Making trick-or-treating accessible for everyone

Oct. 31, 2022 10:00 a.m.
​Vaughan supports inclusive Treat Accessibly initiative this Halloween

The City of Vaughan is once again supporting Treat Accessibly to help make Halloween trick-or-treating an activity every child can participate in – regardless of ability. 

Approximately 400,000 children in Canada identify with having a disability that may prevent them from trick-or-treating because of barriers such as stairs. Treat Accessibly outlines the following ways households in Vaughan can distribute Halloween treats safely and accessibly: 

  • Visit TreatAccessibly.com to get a free Treat Accessibly lawn sign.
  • Create a trick-or-treating station at the end of your driveway.
  • Ensure the path to your trick-or-treating area is well-lit and clear of hazards.
  • Refrain from using strobe lights and high-pitched, sudden loud noises.      
  • Keep pets safely away from the front of your house. 

Treat Accessibly is a grassroots movement created by the Padulo family in 2017 to make Halloween trick-or-treating more accessible and inclusive for all families. In October 2021, Local and Regional Councillor Linda Jackson brought forward a Member's Resolution supporting the Treat Accessibly initiative, which Council unanimously endorsed. 

This initiative is consistent with the City’s commitment to Active, Safe and Diverse Communities​, a priority in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan, and its mission to foster a barrier-free community and the goal to create a completely accessible city by 2025. 

In addition, the following City-led accessibility and diversity initiatives are currently in place: 

2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan
In February 2021, Vaughan Council approved the 2019-2022 Multi-year Accessibility Plan (PDF), which identifies how it will create a barrier-free community with universal access to its programs, services and facilities. It will help ensure people of any age and ability are treated in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. The plan calls for new programs and services, creating accessible play spaces, using accessible technology, implementing accessible employment practices, and achieving additional Rick Hansen Gold Accessibility Certifications. 

Rick Hansen Foundation Gold Certification
In recognition of the City’s accessibility efforts, the Rick Hansen Foundation has awarded 17 City facilities with a certification for accessibility – of this total, nine have achieved Gold Certification, the foundation’s highest honour. They include Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service fire halls 7-4 and 7-10, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as a combined facility. In addition, various accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair areas and accessible seating, have been installed in City facilities, which 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. 

Accessibility Advisory Committee
The Vaughan Accessibility Advisory Committee was established to help guide the City’s efforts to remove and prevent barriers in policies, practices, programs and services to meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. In addition, the committee assisted in creating Vaughan’s Accessibility Plan and continues to help identify accessibility opportunities and challenges within the community. All committee meetings are posted on the City’s meeting calendar on the City’s website.   

Accessibility Champions Awards
Established in 2019 by the City’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, the Accessibility Champions Awards recognize individuals and businesses that foster inclusivity and advance accessibility throughout the city. Vaughan Accessibility Champions can be nominated in four categories: 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. 

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 highlight the City’s commitment to market leadership from an inclusive design perspective. The City’s standards go above and beyond the legislative requirements included in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Ontario Building Code. The City’s Inclusive Design 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. 

QUICK FACTS

  • During the Sept. 28, 2021, meeting of the Accessibility Advisory Committee, Treat Accessibly was introduced, and a Member’s Resolution was submitted by Local and Regional Councillor Linda Jackson, which Council approved.
  • Treat Accessibly is a grassroots movement started in 2017 by the Padulo family to make Halloween trick-or-treating accessible and inclusive for all families.
  • Treat Accessibly recommends several ways households can distribute items in a safe and accessible way, including downloading a free accessible trick-or-treating sign to place in your window or creating a trick-or-treating station at the end of your driveway.
  • The City’s goal is to create an accessible community by 2025. 

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