SEPTEMBER 2006 – SEPTEMBER 2009

 

 

 

CORPORATION

 

OF THE

 

TOWNSHIP OF STRONG

 

 

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2001

 

ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

 

 

 

 

Submitted to:

Mayor and Council

Township of Strong

 

 

By:

 

Diana Georgie

Clerk

October 28th, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS OF PLAN

 

 

1.                  Executive Summary

2.                  Aim

3.                  Objectives

4.                  Description of the Township of Strong

5.                  Council Commitment to Accessibility Planning

6.                  Recent Barrier Removal Initiatives

7.                  Informal Site Audit of the Municipally Owned Buildings

8.                  Barrier Indentification Methodologies

9.                  Barriers Identified

10.              Barriers to be addressed in 2006

11.              Review and Monitoring of the Process

12.              Communication of the Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary

 

The Purpose of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) is to improve opportunities for people with Disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the Province.  To this end, the ODA mandates that each municipality prepare an annual accessibility plan.

 

This is the first year plan (2003) prepared by the accessibility working group of the Township of Strong.  The Plan has been updated to September 2009.   The report describes the measures the Township has taken in the past and the measures the Township will take during the current year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities who use the facilities and services of the Township, including staff and members of the community at large.

 

This year the Township committed itself to the continual improvements of access to municipal facilities including the electronic (world wide web) premises as well as the actual physical premises.

 

The working group identified a number of barriers to people with disabilities.  The most significant findings were that the Township Administrative office is not fully wheelchair accessible.  Over the next several years, the working group recommends focusing on those barriers which deny access to the Municipal Office on a day-to-day basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aim

 

This report describes one measure that the Township of Strong has taken for the 2003 year and the measures that the Township will take for the 2009 year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities who utilize the facilities and services of the Township, including staff.

 

 

 

Objectives

 

This report:

1.                  Describes the process by which the Township of Strong will identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities.

2.                  Review earlier efforts to remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities

3.                  List the facilities, policies, programs, practices and services the Township will review in the coming year to identify barriers to people with disabilities

4.                  Describe the measures the Board will take in the coming year to identify, remove and prevent barriers to people with disabilities

5.                  Describe how the Township will make this accessibility plan available to the public.

 

 

Description of the Township of Strong

 

q  Provincial Location - The Township of Strong is located north of Central Ontario on the East side of Parry Sound District and in the Central area of the Almaguin Highlands and the Blue Sky Region.  The Township has an area of 15,861 ha. and surrounds Lake Bernard, the largest lake in Ontario without an island  and with a flood elevation at 330.5 m.  There are 14 concessions in Strong and 32 Township original lots of survey.

 

 

 

q  Local Location - The Township of Strong has Hwy #11 and Hwy #124 intersecting in the centre of the Township.  There is the CN Railway line running south to north through the centre of the Township and also to the North east of the Township there is the South River Sundridge and District Airport located in Joly Township to the East of Strong Township and also located east of Strong is the Unorganized Township of Laurier.  To the North of Strong is the Unorganized Township of Lount,  Machar Township and the Village of South River and located within the boundaries of Strong Township is the Village of Sundridge.  South of the Township of Strong is the Township of Armour and within Armour is the Village of Burk’s Falls.  To the West of the Township of Strong is the Municipality of Magnetawan and the Township of Ryerson. 

 

Population/Households -The Township of Strong has a population of 1327 and 881 households.

(2006 census)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Assembly Buildings within the Township of Strong

 

The High School, Almaguin Highlands Secondary School is located within the Township. 

There are 4 churches within the boundaries of the Township.

The Masonic Lodge is located within the Township.

The De Nova Treatment Centre is located within the Township

The Township Municipal Office and Public Works Garage are located on adjoining properties.

 

 

Council commitment to accessibility planning

 

The council of the Corporation of the Township of Strong is committed to:

 

q  The continual improvements of access to all municipally owned facilities, premises and services for all those with disabilities

q  The provision of quality services to all members of the community with disabilities

 

The Council has authorized the Clerk to prepare an accessibility plan that will enable the Council to meet these commitments.

 

 

 

Recent barrier – removal initiatives

 

Council have approved that web site has sections that are text only which will work hand in hand with the current web site that is available.  This will allow those who have to have the use of a reader for visually impaired persons to be able to access the web site and keep up to date on current issues within the Township.  This will also allow those who are using older technology to also be able to access the site thus making it become barrier free.   In 2004, the Front walkway was realigned and levelled and the front door and foyer doors had automatic openers installed.

 

 

Informal Site Audit of the Municipally owned buildings

 

In July 2003 the staff and council completed a survey of the municipally owned building and in particular to assess any barriers that may exist and with that, any solutions to removing those barriers in order to comply with the current legislation under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2001.

 

There have been some barriers identified in the Municipal Administration Office and parking lot.  Those will be discussed further in this document under Barriers identified.

 

 

 

Barriers Identification Methodologies

 

In Order to identify barriers the following methodology was used:

 

Methodology                          Description                                         Status

 

                                                A survey was given to all                    The Survey has been completed by

                                                members of council, staff                   by the Office staff, Council and the

                                                and the Chief Building                       Chief Building Official.

                                                Official and the Public                        The Public Works could not identify

Survey to Staff/Council          Works Department                              any Barriers.

 

 

Barriers Identified

 

Those who completed the survey identified the barriers listed below.  Over the next year, council will have to decide which barriers should be addressed, keeping in mind budget restraints and feasibility.

 

Barrier                                                             Type of Barrier                        Strategy for removal

                                                                                                                        or Prevention

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Front walkway slopes to door                         Architectural              2004 - Had a part of the front walk

                                                                                                                        removed and levelled

Front Door has no automatic opener              Architectural               2004 - Installed automatic door opener

Foyer Door has no automatic opener              Architectural               2004 -Installed automatic door opener

No handicap parking spot at office                Architectural                           Have a spot signed for

                                                                                                                        Handicap Parking at office

                                                                                                                        & enforced by parking by-law

Washroom is not handicap accessible             Physical                                   Handle on Bathroom Door

         must be lever style.  Light switch

        6” too high, Toilet is 17” from wall

                                                                                                                 should be 18 1/8 The Sink is not

                                                                                                                 Suitable and must be changed

                                                                                                                 Cup dispenser to be installed

                                                                                                                 Thicker toilet seat to be installed

                                                                                                                 to gain height.  Coat Hook should

                                                                                                                 installed in washroom.

No Handicap Signage on Bldg.                      Communications              OBC states that there is to be

                                                                                                                 Accessibility Signs installed where

                                                                                                                 necessary – location of entrance

 

Tax Bills – sight impaired could                     Communications              The Province legislated the

not read the tax bill                                                                                  wording of tax bills.  A solution

                                                                                                                 will have to be found.

Communications to Residents                                    Communications              Parts of the Web Page are text only

                                                                                                                 for those who use reader services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barriers to be addressed in 2009

 

The first barrier that will be addressed in 2009 is to create a handicap parking space and sign for the parking lot at the Municipal Office Building.  The parking space will also require an amendment to our current parking by-law that this space will carry a monetary fine to those who are parked illegally in the space.

 

 

Review and monitoring of the process

 

Council is committed to following through with this plan.  This plan will be updated annually thus allowing council, staff and the public to monitor the barriers identified and the direction to which the Township is moving to remove all barriers under the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, 2001.

 

 

Communication of the Plan

 

This Plan will be available on the web site as well as at the office and we will make every attempt to make it available to those with disabilities for their perusal and review.  Should a copy in braile be requested, Council will try to accommodate by having staff contact the CNIB to inquire if it could be translated.