Ontario has an important law, called the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities
Act, 2005. The first of its kind in Canada, the goal is to create provincial
accessibility standards and to have universal accessibility by 2025.
Businesses and organizations that provide goods and services to people in Ontario
will have to meet accessibility standards in five areas, in five-year increments,
to create a fully accessible Ontario by 2025:
Accessible customer service is now the law and came into force on January 1, 2008. This means that businesses and organizations that provide goods or services to people will be legally required to make their customer services operations accessible to people with disabilities by 2012. As a municipality, the Town of Milton is required to comply with customer service standards by 2010. Meeting these standards will involve identifying and removing barriers to customer service in operational practices, polices and procedures, and communications, as well as ensuring staff training is taking place. The customer service standard is the first in a series of standards that will help lead to a fully accessible Ontario.
As providers of service to the public, the Town of Milton plays a significant role in ensuring full access to those living in our community through the Council appointed Milton Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC). Each year, the committee develops the Town’s annual Accessibility Plan. The plan identifies barriers to municipal practices and services, and recommends solutions for their removal. The public is encouraged to review the plans and to provide input at the appropriate time regarding barriers that may exist in municipal services, programs and practices. In 2008, the plan is focusing on promoting awareness of accessibility, completing a site plan review process, ensuring training staff is taking place, reviewing/monitoring provincial legislation and standards, and developing implementation plans. The provincial government is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the regulations.
On October 22, 2007 Milton Council formally adopted the City of London’s Facility Accessibillity Design Standards. These guidelines are being used by Town staff as an aid for the design and construction of all new facilities, as well as the retrofit, alteration or addition to existing facilities owned, leased or operated by the Town of Milton. This document also references requirements around signage, detectable warning surfaces, texture, colour, lighting, materials, finishes and acoustics.
City of London Accessibility Design Standards
Halton Region, the City of Burlington, the Towns of Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville and the Halton Regional Police Service have collaborated on preparing a series of public education resources on emergency preparedness for persons with special needs/disabilities. The materials include a topic-focused pamphlet series, an audio CD on emergency preparedness, and a closed captioned personal emergency preparedness DVD. The pamphlet series addresses physical, visual, auditory and non-visible disabilities, as well as special needs considerations for seniors, travellers and people living or working in highrise buildings.
Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities
National Access Awareness Week was established in 1988 to promote better access for people with disabilities. The week was created in response to a request from Rick Hansen, following his 40,000 km Man in Motion World Tour. Held at the end of May, it celebrates achievements made both by and for people with disabilities. Look for upcoming events for National Awareness Week on this website in the spring.
Join the Milton Accessibility Advisory Committee and sign up to be on the mailing list for accessibility updates by contacting us as noted below.
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