Category Archives: #Accessibility barrier!
Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee’s Motion vs. Administration Report
Will council agree with its Accessibility Advisory Committee’s (AAAC) motion that this is not just about accessibility or with an administration report to council that accessibility funding should be used?
I shared my concerns with Councillor McArthur, council’s rep to the Committee, and Councillor Pouget who attended the AAAC meeting when the discussion occurred.
- Shouldn’t rest areas be more important than more planters?
In my January email, I urged council to embrace the spirit of the AODA and consult the public regarding Richmond Street sidewalk repairs even though the report to council did not mention public consultation in accordance with the AODA’s Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation regarding exterior paths of travel, rest areas:
‘Designated public sectors when constructing new or redeveloping existing exterior paths of travel that they intend to maintain, shall consult on the design and placement of rest areas along the exterior path of travel and shall do so in the following manner:
- the public and persons with disabilities.
- a municipal accessibility advisory committee if one exits.’
- Why use AODA Compliance Reserve Fund?
The January 29 administration report recommended using funds accrued within the accessibility compliance reserve fund which are intended for repairs and improvements designed to reduce or remove barriers and promote greater access to public spaces, goods and services.
The May 13 administration report states the AODA compliance reserve fund was introduced in 2017 as an annual contribution to the reserves of the town of Amherstburg for municipal building and infrastructure improvements to eliminate barriers with regards to accessibility.
The August 2016 Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes indicate the motion that administration develop a policy that the committee reviews and edits to ensure the town is promoting accessibility in the strategic plan and ask that $50,000 a year starting in the 2017 annual capital budget be set aside for promoting accessibility in public buildings.
- Which recommendation should prevail?
The Accessibility Advisory Committee’s April 10 motion, following concerns that AODA Compliance Funds were to be used for the Richmond St. sidewalk repairs, was that council consider the reconsideration of the funding source for reduction by 50%.
The clerk advised the committee that his professional recommendation to council would be to use that fund because that is why that fund was created.
- What type of motion is required?
At the April 10 committee meeting, Councillor McArthur asked, couldn’t council in that very meeting make a motion to reconsider it and then either Council says yes to 50% or no to 50% but it could proceed on the same timeline?
The clerk answered that yes, if the motion was carefully worded, where it asked for the funding consideration to be reviewed, he didn’t think there would be any reason why they couldn’t be shifted after they were already spent. If for example, it was 31,000 drawn out of the reserve but this recommendation was that it shouldn’t be funded from this reserve then Council could pull the funds from another reserve to replenish that; they do journal entries all the time.
The clerk repeated that if the committee wished to have council look at that and fund it from a different source if it was worded right the project could continue.
Councillor Donald McArthur stated if the committee is comfortable with 50% he’d happily go to council and ask them to reconsider the funding source.
The May report to council addresses a reconsideration. ‘It is debatable whether such a motion would be permissible though, as portions of the original motion which would be the subject of the reconsideration have already been acted upon, and as such, are not open to be reconsidered. The reconsideration of the funding source would need to be considered outside of the reconsideration on the consultation and/or whether the works should be undertaken. A less procedurally fraught motion would be to cause $16,000 worth of funding to be redirected to the AODA Compliance Reserve fund, from another funding source to offset the associated costs. That said, such a motion is not recommended by Administration as funding this $16,000 from another reserve creates a need to identify $16,000 of unbudgeted and unplanned expense which may have adverse impacts on other projects.’
Didn’t council approve $450,000. of unbudgeted and unplanned expense for pickleball?
Shameful – Open Air Will Continue
So many heartfelt pleas from some downtown businesses to change the timeframe and/or the footprint. Shame on Councillor Crain for saying he would remove Open Air barriers when he campaigned but voted to support continuing Open Air. Shame on Councillor McArthur; as council’s rep to the Accessibility Advisory Committee who should be advocating to remove barriers. Also, shame on Deputy Mayor Gibb; he emailed that, “I’m proud to say that I did complete the ADOA training that was offered to all members of council and I hope to put what I learned into practice not only in my “municipal life” but also in my personal life.” Finally, shame on Mayor Prue.
Richard Peddie Needs Open Air
Listen to Richard Peddie say he needs open air on am800 interview January 19, 2023; read text below at the end of the post.
Richard Peddie, a February 21 council meeting delegate, will once again voice his support for Open Air, also known as closed streets. The twist this time is that his presentation states a park in the middle of our town.
One of his pictures clearly illustrates the barriers on the sidewalk and in the streets where it would be difficult for people using mobility devices or who rely on visual cues for navigation.
I have raised awareness about barriers that exclude people with disabilities many times over decades and, during this past election campaign, wrote about encountering ableism.
This new council has to decide between closing a publicly funded highway requested by for profit businesses or adhering to public policy to provide for equal rights and opportunities without discrimination that is contrary to law?
Human Rights Code PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world and is in accord with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as proclaimed by the United Nations;
And Whereas it is public policy in Ontario to recognize the dignity and worth of every person and to provide for equal rights and opportunities without discrimination that is contrary to law, and having as its aim the creation of a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of each person so that each person feels a part of the community and able to contribute fully to the development and well-being of the community and the Province;
And Whereas these principles have been confirmed in Ontario by a number of enactments of the Legislature and it is desirable to revise and extend the protection of human rights in Ontario;
Text of Richard Peddie interview:
but we do need the help of town. I mean, it’s gonna be interesting. We have a new council, how will they rule on Open Air, open air is absolutely critical of these all new shops absolutely critical. And you know what it’s going to really it’ll be one of the factors on whether we open a hotel. I need open air because the hotel hotels are tough. I mean, it’s no coincidence there are none in Amherstburg, because there’s it’s tough to build them and, you know, when we make our decision on the hotel and we hope to soon, how Council reacts to how they’re supporting local business will be a big factor.
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Amherstburg Candidates And Accessibility: E scooters
I asked; none of the twenty-five Amherstburg candidates for council would make the “No E–scooters Pledge.”
The AODA Alliance wanted electors to ask candidates for City Council or mayor anywhere in Ontario to pledge not to allow e-scooters. They endanger safety and accessibility for people with disabilities, seniors & others!
Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers Part Three – Maps
Amherstburg is not Bogota.
Populations:
Amherstburg 21,936
Bogota 11, 167,000
Amherstburg’s Open Air event where, for the third year, barriers prevent the almost 5,000 persons with disabilities from equally participating in their community: barriers to the post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.
Visit Amherstburg website includes two links to the same map:
“To assist you we have this map to help you best decide where to park your vehicle. You’ll see we have added additional accessible parking spots at the Open Air thresholds as well as additional bike racks to help encourage active transportation.
Click here to see additional bicycle, vehicle and accessible parking areas.”
The first map:
The second map:
Who decided it was a good idea to have two links to one map on the same page?
Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers To Inclusion Part Two
Amherstburg is not Bogota.
This is a continuation of photos showing the barriers to Amherstburg’s downtown due to its ‘Open Air’ event where open streets are closed to vehicular traffic on the weekends from May to September.
Amherstburg’s Open Air event where, for the third year, barriers prevent the almost 5,000 persons with disabilities from equally participating in their community: barriers to the post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.
Reader letter: Artwork should have been on display at accessible site
As published in the Windsor Star July 23, 2022.
Re: Amherstburg gets a closer look at Group of Seven artwork, by Dave Battagello, July 2
Not everyone will get a closer look.
The exhibition was being hosted in a downtown bookstore owned by Richard Peddie.
Victoria Little, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Art Windsor-Essex, stated recently, “AWE regrets hosting this exhibition in a space that is not accessible in Amherstburg.”
In her letter, Ms. Little explained: “AWE also undertakes partnerships when our overarching goals for a program align with those of community visionaries, such as Richard Peddie.”
But if the goal was to bring this exhibit to Amherstburg, AWE could have selected accessible locations like the downtown Gibson Gallery or the Libro Centre.
The livability of communities cannot be improved if persons with disabilities continue to experience discrimination because of attitudinal and physical barriers.
AWE needs to adopt an accessibility policy and align its goals with legislation that ensures every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities without discrimination.
Ms. Little asked for my “patience and understanding that the organization operates within the broader systems of obligations that may conflict with our overarching accessible vision.”
I have been more than patient as I have advocated for improved accessibility for over 30 years. There’s the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, the Human Rights Code, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with the goal of a fully accessible province in 2025.
Yet, a public art organization decided it was okay to exclude persons with disabilities with this recent exhibition. Linda Saxon, Amherstburg
Town of Amherstburg Tweets About Unique Experience
Amherstburg’s Open Air 2022 Barriers To Inclusion
Sunday, May 29, 2022 – the start of National AccessAbility Week; inclusive from the start is this year’s theme and this photo is my contribution to raising awareness of the need for inclusion in our community.
Amherstburg’s Open Air event where, for the third year, barriers prevent the almost 5,000 persons with disabilities from equally participating in their community: barriers to the downtown core, including the post office, banks, hair salons and parking to allow for games, patios, entertainment to occupy the streets.
the burg watch 