HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 30, 2005
Minutes I Meeting Summary
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday March 30, 2005
7:00 pm
Civic Complex - CAO's Boardroom
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Attendees:
Councillor David Pickles
Kelly Collins
Bill Boyes
Prem Noronha-Waldriff
Guests:
Rob McLaren (Durham Catholic District School Board)
Doug Creighton (Durham District Separate School Board)
Regrets:
Stephen Little
Sandy Stanton
Debbie Blake
Rob Mclaren (Durham Catholic District School Board):
Have been following ODA guidelines for the past 2 years
- Being Education, have been doing for a long time
previous to ODA guidelines.
Board is fully inclusive - all students are welcome
regardless of ability.
Still have lots of inaccessible buildings - especially older
buildings.
Rarely (1-2 in 20 years) has a student had to go to
another school out of their community.
Didn't have a 'big vision' of the community at large
(parents, community, visitors) - focused solely on the
students.
Under ODA, required to have an MC and submit an
annual plan. To be in print and on Board website (not
there yet)
Have a working group (Sp. Ed staff / Plant Dept for
capital projects / community member with a disability /
and a staff person with a disability.
10 School Boards got together and shared plans and
developed a template along with the ODA plan.
Each Board determines own plans.
Part of the S ecial Ed Ian is alwa s on "accessibilit "-
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- Rob McLaren / Doug
Creighton to provide
the City with a copy of
their Accessibility Plan.
- Prem to provide both
Boards with a copy of
the City Accessibility
Plan.
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have records of what has been done for the past 5 yrs.
Other Barriers - own School Board office is not
accessible. After hours have to go down stairs to access
the building.
Some schools were not accessible - received input from
Schools on their priorities.
Parent Group - Sp. Ed. Adv. Committee involved in
priority setting.
Identified Communication - started Braille version.
- Will be meeting on accessibility plan.
Problem - Accessibility Planning Group not really well
known with the Board - is frustrating at times as things
that are of a high priority to the Committee is low priority
to the rest.
Meet 5 times as a committee. Worked on 5-6
recommendations; mission statement; vision; removing
barriers; attitudes.
1 aspect of teacher in-service is on Integration.
Principals are responsible for capital expenditures -
each team determines their priorities.
Have come a long way but have a long way to go.
Doug Creighton (Durham District School Board):
Has been the Chair of the working group since the Fall.
Put together first plan in 03-04
Superintendents of all Dept's on the Committee - also
includes parent council rep / sp. ed. rep / student
trustee's - lots of great input.
- Audit done on work being done - compiled info.
Lots of work done through new buildings
Inventory of accessible buildings continues to grow.
Closing older outdated buildings - though very hard to
do.
An audit report of accessible features at each school has
been put together.
All are charged with preventing new barriers
Main thrust of plan is to look at attitudinal barriers.
Surveyed school boards in southern Ontario.
"Accessibility Handbook" from Halton - excellent.
Durham is going to develop a handbook that all
employee's will be getting a copy of at their orientation:
to include appropriate language; behaviour; how to plan
a meeting; how to create accessible documents.
Hope to raise awareness around issues of accessibility.
Can find ways to make changes by thinking well and
uttin heads to ether.
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- Accessibility Handbook is on the Halton website
www.oxlevi@hdsb.ca
Is there a Disability Awareness Week?
Board does not have dedicated funds - dollars are
dedicated to tools to access the learning environment /
for personalized equipment for students.
- Accessibility Plan is condensed from the official ODA
version - makes for easier readability.
BC - Leader in Accessibility
Community Bulletin Boards - always acces. Info in the
newspapers
CAA Travel Magazines.
cessibility Work Plan Update
Committee approved the following Accessible Upgrades:
Power door for accessible washroom at the O'Brien
Meeting Room. ($2,450)
Power doors for Male / Female washrooms at the
Claremont C.C. (2x $2,450)
Committee requested info about the Progress Park Clubhouse
ramp required:
1) Who gets the revenue from rentals? Prem to look into.
2) Are there any other groups that can put money into?
3) Does the Progress Club do fundraising that can be used
for the ramp?
Committee may go down to see the facility / would be limited to
contributing a few thousand dollars towards ramp.
3.0 Transportation Update (APTA):
- No update as Sandy was absent.
4.0 Other Business
1) Civic Awards: AAC Committee recipient of Access
Award.
Civic Awards Ceremony to be held Monday April 18,
2005.
Committee to meet in the Civic Complex Main Lobby at
6:30 m. Ceremon to start at 7:00 m
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_ Debbie to accept medal on behalf of the Committee as
the longest standing member.
Confirmed attendance:
Debbie Blake (and husband)
- Bill Boyes
Kelly Collins
- Sandy Stanton
Prem Noronha-Waldriff
Stephen Little sends his regrets: Out of town on business.
2) Revised Site Plan Guidelines
3) Updated Facility Audits
8.0 Next Meeting:
Wednesda April 27, 2005.
Meeting Adjourned: 9:00 pm
Copy: Division Head, Culture & Recreation
Supervisor, Culture & Recreation
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Prem to check with Tyler
Barnett on progress to
date.
Prem to check with Tim
Moore and advise C.
Pickles a week prior to
next Meeting.
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