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[The following link opens a .pdf file of this page]
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THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
REPORT NO. 2
OF THE REGIONAL
ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING HELD ON MARCH 29, 2006
For Consideration by the
Community Services and Housing Committee of
the Regional Municipality of York
on April 12, 2006
Chair: W. Morley
Members: T. Robichaud, Vice Chair
S. Abrahams
Z. Brown
K. Hill
M. Proulx
Regional Councillor D. Wheeler
Staff Present: C. Abankwa-Harris, J. Abrams, B. Crowe, L. Gonsalves, D. Gordon,
J. Hulton, S. Neill
The Accessibility Advisory Committee began its meeting at 4:10 p.m. on March 29, 2006.
1 UPDATE - COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS
The Accessibility Advisory Committee advises the Community Services and Housing Committee of the following matters having been considered by the Accessibility Advisory Committee with the following action:
PRESENTATION
1. J. Abrams, Deputy Regional Clerk provided information to the Committee regarding the Region's Agenda preparation process and the electronic availability of documents. Following discussion, Mr. Abrams undertook to follow-up on Committee's concerns regarding electronic searching and document readability using screen readers and report back.
COMMUNICATIONS
[The following links open .pdf files of the Communications]
2. Don Gordon, General Manager, York Region Transit, dated March 14, 2006, regarding 'Response to AAC's questions regarding York Region Transit'. Received.
D. Gordon advised that the Terms of Reference for the Transit Appeals Board is in process.
3. Copy of letter from Hazel McCallion, Mayor, City of Mississauga, dated February 9, 2006, to The Honourable Harinder Takhar, Minister of Transportation, Province of Ontario regarding 'motor vehicle safety inspections and municipal licensing inspections of accessible taxicabs'. Received.
4. Joann Simmons, Commissioner of Community Services, Housing and Health, dated March 9, 2006, regarding 'Establishing the York Region's AAC Priorities in the Implementation of the Region's 2006 Accessibility Plan'. Received.
5. Establishing the York Region AAC's role and priorities in the implementation of "Removing Barriers: York Region's 2006 Accessibility Plan". Received.
OTHER BUSINESS
6. Lois Davies, Senior Program Analyst, Community Services and Housing, provided an update on the "Accessibility for Ontarian's with Disabilities, 2005 Workshop" held on February 28, 2006.
7. W. Morley provided an update on the "Making Ontario's Heritage Accessible Workshop" held on March 6, 2006.
8. C. Abankwa-Harris advised the Committee that Joann Simmons has recently assumed responsibility for the Region's Health Department and that her new title is Commissioner of Community Services, Housing and Health Services.
9. S. Abrahams advised Committee of recent proposed reforms to the Human Rights Commission. Further information will be provided when available.
10. W. Morley advised Committee of an e-mail received from the Coalition of Accessibility Advisory Committees announcing the formation of an e-mail discussion forum and a further request for input to assist in making the forum accessible to screen reader software.
11. W. Morley advised of a meeting held with the by-law enforcement officers group to discuss the use of accessible parking spaces by vehicles without accessible parking permits.
Mr. Morley advised that a blitz is being proposed for the last week of May to coincide with Accessibility Week. A letter from Mr. Morley will be forwarded to all local Accessibility Advisory Committees to request their Council's endorsement and participation in this initiative.
12. Committee was advised that a tour of the Community Safety Village is being scheduled for May 31, 2006, in place of the Committee meeting. An additional Committee meeting will be scheduled for June, 2006.
The Accessibility Advisory Committee adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
March 29, 2006 W. Morley
Newmarket, Ontario Chair
Susan Neill
Tel. (905) 830-4444 x 1305