Tag Archives: Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee

New Jack Purdie Park Swing

Posted on by

I posted that I’d have more to say about the Multigenerational Swing Installation Jack Purdie Park.

While the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee spent about half of the meeting discussing the proposed new LCBO, it took about two minutes for the clerk to provide a background and for the committee chair to note it looks amazing and should be standard.

The clerk advised that for a second time the Town of Amherstburg received funding through the Enabling Accessibility Fund – Youth Innovation Component and they may have to recognize the individual’s support for the community and for being such a forward thinking youth to continue to drive forward the town and its initiatives.

The agenda attachment notes, ‘We are excited to announce the ‘swing along’ installation in Jack Purdie Park, which is already getting lots of use! This multigenerational swing allows children ages 5 and under to sit face-to-face with and in close proximity to a sibling, parent or caregiver. This configuration promotes social, emotional, visual, vestibular, proprioceptive and language skill development and is a great way to teach little ones how to swing.’

My critique? The swing limits use to under age 5. Stats Canada states in 2021 there were 745 children age 0 to 4; so what about the 1670 children ages 5 to 14 who want to swing? The swing is segregated; I question how that promotes social skill development. There is no sidewalk leading up to it. The surface is soft and uneven. There is no shade. And, as mentioned in this post,

‘When adapted or specialized equipment is made available, it is often limited in quantity and engaged with alone, thereby highlighting the functional limitations of that child and further segregating them from their peers.’

canadian public health association accessibility and usability of play spaces march 2019

Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Designing Inclusive Playgrounds to Enable Participation for Children with Disabilities By: Canadian Disability Participation Project, supported by Canadian Tire Jumpstart.

How does this playground compare?

photo 1: isolated new swing

photo 2: no sidewalk to it

photo 3: the rest of the playground in the distance

AAAC Discussed New LCBO At Length

Posted on by

Almost half of the one hour August 24 Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting was spent on the new LCBO site plan at the Walmart plaza.

The Municipal Property Audits, reviewed back in 2018 to 2019 will be revisited by members using the Building & Spaces Accessibility Assessment Form; – there should be no surprises regarding the lack of accessibility at the town hall and Gordon House, as I’ve pointed out numerous times.

  • Town Hall
  • Libro Centre & Property
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Gordon House*
  • Amherstburg Public Library*
  • Gibson Gallery*
  • Community Hub*
  • *Note – Heritage features of designated heritage structures are restricted from modifications.

The Site Plan Review – 400 Sandwich St. South was discussed at length and focused on the town’s right of way and a sidewalk on Pickering. Apparently, the town asked the developer about a sidewalk several times but couldn’t demand it because it is town property and a municipal decision.

About fifteen minutes later.

Motion 1: to approve with the referring the sidewalk question to 2024 budget.

More discussion and clarification: approving it unconditionally or conditionally? waiting to hear back whether that’s going to be approved? the committee doesn’t have approval capacity – can make recommendations, endorse, but not approve. This can proceed with or without this committee’s endorsement.

Without a seconder, the motion on the floor was read: that the Site Plan for 400 Sandwich Street South be endorsed by the Amherstburg accessibility committee, and that consideration of a sidewalk on Pickering Drive from Sandwich to the proposed new LCBO store be brought to the 2024 budget deliberations. The Chair didn’t think they had a motion and asked if they did.

Motion 2: that the Accessibility Advisory Committee favours this development but calls on the developer and the town to put a sidewalk there.

More discussion.

The clerk was asked to read back the motion:

that the site plan for 400 Sandwich Street South be favored by the accessibility advisory committee and that the Accessibility Advisory Committee calls on the developer and the town to put a sidewalk from Sandwich Street South to the LCBO along the municipal right of way on Pickering drive.

More discussion. Favoured?

The motion is read again:

that the development for 400 Sandwich Street South be supported by the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee in principle, but that the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee calls on the developer and the town to put a sidewalk from Sandwich Street South to the LCBO along the municipal right of way on Pickering drive.

More discussion: Supported?

Motion amended to say that the Accessibility Advisory Committee calls on the developer and the town to build a sidewalk there.

Motion is read again:

that the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee calls on the town and the developer to build a sidewalk along Pickering drive to service the new development.

Carried.

Accessible On-Street Parking: public consultation will b held in the fall for the downtown core.

Multigenerational Swing Installation Jack Purdie Park: little discussion but I’ll have more on that in another post.

On to UNFINISHED BUSINESS and Maintenance of Tactile Surface Indicators and a motion that carried: the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee recommends that the town implement a maintenance schedule to paint tactile surface plates that have rusted.

Why Does Committee Vacancy Ad Not Mirror Provincial Legislation?

Posted on by

For decades, since the Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2001 and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005, a majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities.

The River Town Times ad states, A majority of the members of the committee shall be persons with disabilities or caregivers of persons with disabilities. Caregivers cannot be substituted.

River Town Times ad committee vacancies

Should Minutes Be Consistently Corrected?

Posted on by

Background

During a council meeting earlier this year, Councillor Michael Prue had a question about committee minutes, the presence of his wife, Shirley Curson-Prue, at a committee meeting and the recording of votes.

Mayor DiCarlo said the minutes would be looked into and any corrections required would be made.

Present

On August 4, 2022, I read the August 8 town council meeting agenda and emailed all members of council that the Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAAC) meeting minutes June 23, 2022 were incorrect.

“The minutes indicate the motion was ‘that the delegation be received.’ However, following my presentation, Chair Shirley Curson-Prue asked, “May I have a motion to receive this document?” Chris Drew said he’d make the motion which was then seconded by Angela Kelly and carried. The audio is available online.”

I assumed errors were to be corrected.

On Friday, August 5, Mayor Aldo DiCarlo emailed, “Thank you for the clarification.”

On Monday, August 8, council received the AAAC minutes without comment.

Amherstburg Accessibility Advisory Committee Could Use Tips

Posted on by

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.”