The Municipality of West Nipissing is committed to providing equal treatment to persons with disabilities by putting into practice these four key principles: dignity; independence; integration; and equal opportunity. As such, the Municipality works to reduce barriers in the community. The Municipality strives for compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) 2005 by implementing standards pertaining to: accessible customer service; information and communication; employment; transportation; and the built environment.
The West Nipissing Accessibility Advisory Committee‘s responsibility is to review and advise the Municipality on the development of policies, renovations, purchases, etc. in an effort to remove barriers in all municipal facilities in accordance with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The Accessibility Plan is devised by the Accessibility Advisory Committee and describes how the Municipality can continue to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.
Let’s work together for a more inclusive community!
West Nipissing celebrates Accessibility Week to recognize the valuable contributions of people with disabilities, and highlighting the efforts of individuals, communities, and workplaces that are working to remove barriers to accessibility.
Did you know?
- An estimated 1 in 5 Canadians – (approx. 6.2 million in total) – 15 years and older have one or more disabilities that limit them in their daily activities. Canadian Survey on Disability
- Over 1 billion people live with some form of disability globally. WHO
- Almost everyone is likely to experience some form of disability – temporary or permanent – at some point in life. WHO
Resources
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001
West Nipissing Accessibility Plan 2021-2025
Municipal Policy – Accessibility Customer Service Policy
Terms of Reference
Accessibility Feedback Form
World Health Organization – Disability and Health
National AccessAbility Week
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Accessibility is about ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are specifically considered and that products, services, and facilities are built or modified so that they can be used by people of all abilities.
Here are a few examples of accessibility:
- Parking spaces close to entrances.
- Floor spaces and hallways free of equipment and other barriers.
- Staff and healthcare professionals using sign language or having access to someone who can communicate using sign language.
- Web pages with adjustable sized fonts and sharply contrasting colours.
- Audio content accompanied by text versions of the dialogue or a sign language video.
Sources
Accessibility for people with disabilities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC
Almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) – over one billion people – about 15% of the global population – live with some form of disability, and this number is increasing.
A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. Although “people with disabilities” sometimes refers to a single population, this is a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. People with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways.
Disability is extremely diverse, there are many types of disabilities, such as those that affect a person’s:
- Vision
- Movement
- Thinking
- Remembering
- Learning
- Communication
- Smell, touch, and/or taste
- Hearing
- Mental health
- Social relationships
Source
World Health Organization
The Accessibility Advisory Committee reviews and advises the Municipality on the development of policies, renovations, purchases, etc., in an effort to remove barriers in all municipal facilities, in accordance with legislation. The Accessibility Plan is developed by the Committee and describes how the Municipality can continue to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities.
Committee Objectives 2021-2025
- Review barriers that were identified in the previous years.
- Ongoing Municipal Site Reviews.
- Invite other agencies to share their Accessibility Plan.
- Continue to work with the Council and the department heads on identifying accessibility
issues and gaps. - Accessible/handicap parking – ensured that the by-law is enforced.
- Promote accessibility awareness and education.
- Foster good communication and engage local businesses about the importance of
accessibility.
The form below allows you to provide accessibility feedback regarding your experience with a municipal facility or service. The information collected will be shared with the Accessibility Advisory Committee. We appreciate your input.