Category Archives: Accessibility

Accessibility After The Cart

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reprinted from the Amherstburg Echo

RE: Town council to discuss bylaw exemptions to allow horse and buggy business in Navy Yard Park

With the exception of Councillor Diane Pouget, shame on council for putting accessibility after the cart. In particular, shame on Councillor Bart DiPasquale, a member of the town’s accessibility advisory committee, for not representing the rights of residents with disabilities.

After having appeared before council for the past ten years to raise accessibility issues, critique the town’s annual accessibility plan, and to question the town’s commitment to accessibility, I once again question council’s rationale for its action – the town has an obligation to ensure the safety of all its residents, including persons with disabilities and equal access to its amenities.

Randy Fasan, as a business owner, is also subject to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and its Regulations and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Will customers with disabilities be able to access his business, provide feedback in an accessible manner and will he change his website to make it accessible?

Fasan is quoted as saying, “if I have to abide by these bylaws as they stand today I am going to have to move to another town or discontinue any type of business to Amherstburg.” I’d like to know how he assumed he did not have to comply with the bylaw in the first place.

Making an amendment to exempt a business from a bylaw that has not been prosecuted while operating in violation of the bylaw for years sets a precedent for anyone to ignore any town bylaw and illustrates council’s disregard for the safety of its residents.

Linda Saxon

also published in Accessibility News

Exemptions Discussed For Horse and Buggy in Navy Yard Park

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According to the Amherstburg Echo, Administration will meet with horse and buggy owner, Randy Fasan, to allow him to continue his business in the Navy Yard Park. Fasan acknowledged the park’s passive nature and advised that he’s “worked with the parks department for the last few years.” That work included widening of sidewalks and working on improving turns for the horses and carriage.

Amherstburg Accessible Customer Service Feedback Form

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ONTARIO REGULATION 429/07 made under the ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2005, outlines the Accessible Customer Service Feedback process in section 7.  (1)  Every provider of goods or services shall establish a process for receiving and responding to feedback about the manner in which it provides goods or services to persons with disabilities and shall make information about the process readily available to the public.

I find the town’s web site difficult to navigate and the link to the Amherstburg Accessible Customer Service Feedback Form on this page is broken.

To Locate the Amherstburg Accessible Customer Service Feedback Form:

Visit www.amherstburg.ca

Click on residents

Click residents tab at top

Click accessibility on the left side bar (not in alphabetical order)

Click customer service under accessibility on the left side bar

Scroll down until you find the link to the Accessible Customer Service Standards Policy

The feedback form is the last page of the policy.

Note: it doesn’t state any action will be taken, just that feedback will be responded to within three (3) business days of its receipt by the Town.

De railed

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At the April 18, 2011 Council Meeting, Council directed Administration to proceed with installation of the hand railings in Rink A of the United Communities Credit Union for a cost of no more than $4,000.00.

However, rails will not be installed; The Amherstburg Echo quoted Rick Daly, “Installing these railings as directed would put the town in violation of the Ontario Building Code as well as the Ontario Fire Code.”

UCCU complex accessibility question

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on october 11, 2011, i emailed brenda percy, town clerk and requested documentation to support the claim that the UCCU is a fully accessible facility; she initially did not address my request, but then advised, “With regard to documentation to support the claim – I do not have that type of information but will inquire.”

on october 31, 2011, i emailed to inquire about the status of her inquiries; she replied, “Your question has been relayed to the appropriate manager and it is my understanding correspondence is being drafted.”

on november 7, 2011, brenda percy emailed me a copy of letter dated november 7, 2011 from Cindy Burkhour, MA, CTRS, CPRP, Access to Recreation, Jenison, Michigan, the consultant used in UCCU Centre regarding accessibility of the complex.

on november 8, 2011, i requested brenda percy to make further inquiries for documentation, including reports, correspondence, accessibility audits, council minutes, committee minutes, departmental minutes and reports, etc.,  that correspond with any earlier claims that the UCCU complex is accessible.

about two hours later, brenda percy replied, “the correspondence provided should satisfy your request. For any additional information, please feel free to search the public archives available on the Town website at www.amherstburg.ca”

i subsequently requested that my request and emails be placed on council’s agenda for the next meeting and the response was, “will do.”