Vaughan gets Gold Certification for accessibility
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Tune into virtual
celebration on May 25 at 1 p.m.
The City of Vaughan is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible and accommodating community for all. In recognition of efforts taken to fulfill this mission, the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) has awarded multiple City facilities with Gold Certification for accessibility. A live-streamed virtual event will take place on Monday, May 25 at 1 p.m. to celebrate the achievement – tune in at vaughan.ca/live.
The following City
facilities have been certified gold by the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility
Certification (RHFAC) program: Vaughan City Hall, Vaughan Civic Centre Resource
Library, and the North Thornhill Community Centre and Pleasant Ridge Library as
a combined facility. Accessibility enhancements, such as automatic door
openers, tactile walking surface indicators at stair
areas, accessible seating and more, have contributed to reaching this
milestone.
During the live-streamed
event next week, the RHF will officially recognize these facilities as RHF
Accessibility Certified Gold. Celebratory remarks will be shared from Mayor
Maurizio Bevilacqua, Local and Regional Councillor and Chair of the Vaughan
Accessibility Advisory Committee Linda Jackson and Rick Hansen. Further event information is available at vaughan.ca/COVID19.
The RHFAC program works
to help improve accessibility in the public places where people live, work,
learn and play. A rating system is used to evaluate the accessibility of a site
and certify it at one of two levels – RHF Accessibility Certified or RHF
Accessibility Certified Gold. A gold certification is the highest achievement.
As the City continues
to implement new response efforts to support the community during COVID-19, it
is now more important than ever to recognize accessibility achievements that
will be enjoyed by residents long after the pandemic has passed. Receiving the official
gold certifications further showcases the City’s commitment to 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. Learn more about
how the City of Vaughan is championing
accessibility at vaughan.ca/accessibility.
To help protect the
community from further transmission of the virus, many services have
transitioned online or continue via telephone. View the latest news and more at
vaughan.ca/COVID19. To receive updates as
they are released, sign up for the City’s eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s
official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For more information
about City matters, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. To ensure the City’s
contact centre is accessible for everyone, a specialized Textnet software
program has been implemented enabling deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or
speech-impaired residents to easily access and converse with representatives.
Individuals can use the services by calling 1-866-543-0545. Access Vaughan also
has an over-the-phone interpretation system – Language Line – that provides
verbal translation in more than 150 languages. Residents can request this
service with a Citizen Service Representative, free of charge.
Those who feel unwell
and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region
Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional
information and resources on COVID-19, including physical distancing tips and
advice from Public Health officials, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.
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