There were no major events over the past week for National Accessibility Week – but the issue is in the forefront with local politicians and staff.
John Green is chairman of the county’s accessibility committee and he said much of that group’s time is spent keeping local councils up to speed on accessibility issues.
He said, “They’ve been embarking on training.” That is critical, and it is far reaching.
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj said Monday night every staff member of every municipality in Ontario, plus volunteers, are learning how to deal with people who have accessibility issues. Thousands of people need the training.
Locally it is provided by county staff to municipal staff. Municipal staff pass it on.
It’s a good program, Ross-Zuj said. “It makes you aware of what you can do to make another person’s life more comfortable. It teaches you how to interact with a person who has a disability.”
She cited simple things like announcing one’s name when talking with someone who has difficulty seeing or is blind and not assuming that person will recognize a voice.
Municipalities are taking steps to make their buildings accessible, and Green noted there is a list of what needs to be done. He believes local municipalities have accessible offices, but there might still be some issues at some community centres. In Mapleton, he said council has applied for a grant that would allow access both levels of the Moorefield community centre.
He said as the county builds new libraries or renovates the old Carnegie libraries, those become accessible. In most cases, they get elevators.
Councils are going through the exercise because the provincial government has warned them all public buildings will have to be accessible within the next decade or so, and most politicians do not want to be faced with the bill all at once.
Centre Wellington councillor Walt Visser said the work “is an ongoing process. I’ve been involved for eight years.”
Visser has sat on several committees, and is currently a member of the county committee. He also sits on one of five provincial committees that are addressing accessibility issues.
Visser and Green both stated that Wellington County has worked very closely with London. Visser said that city was very far ahead of everyone in Ontario, so Wellington’s committee used its early work, improved upon it, and London then borrowed Wellington’s document to help rewrite that city’s accessibility policy.
As for the nationally designated week, Visser said, “That’s nice,” but he is interested more in action than gestures.
“Wellington County is well ahead,” he said, smiling.
