Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

• Message from the Regional Chair

  I am pleased to introduce the Niagara Region's Multi- Year Accessibility Plan for 2024 to 2029.

  This plan builds on our achievements in advancing accessibility across the region and reaffirms Council's commitment to ensuring that all Niagara Region services and facilities are accessible to everyone.
  

  Meeting and exceeding the standards set forth in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act is foundational to our goal of creating an inclusive environment for all.
  

  The plan outlines key initiatives that Niagara Region will implement over the next five years, covering essential areas such as Niagara Regional Housing projects, customer service processes, our websites, and improvements to Regional roads and crosswalks.

  This plan is a comprehensive roadmap which will help us maintain our focus on removing barriers to equal participation in all Regional services and public spaces.

  On behalf of Regional Council, I want to acknowledge and thank the members of our Accessibility Advisory Committee. These volunteers bring invaluable insight and personal experiences that help inform our decisions and enhance our services.

  Input from this committee is vital to our progress and is helping to make Niagara a better place for everyone.

  Together, we are making strides towards a more inclusive Niagara where everyone can fully participate and thrive in our community.

• Message from the Accessibility Advisory Committee

  The Accessibility Advisory Committee is honoured to have participated in the development of Niagara Region's 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan.

  This plan represents a significant step in Niagara Region's accessibility journey to date. It builds on the achievements of the Region's previous 2018-2023 plan while laying a foundation for the organization to identify, remove and prevent accessibility barriers for years to come.

  The 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan considers accessibility and participation barriers in many essential areas of living and organizational service delivery. From public spaces and customer service to digital information, and employment, this plan aims to advance accessibility throughout the region.

  The stories and experiences of people across Niagara, as well as the expert voices of the local accessibility advisory committees, helped to design this plan. A plan that will not only be effective in breaking down barriers, but that is reflective of the needs of people with disabilities.

  The Accessibility Advisory Committee is grateful for Niagara Regional Council's commitment to accessibility and to an Equitable Region.

  We are pleased to endorse the Region's 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. We look forward to our continued work together to ensure that Regional services, programs and facilities are accessible, inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

• Governance and participation

  Improving accessibility and removing barriers across Niagara Region is a collective priority and shared responsibility. Regional Council, senior leadership, staff, volunteers and contractors all have an important role in advancing and promoting accessibility.

  The 2024-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan applies to Niagara Region as a corporation which includes:

  • Office of the CAO
  • Office of the Deputy CAO
  • Community Services
  • Corporate Services
  • Public Health
  • Public Works

  Agencies, boards and commissions also participating include:

  • Niagara Regional Police Service
  • Niagara Regional Housing

  The Niagara Transit Commission and Niagara Conservation Authority participated in Niagara Region's 2018-2023 plan. These organizations are not participating in our 2024-2029 plan. These organizations, along with area municipalities in Niagara, develop their own multi-year accessibility plans.

Actions to advance accessibility

• Focus 1: General requirements

  Accessibility plan and policies

  • Update Niagara Region's Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
  • Update the corporate accessibility policy to reflect and renew Niagara Region's commitment to accessibility
  • Develop and adopt a digital accessibility policy to enhance the accessibility and usability of web-based services and information for all users

  Training processes

  • Coordinate procedures for corporate training on the Accessibility for Ontarians Disabilities Act
  • Centralize accessibility training completion data for employees, volunteers and contractors
• Focus 2: Barriers in customer service

  Procedures and neetings

  • Review corporate procedures related to procurement, service animals, support persons and service disruptions. Update as necessary for alignment with accessibility legislation and disability inclusion.
  • Develop and implement best practices for accessible Regional meetings, including meetings of Regional Council, and for communicating meeting accessibility features to the public

  Staff training

  • Expand training for staff, volunteers and consultants on disability, assistive devices, accessibility barriers, accessibility supports and accessibility legislation
• Focus 3: Barriers in information and communication

  Feedback processes

  • Review public feedback processes across all departments to ensure they are accessible
  • Strengthen corporate feedback processes as required for increased accessibility, increased staff response times and public awareness

  Accessible information

  • Ensure all corporate and departmental websites, social media and applications meet or exceed Web Content Accessible Guidelines 2.0 AA
  • Establish consistent web auditing and internal reporting processes across departments
  • Explore and implement, where possible, alternate document compliance testing and remediation tools for greater accessibility and efficiency
  • Continue to develop and coordinate web and document accessibility training for staff
  • Establish a digital accessibility sub-group of the staff accessibility working group
  • Review emergency and public safety communication procedures for accessibility. Update where necessary.
• Focus 4: Barriers in employment

  Recruitment, hiring and accommodations

  • Develop and implement corporate diversity, equity and inclusion resources and practices to ensure barrier-free hiring and recruitment practices, and an inclusive and welcoming workplace
  • Strengthen communication processes with applicants and employees to ensure they are aware of available disability accommodations and related procedures
  • Strengthen corporate processes for the development and maintenance of individualized employee accommodation plans

  Workplace emergency response

  • Strengthen corporate processes for the development and maintenance of individualized workplace emergency response plans for employees with a disability

  Employee support

  • Support opportunities for information sharing and collaboration for employees and Regional volunteers with a disability or accessibility needs
• Focus 5: Barriers in public spaces

  Accessible facilities project

  • Complete the necessary accessible design upgrades identified in phases one and two of the accessible facilities project
    
  • Continue phases three and four of the accessible facilities project. Conduct accessibility assessments on all remaining Regional facilities.
  • Develop plans to remove identified access barriers

  Accessible design standards

  • Construction Energy and Facilities Management to update the Facilities Accessible Design Standards for all Regional construction and redevelopment
    based on the Town of Oakville's Universal Design Standards v2.1
  • Niagara Regional Housing to develop universal design procedures for use in Niagara Regional Housing projects, including multi-unit residential buildings

  Scent and fragrance-free spaces

  • Update and implement corporate policies and staff and public education tools toward making Niagara Region owned and operated facilities scent and
    fragrance free
• Focus 6: Barriers in transportation

  Accessible paths of travel

  • Provide education for the public, consultants and staff on mobility barriers in the community, such as improper placement of garbage and recycle bins, improper use of accessible parking spaces, snow covered walkways, inaccessible paths of travel
  • Implement curb ramps, tactile walking surface indicators and accessible pedestrian signals at Regional intersections as reconstruction projects occur
  • Continue to adjust signal timings, where possible, to provide longer crossing times at intersections for pedestrians who may need more time to cross the road
  • Work with local municipalities to ensure minimum pedestrian clearway requirements are incorporated into capital reconstruction projects

  Conventional and specialized transit

  • Projects and activities related to the accessibility of conventional and specialized transit, bus stops and bus shelters are not addressed in Niagara Region's Multi-Year Accessibility Plan. They will be addressed through the Niagara Transit Commission's master and accessibility plans.

2025 Status update

Learn about the key accessibility achievements in 2025.

• General
  • 52 per cent of actions are completed or in progress
  • Completed an external scan of digital and accessible information policies
  • Developed and implemented a training schedule and materials on document accessibility
• Customer service
  • Added updated provincial training on the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to the MyLearning staff training portal
  • Scanned and reviewed best practices for accessible meetings to update staff resources
  • Reviewed customer service training
• Information and communication
  • Developed new training and resources on creating accessible documents. Over 400 employees trained.
  • Developing a new website with a focus on accessibility
  • Tested Regional websites for accessibility
• Employment
  • Continued workplace accessibility and inclusion initiatives
  • Reviewed emergency planning for employees with disabilities to identify areas for improvement
  • Added new resources on the staff intranet about the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and disability
• Design of public spaces
  • Updated and approved accessible design standards
  • Reviewed 90 per cent of Regional facilities for access barriers
  • Added three new universal washrooms at child care service facilities
  • Accessibility upgrades for the Welland transit station are in the design phase
  • Installed new strobe lights at 30 Regional locations
  • Ran an education campaign to raise awareness about scent and fragrance sensitivities
• Transportation
  • Conducted an online survey to gather information about accessible taxi use in Niagara

Accessibility

• Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and Status Updates
• Accessibility Advisory Committee