THE JOINT PEEL- CALEDON

ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Glenn Barnes, Chair presiding

1. CALL TO ORDER

Glenn Barnes, Chair of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee called the meeting to order at 1:55 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting held on May 18, 2004.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-16 -2004

That the minutes for the May 18, 2004, Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Agenda of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting held on June 8, 2004.

RECOMMENDATION AAC-17 -2004

That the agenda for the June 8, 2004 Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting be approved.

4. COMMUNICATION ITEMS

a. Invitation from the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities of Peel, Halton and Dufferin to the Annual General Meeting being held Friday, June 18, 2004 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre, Meeting Room West

Received

b. Submission to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration's Consultations on the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 From the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) titled, "From the Municipal Front Door and Beyond: Achieving Barrier-Free Communities"

Received

c. Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager, Peel Living, Letter dated May 31, 2004, Regarding Waiting List Arrangements for Wheelchair Modified Units

Received

William Goursky, in response to the letter from Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager, Peel Living, dated May 31, 2004, stated that the application process for accessible public housing units remains an important issue that the Members of the Joint Peel-Caledon Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) should address through a letter or a resolution.

Glenn Barnes replied that a recommendation would be considered during the report from the Community Outreach and Communications Subcommittee, Item 8a.

Glenn Barnes requested that Meenu Sikand, Accessibility Planning Co-ordinator, Region of Peel, provide the Members of the AAC with a copy of the "positions" of the Service Managers, the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and the Cooperative Housing Federation, noted in the letter from Keith Ward, Commissioner of Housing and Property and General Manager, Peel Living, dated May 31, 2004.

5. CONSULTATION SESSION FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE REGION OF PEEL AND TOWN OF CALEDON ACCESSIBILITY PLANS
Facilitated by Janine Elias Joukema, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Executive Office, Region of Peel

Received

Roger Maloney, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Peel made introductory remarks highlighting how the Region reaches out to various communities in Peel and incorporates input from those communities into the Strategic Plan for the Region. He also explained how the input received from different communities is incorporated into the various departmental Service Strategy Business Plans (SSBP) that shape and influence the Regional services provided to the public. He thanked the Members of the AAC for their feedback and dedication thus far and introduced Janine Elias Joukema.

Janine Elias Joukema, Director of Strategic Initiatives, explained that she had been requested to assist the AAC with the renewal of the Accessibility Plan for the Region of Peel. She proposed that the first meeting would be utilized to gain input and a better understanding of what the AAC hoped to accomplish in the second Accessibility Plan. The second meeting would then clarify the objectives and actions of the Plan and the third meeting would finalize the input received in previous meetings, which would be incorporated into the second Accessibility Plan.

Group discussion followed.

A number of the Members expressed the opinion that the current Plan does not adequately identify "who will do what by when", lending to a lack of accountability. They also expressed concern regarding the Plan implementation process, in that it had resulted in insufficient action. Janine Elias Joukema explained that there must be a balance between "quick wins" and long term sustainable policies that, in the end, result in more substantive and systemic progress.

Members discussed the need for sensitivity training for staff to increase awareness so that they might be better equipped to identify accessibility issues, and the importance that staff have both the tools and the understanding if good policies and processes are to result. Members suggested a "bookshelf of training material" tailored to the various functions performed by staff, suggestion boxes to receive input from the public, participation in or hosting of a conference like that held in Sault Ste Marie, a public awareness campaign and a public forum all to highlight accessibility issues and the work of the Committee. Janine Elias Joukema suggested that the Members undertake initiatives that will have positive results and are manageable. She noted that the first Plan was drafted by staff however, the current Plan will be drafted with direction and advice received from the Members of the AAC. Building on this, the subsequent Plans can include wider community consultation. Given the legislated timeline, Members were reminded that it would be difficult to arrange public consultation, review the input and incorporate it into the Plan prior to the September deadline.

Eriks Eglite, Assistant Director of Recreation, Town Property Services, Town of Caledon, stated that the process will help staff to reach the September 30, 2004 deadline, and will also assist with a view to the longer term implementation of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA). He explained that staff in Caledon will be updating the current Plan and not creating a new Plan. Eriks Eglite further noted that Caledon is facing a real challenge, and it is important to manage expectations.

Janine Elias Joukema concluded by advising that she would prepare notes based on the feedback received from the Committee. She will also facilitate at the next meeting assisting the Members to separate tasks and objectives in preparation for the next Accessibility Plan.

Glenn Barnes thanked Janine Elias Joukema for her role as facilitator, and expressed appreciation of the fact that she stressed that a solid foundation has to be in place to build on for future initiatives. Glenn Barnes also indicated he looked forward to her participation in the next meeting of the AAC.

6. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING COORDINATORS

Received

Meenu Sikand, Regional Accessibility Planning Co-ordinator, provided an update to the Committee on current developments. She noted that she had worked with Janine Elias Joukema and other staff in preparation for the consultation session on the renewal of the Plan. Meenu Sikand confirmed the details of the June 30, 2004 Community Recycling Centre facilities tour and evaluation. She updated the Members on her meeting with Human Resources regarding the organization of sensitivity pilot training session, the development of an evaluation tool to measure the effectiveness of the sensitivity training and the development of a communication strategy surrounding the training. She also shared with the AAC that currently the Region does not have ability to track progress of accessibility initiatives within each department as she does not have a centralized tracking tool. She also reminded the Committee Members to submit their expense forms and of the previous request to review the client sites of NTS (www.ntsweb.com) that have indicated they are "accessible". NTS is one of the vendors that have approached the Region of Peel with tools to make our website accessible.

Eriks Eglite stated that the Town of Caledon staff working group continues to meet every two weeks. He also noted that they have agreed on an audit tool and are currently reviewing its use. At the next meeting of the AAC he will be returning with plans for the Cheltenham Community room that the AAC first reviewed in the fall of 2003. Further, he highlighted some of the activities that will be available to children with disabilities this summer in the Town of Caledon through Parks and Recreation programs.

Maureen Tymkow asked if there were any developments regarding accessible transit in Caledon. Eriks Eglite indicated he would look into the matter and report back to the Committee at their next meeting.

Members of the Committee requested that Meenu Sikand and Eriks Eglite provide a brief written report to the Members of the Committee in advance of meetings.

The Members explained that this would allow them an opportunity to review the report and formulate questions in advance of the meeting, limiting the oral report to important issues and updates.

7. REPORT OF THE ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Received

Members of the AAC expressed their concerns about the rescheduling of the sensitivity training to September. Glenn Barnes acknowledged the concerns and reminded Members that the AAC is an advisory committee that can advise or make recommendations to Council on a particular course of action.

Councillor Richard Paterak sought clarification on whether the training was initially to be for all of Council or if it was to be piloted with a group to include representation from Council, the AAC and staff. He also questioned the appropriateness of holding the training as part of a Council meeting, which is open to the members of the public.

Maureen Tymkow suggested that the training should include all Councillors from Caledon. Eriks Eglite indicated that he would follow up on this request once details of the training session were confirmed.

Glenn Barnes undertook to write a letter to the Regional Chair requesting that the sensitivity training be scheduled prior to the end of July, 2004.

Group discussion followed.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

a. Community Outreach and Communications Subcommittee Report

Received

William Goursky provided a report from the subcommittee, he also spoke to the fact that an audit tool has been identified. The tool will be used during the tour of the Battleford Community Recycling Centre.

The subcommittee requested that the Peel Room, a preferrable venue over that of Regional Council Chambers, be booked for future meetings of the AAC. Jeff Payne, Legislative Co-ordinator, referred to a summary of the pros and cons of the two venues based on previous feedback received from the Members. He explained the meeting space options within Regional Headquarters and the difficulty associated with booking the Council Chambers only for meetings with presentations, given that meeting rooms, especially the Peel Room, are frequently booked as far off as a year in advance. It was generally agreed that at this time AAC meetings will remain in Council Chambers until further direction is provided to staff.

The subcommittee requested that all agendas and minutes of the AAC be posted to the Regional Website. Jeff Payne noted that the Regional Clerk has initiated this process and that the Committee will be updated on progress at a future meeting of the AAC.

The subcommittee recommended that the Region look at reviewing print standards to make printed and electronic material more accessible to persons with disabilities. And further, that meetings of the AAC be made more accessible through the use of adaptive devices such as CCTV's.

Glenn Barnes noted that the two subcommittees of the AAC appear to have blended, and he cautioned against this for future subcommittee meetings and reports.

The subcommittee deferred a letter on governance to the next meeting of the AAC.

9. NEXT MEETING

Thursday, July 29, 2004 (1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.)
Region of Peel Headquarters
Council Chambers, 5th floor
10 Peel Centre Dr.
Brampton, Ontario

10. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.