Announcements
Abilities Magazine
| February 22nd, 2004 | |
The ForumOntario Ministry Of CitizenshipFall 2001. Issue 48: pp. 40-41 Forumby Cam Jackson Many "Abilities" readers read of my appointment as Ontario�s Minister of Citizenship six months ago. What many of you may not know is that I have held elected office at both the provincial and municipal levels for more than 25 years. And if there is one clear lesson I�ve learned in that time, it�s that Ontarians are passionate about making their communities work for people. Ontario�s communities are demonstrating commendable leadership in their efforts to become more accessible. That doesn�t mean I don�t see any room for improvement. Clearly there are many things that can be done to improve access in our communities. There is, however, a strong foundation to build upon. Playgrounds for everyone As a father, I tend to see things first as a parent: "What would I want for my own children?" From that perspective, it should have been no surprise that EVERYkids Park in Orangeville would immediately seem like a common sense solution whose time had come. I had the opportunity to visit EVERYkids Park this spring. The playground is a model of universal design and accessibility. It engages and allows people of differing abilities to interact and play together -- not separately, but together. EVERYkids Park truly is every kid�s park. Perhaps the most encouraging thing about EVERYkids is that it is not one of a kind in Ontario. A similar playground in Mississauga, the Zonta Accessible Playground, is the result of a partnership between the city and local service group Zonta International. Two accessible children�s playgrounds is a start, but there�s no doubt much more could be done. To that end, the province has acted to support the effort to create more accessible children�s playgrounds through an EnAbling Change grant of $88,608 to the Ontario Parks Association (OPA). With money from EnAbling Change, the Association created the "PlayAbility Tool Kit," a resource to help municipalities create and build accessible play spaces. The Ontario government likes the kit so much, it purchased 447 of them through the Ministry of Citizenship -- one for each of the province�s municipalities. We�re donating the kits to inspire more municipal councils to look at their parks differently in the hope that they want families who have a member with a disability to play together. Clearing paths to independence In recent years, Ontario communities have been getting better at recognizing the need to take accessibility into account in all areas of planning local services. Many cities, like Windsor, Ottawa and Sudbury, have had local accessibility advisory bodies for years. Others are just discovering the value of looking at local planning through an accessibility filter. There are some fantastic examples of local planning that takes into account a wide range of needs. The city of Richmond Hill, together with Vaughan and Markham, developed a comprehensive disability guideline for their municipalities -- 163 pages of parameters and recommendations for ensuring that those communities are more accessible than the basic provisions set out in the Building Code. The guidelines are being used to inform all new construction and renovation projects in municipal buildings. The value of that kind of planning can also be seen clearly in some of our community colleges. For example, the Glen Crombie Centre at Cambrian College in Sudbury is the embodiment of smart accessibility planning. The centre is a state-of-the-art learning facility designed by its community and business partners to meet the specific needs of people with a wide variety of disabilities. The wide spaces allow people using wheelchairs to move about freely and the brightness is helpful to people with low vision. The corridors are marked with tactile paths that allow people with vision disabilities, even those unfamiliar with the building, to easily find their desired destination. Getting from point A to point B is perhaps the greatest obstacle standing in the way of greater personal freedom for many people with disabilities. Most Ontarians take their mobility for granted, not realizing how fundamental it is to maintaining control over one�s own life. But for many people, transportation is not so simple or seamless. People with reduced mobility or low vision can face major challenges -- but not insurmountable challenges. In many communities around the province, efforts are being made to make community transit more accessible. In cities like Ottawa, London and Toronto there are well-established systems of transit for people who face barriers on conventional public transit systems. In Thunder Bay, a lot of progress has been made in opening up conventional transit, with fully half of that city�s conventional bus system now serviced by low-platform buses. But more can be done. Through programs like the Community Transportation Accessibility Program (CTAP), the province is working in partnership with communities to improve the public transportation network. We are proud to be involved and will continue looking for ways to raise the bar. That�s why we got behind the "Community Transportation Resource Manual" and the 30-minute resource video, "On the Move: Co-ordinated Community Transportation in Ontario." We think sharing experiences can make a big difference. Solutions through sharing That is something that has become extremely clear to me in the last six months: we have a lot to learn from one another in making our communities more accessible. One community may have made great strides in transportation while another has worked hard to open up its civic spaces. It may be time to open up the avenues of communication and ensure that the great successes of one community resonate beyond the city limits and help communities open their doors to a wider public. My hope for the coming months is that we will continue to work together, sharing our successes and helping one another to identify and remove the barriers that stand in the way of greater independence for people with disabilities. While Ontario has a strong tradition of finding local solutions to serve local needs, I believe it�s time we took steps to ensure that the seeds of local innovation are nurtured, transplanted and encouraged to grow in communities throughout the province in a consistent and reliable way. "Recreation is a legitimate right of all Canadians. Children with disabilities are more than their diagnosis. They�re children first. Any child who has exercise, fresh air and interaction with others is healthier. Outdoor play breaks down the isolation experienced by children with disabilities and their families. My son has made friends at the playground he�d never had before. Local, integrated, outdoor play opportunities have made him a happier child, and we�re a happier family because of it." -- Wendy Cook, Founder, EVERYkids Park, Orangeville "As we all know, accessible buildings create an environment that nurtures and encourages inclusion and, therefore, equity for people with disabilities... disabilities that may range from visual and learning to hearing and physical. By making buildings accessible, we are not only opening our doors to people with special needs -- we are opening opportunities to the world." -- Dr. Frank Marsh, President, Cambrian College "We decided to fund [Med-Lift] because it is a great way to provide good service to people who need to use it to get to doctors� appointments and to see specialists and so on. It�s a good program that saves the taxpayers� dollars. And it improves services to the people who need them." -- Sean Strickland, Councillor, Regional Municipality of Waterloo
| |
