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.
Category Archives: #Accessibility barrier!
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.
Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee Could Use Tips
I watched today’s rescheduled Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.
Committee members still stray off topic, but did finally have a discussion regarding keeping track of money allocated to projects and decisions regarding the same. For quite some time I have wondered why resolutions were not passed and recorded in the minutes for reference. In the future, an unfinished list of sorts will be used. Why it took so long I have no idea, especially when a few members sit on other town committees.
I didn’t hear the committee members deal with an AODA Alliance tips for committee members that I forwarded through town clerk Valerie Critchley. I also sent it to members of council so they would be better informed; see below.
“This Update gives members of AACs and SEACs practical tips on how to give as strong a voice as possible to disability issues. We identify seven areas of concern and then provide a fuller explanation for each point below. In summary, here is what all members of AACs and SEACs should know:
1. AACs and SEACs should set their own meeting agendas! Don’t let city staff or school board staff set their advisory committee’s agenda or tell them what topics are “in order.”
2. Members of AACs and SEACs must remain free to also be disability advocates in private and public.
3. Inaccessible virtual meeting platforms and application forms are not allowed.
4. Public deputations to an advisory committee should not be artificially limited to five minutes.
5. Municipal and school board bylaws cannot hog-tie the work of an AAC or SEAC.
6. Members of the public are free to talk to or exchange emails with advisory committee members about accessibility issues, including those on the advisory committee’s agenda. (emphasized for council’s attention).
7. AACs and SEACs have an absolute right to have their recommendations and advice shared directly with all the city council or school board trustees whom they are appointed to advise, and not just to a sub-committee.
Please share this Update with members of the AAC and SEAC in your community. Urge your member of city council and school board trustee to read this and to send it to all members of their AAC or SEAC.”
Reality To Counter Accolades – Open Air
I would like to counter all the accolades with a dose of reality.
Shame on Anne Rota for recommending a report for adoption that omits compliance with provincial legislation.
Rota’s Report referenced under-utilized parking for employees but plans to continue offering those spots. However, the alleged under-utilized accessible parking in the King’s Navy Yard Park lot will be reduced. The rationale for this differentiation was unclear, until the council meeting when Ms. Rota stated this reduction would allow for a turn around to be created instead. Further, the plan is to add three accessible parking spaces in three locations at the outside perimeter.
Shame on council for approving a plan that fails to meet its obligation to consult with the public.
Mayor DiCarlo advised, in April 2021, the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee was not consulted with respect to Open Air Weekends and only one person with a disability was consulted in the design of the footprint.
It is mandatory, pursuant to O. Reg. 191/11: Integrated Accessibility Standards for the town to consult on the need, location and design of accessible on-street parking spaces and shall do so with the public and persons with disabilities as well as its Accessibility Advisory Committee.
My submission to members of council, prior to the council meeting, wherein I asked if the town would discriminate against persons with disabilities, quoted the provincial legislation regarding public consultation, and objected to the arbitrary placement of accessible parking spaces, especially in a distant perimeter, and accessible spaces that cannot be accessed due to road closures, was ignored.
Given council’s duty to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality, I must question the $90,000. taxpayer funded expenditure that creates barriers to persons with disabilities.
Commentary by Linda Saxon as published in the River Town Times December 1, 2021
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