Championing accessibility

Feb. 23, 2021 10:00 a.m.
​City of Vaughan approves 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan

The City of Vaughan is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, accessible and accommodating community for all. As a reflection of this commitment to advancing accessibility, Vaughan Council recently approved the City’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan, which identifies how the City will create a barrier-free community with universal access to its programs, services and facilities.
 
The City’s goal is to create an accessible community by 2025 – and this plan will help achieve that by ensuring people at any age and ability are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. It does this by outlining the various activities and initiatives the City will undertake to support accessibility, including implementing new programs and services, creating accessible play spaces, using accessible technology, implementing accessible employment practices and achieving additional Rick Hansen Gold Accessibility Certifications.
 
The plan also aligns with several priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, including enhancing citizen experience, contributing to an active, safe and diverse community, and city-building that creates welcoming and inclusive public spaces. Under this mandate, some of the City’s accessibility commitments include:
  • delivering quality programs and services to all citizens.
  • removing physical barriers to existing and new facilities.
  • involving people with disabilities in the development of annual accessibility plans and initiatives.
  • implementing initiatives that continue to make the city an inclusive and accessible community where people of all abilities have the chance to achieve their potential. 
In addition to this plan, the following City-led accessibility and diversity initiatives are also in place.
 
New Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Following a successful public recruitment process, the City of Vaughan hired Zincia Francis as of January 2021 to fill the new role of Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In this senior-level, full-time position, Ms. Francis leads the organization’s diversity and inclusion activities, provides strategic guidance and advises on policies, processes and procedures related to diversity. Reporting directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer and supported by the existing Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator, she also helps facilitate a renewed mandate for the Human Resources department, attends meetings of the City’s Senior Leadership Team and supports the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
 
Diversity and Inclusion Task Force
The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force serves as a forum of discussion and helps guide the City in developing policies that promote fairness, mutual respect and an undoubted sense of inclusion among the diverse individuals, communities and groups that live, work and play in Vaughan. The goal is to identify ways to further engage all communities in City programs and services, in addition to providing more opportunities for these groups to network and co-ordinate efforts with each other and with the City. In August 2020, the City of Vaughan underwent public recruitment to add 19 citizen members to this task force. All committee meetings are posted to the City’s meeting calendar at vaughan.ca.  
 
Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee was established to help guide the City in removing and preventing barriers in policies, practices, programs and services in a way that meets the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The committee assisted in creating Vaughan’s Accessibility Plan and helps to identify accessibility opportunities and challenges within the community. All committee meetings are posted to the City’s meeting calendar at vaughan.ca. 
 
Accessibility Champions Awards
Established in 2019 by the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, the award recognizes businesses and individuals that foster inclusivity and advance accessibility throughout the city. Vaughan Accessibility Champions can be nominated in four categories – as an individual, a small business with fewer than 20 employees, a medium or large business with 20 or more employees or an individual with a disability. In 2020, the City presented this award to four deserving individuals and businesses who advocate for accessibility and inclusion and provide goods or services to people with disabilities within the Vaughan community.
 
Rick Hansen Foundation Gold Certification
In recognition of the City’s efforts taken towards accessibility, the Rick Hansen Foundation has awarded multiple City facilities with Gold Certification for accessibility. They include Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service firehalls 7-4 and 7-10, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as a combined facility. Various accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair areas and accessible seating, have contributed to reaching this milestone.
 
Other awards the City has received for its accessibility efforts include the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association Accessibility Award and the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility.
 
Inclusive Design Standards
Created in consultation with the City’s Accessibility and Diversity Co-ordinator and Facilities Management department, the Inclusive Design Standards allow the City to advocate for any new development in the community to be inclusive and accessible for all. These standards allow the City to demonstrate market leadership from an inclusive design perspective. In addition to ensuring that Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Building Code requirements are met, these standards go beyond legislative requirements. These standards outline examples and best practices to make buildings and other areas, like play spaces, washrooms, trails, service counters, office environments and places of worship, as inclusive as possible.
 
QUOTE
“In Vaughan, our mission is to foster a barrier-free community today and for generations to come. We remain focused on achieving our goal of becoming a completely accessible city by 2025 through Vaughan’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan. We are collectively working to create an equitable, inclusive and welcoming city where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can thrive. That is because we firmly believe that everyone should have the right to access any service, program or location they choose. I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to our administration for demonstrating municipal leadership in accessibility. I also want to thank the individuals and businesses who are paving the way to an accessible future. Their meaningful work is promoting independence, building welcoming spaces and creating opportunities for everyone in our community to reach their full potential. Together, we will continue moving our city forward without leaving anyone behind.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
 
QUICK FACTS
  • The City of Vaughan’s 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan was approved by Vaughan Council on Feb. 17, 2021.
  • The 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan outlines the various activities and initiatives the City will undertake in support of accessibility, including implementing new programs and services, creating accessible play spaces, using accessible technology, implementing accessible employment practices and achieving additional Rick Hansen Gold Accessibility Certifications.
  • The City’s goal is to create an accessible community by 2025. 
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