process for Buildings, Structures and Premises

Status and Accomplishments of 4(b):

  • Review Lease Acquisition Corporate Policy
  • Develop Lease Acquisition Protocol
Time Frame: In progress
Priority: Medium
Project Sponsor: Employee and Business Services
Standards: Built Environment

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4. Accessibility Policy Project
Establish and communicate a Corporate Accessibility Policy. This policy will:

  • Articulate the goals and objectives of the Region in relation to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.
  • Describe the types of disabilities and barriers that can occur in relation to participation in Regional government, the delivery of Regional programs and services, and employees’ ability to carry out their work.
  • Identify processes, procedures and training tools to assist the Region to reduce or prevent barriers.
  • Establish appropriate accountability at all levels of the organization for promoting and implementing the policy.

Status and Accomplishments: Completed
Phase one of the project has been completed. The Region has adopted a Corporate Accessibility Policy G00-18. Accessibility training plan including delivery of training via e-learning, in class sessions, booklets and “Train the Trainers” method have been developed and are currently being deployed. An HRMS PeopleSoft report was also prepared to support reporting compliance. The compliance report was submitted to the ministry on March 31, 2010. This project coincides with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Project and will be reposted under project #8.

Time Frame: Completed
Priority: High
Project Sponsor: Corporate Services
Standards: Accessible Customer Service or Regulation 429/07

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5. Barrier Identification and Reporting Process
Review and revise the Barrier Identification and Tracking process and functionality, including:

  • identification of appropriate staff roles and responsibilities within departments;
  • improvements to the effectiveness of the process to identify barriers that affect employees, citizens, clients and customers during their interactions with the Region of Peel, and;
  • improvements to the reporting and analysis of data obtained through the process.
  • Establish working group to identify barriers according to AODA standards.

Status and Accomplishments:
Project has started. A number of activities to support this project have begun, such as establishing a working group to implement AODA standards being proposed. Currently the Accessibility Program had implemented web based barrier identification feedback mechanisms for the general public. All feedback is reviewed and communicated to the appropriate department or program for response. This address compliance requirement under Regulation 429/07. The outstanding part of this project is the development of a tool to categorize and prioritize identified barriers.

Time Frame: In progress
Priority: Medium
Project Sponsor: Corporate Services
Standards: AODA Standards

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6. Accessibility Integration Project
As a part of the Corporate Planning Process Improvement project, establish policies, processes and accountability for integrating accessibility projects and barrier reduction into key planning processes such as the Strategic Plan, the Official Plan, corporate planning processes, technology plans and Budget.

Status and Accomplishments:
This project was not officially launched or resourced nor identified as a priority for our area. A new approach to planning, the Integrated Planning Framework (IPF) is being launched and would be phased in over the next several years and will replace the previous departmentally based Strategic Business Planning Process. With the launch of IPF, the Region is moving away from creating Service Strategy Business Plans for each department and is seeking to implement Program master plans that are not departmental specific. Accessibility Planning will be a key input into the Regional Strategic Plan in the new term of Council.

Time Frame: To be Decided
Priority: Medium
Project Sponsor: Executive Office
Standards: Accessible Customer Service, Information & Communication, Built Environment and Employment

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7. Print and Internet Communication Standards Project
Develop and implement accessibility standards and guidelines for internal and external regional publications, intranet and internet sites.

Status and Accomplishments: Project now has been merged with the AODA Information and Communications Standard implementation through project #8 AODA Compliance Project.

Time Frame: Closed
Priority: Medium
Project Sponsor: Employee and Business Services
Standards: Information & Communication

8. AODA Compliance Projects
AODA compliance project is a collection of five projects affecting all Regional Departments. The five Accessibility Standards will be enacted through regulations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As each standard comes into force, the AODA compliance project will coordinate interdepartmental initiatives to manage the compliance requirements efficiently. A coordinating role and mandate should also be established to utilize common approaches, shared lessons learned and track progress.

Status and Accomplishments:

  • Project governance structure has been established.
  • First AODA Compliance project, Accessibility Standards for Customer Service is currently in progress with a targeted completion date of January 1, 2010.
  • Identification of divisional project managers for other compliance project is in progress.
Time Frame: It will coincide with AODA Regulations as they are proclaimed to ensure compliance.
Priority: High
Project Sponsor: Corporate Services. Each divisional project will assign respective project sponsors.
Standards: Accessible Customer Service, Transportation, Information and Communication, Employment, Built Environment.

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Revised: Friday February 17 2023