Accessibility Plan: 2018 - 2023

Section 8: Status and Updates by Other Organizations and Agencies

  • Niagara Regional Police Service
    • Review of the Niagara Regional Police Service facilities has been undertaken to build a long-term accommodation strategy, using Facility Accessibility Design Standards as the accessibility guideline
    • Future needs assessment of facilities to include accessibility and barrier recognition in tandem with future usage assessments
    • New proposed Licensing By-law addresses accessible transportation
    • Website is W3C compliant
    • TTY service is available
    • Redesign business cards for all front line Niagara Regional Police Service staff to provide information in larger font
    • Customer service and other applicable regulations included in:
      • Niagara Region training
      • Officer education and training programs
      • Existing and ongoing training programs and videos
      • Video library (situational training) at police stations and the police training centre on Niagara College campus, including an eight-part training video series titled Police Response to Persons with Disabilities
      • Orientation training includes content regarding the Ontario Human Rights Code and workplace harassment, which both include accessibility sensitivity and awareness components
      • Customer service, Ontario Human Rights Code and Integrated Accessibility Regulations transportation training offered to taxi cab providers and drivers
  • Niagara Regional Housing
    • Improves facility accessibility on a continual basis
    • Endorses the inclusion of accessibility planning into emergency preparedness initiatives
    • Enhanced forms to be more user-friendly and available in alternate formats upon request
    • Ensures availability of alternative formats for information and material
    • Ensures special accommodations are available for meetings and events
    • Special events are held at accessible venues
    • Develops policies and procedures for Acessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Customer Service compliance
    • Encourages any new affordable housing to have at least 10 per cent of units designated as accessible housing units and/or strives to have at least 10 per cent of units built incorporating Universal Design Principles where possible

    Under the Niagara Affordable Housing Programs, private sector and non-profit housing proponents, builders, and contractors were provided and encouraged to incorporate the Facility Accessibility Design Standards document.

    • Design Consultation Committee established to provide input into new Niagara Regional Housing-owned project includes representative from the Region's Accessibility Advisory Committee
    • All Niagara Regional Housing-owned apartment buildings converted to power door operators in foyers and lobbies
    • All buildings have elevators with the exception of four smaller buildings under review
    • Elevator buttons in hallways and inside elevators have been lowered
    • Ramps are installed in family units, where structurally possible, upon request and at no charge to tenants
    • Family units have audible / strobe fire alarms on all levels for persons with hearing disabilities
    • Seniors' apartments have audible fire alarms, with visual strobe fire alarms/horns being placed inside apartment units and bedrooms of persons with hearing disabilities
    • Seniors' apartments have grab bars and levered handles in all bathrooms
    • Grab bars are installed in family units upon request and at no charge
    • All common areas / grounds have accessible parking spaces, curb cuts and ramps to entrance doors
    • Continue to be guided by strategy documents such as "The Housing Strategy - People Needing Housing: A Collaborative Housing Strategy for the Niagara Community", released in October 2004, which recommends a set of housing objectives including: ensure there is an accessible, adequate supply of affordable rental and ownership housing; and eliminate physical, social and economic barriers to all forms of housing
    • Website updated to incorporate plain language and improve readability
    • Communication materials and publications, including application forms developed with plain language guidelines to improve readability
    • Ongoing staff training
  • Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
    • Facility accessibility audit completed, prioritized facility improvements, including remedies and costs
    • A checklist and reference guide was prepared by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust on the accessibility of outdoor facilities
    • Accessibility improvement projects have included facilities at Ball's Falls, Long Beach, Binbrook and Chippawa Creek Conservation Areas
    • Regular upkeep of outdoor facilities include trail maintenance, ensuring that trails being advertised as accessible have adequate, packed screening pathways in good condition
    • Glenridge Quarry and Elm Street Naturalization Sites include accessibility considerations for all undertakings
    • Facility Accessibility Design Standards is used as the guiding document for accessibility along with Built Environment outdoor spaces regulations
    • New sound system installed at Ball's Falls
    • Programming now designed to remove barriers

Section 9: Initiatives 2012-2017 Section 7: Status and Update of Regional Operations

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