Accessibility Advisory Committee

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, April 07, 2025

Time:

2:00 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Location:

Online Video Conference

Members

• Councillor Matt Mahoney , Ward 8
• Councillor Martin Reid, Ward 9
• Carol-Ann Chafe, Citizen Member (Chair)
• Asim Zaidi, Citizen Member (Vice-Chair)
• Amanda Ramkishun, Citizen Member
• Clement Lowe, Citizen Member
• Mary Daniel, Citizen Member
• Moneira Salic, Citizen Member
• Naz Husain, Citizen Member
• Paul Wilk, Citizen Member
• Steven Viera, Citizen Member

Members Absent

• Ramapriyan Gopal, Citizen Member

Staff Present

• Temi Adeniyi

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Carol-Ann Chafe, Chair called the meeting to order at 2:10 PM and introduced Ramapriyan Gopal as the new Citizen Member of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Chair, requested everyone present at the meeting introduce themselves.

2.

INDIGENOUS LAND STATEMENT

Carol-Ann Chafe, Chair recited the Indigenous Land Statement.

3.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Approved, as amended to add Ramapriyan Gopal, Citizen Member to the Agenda (S. Viera)

4.

DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

5.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

5.1

Draft Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes – February 10, 2025

Approved (M. Daniel)

6.

DEPUTATIONS

6.1

Janette Campbell, Leaders Project, DSX regarding the Accessibility Compliance Plan Update

Janette Campbell, Project Leader, Digital Strategy and Experience spoke to the Compliance Plan update and noted:

• the six requirements of the Accessibility Compliance Plan under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) regulations
• four requirements under the Information and Communication Standards
• Better Connected Plan launch in 2020
• ongoing compliance and monitoring of the website
• launch of the accessible document resources intranet site for staff and accessible document program
• accessible presentation pilot project
• policy change to ensure compliance
• status of the three initiatives and the launch date in 2026 of Initiative 1:  Standards, Tools and Training

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0005-2025
  Moved By Councillor M. Mahoney

  That the presentation and deputation by Janette Campbell, Leaders Project, DSX regarding the Accessibility Compliance Plan Update, be received.

  Received

6.2

Dan Sadler, Manager, Standards, Training & Compliance regarding the  2024 Accessibility Annual Status Update

This item was heard before 9.1

Dan Sadler, Manager, Standards, Training & Compliance spoke to the 2024 Accessibility Annual Status Update and noted:

• employment statistics and survey results
• evolution of accessibility
• 2025 launch of the Facility Accessibility Design Standard guidelines
• key areas of focus in the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and progress to date
• achievement highlights
• location of various City services for the public in the Great Hall
• translation apps added to phones and closed captioning in library videos
• partnership with Ready, Willing and Able to ensure inclusive hiring
• accessible movement to include accessible parking spaces, 17 enhanced bus shelters and the hidden disability Sunflower Program
• renovations to Iceland Arena rink 2 to accommodate sledge hockey, accessible change rooms, and updates to the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre renovations, multi use trails and way finding in all City facilities.

Committee Members spoke to the following:

• spoke in favour of the presentation and work completed.

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0006-2025
  Moved By S. Viera

  That the presentation and deputation of Dan Sadler, Manager, Standards, Training & Compliance regarding the 2024 Accessibility Annual Status Update, be received.

  Received

7.

PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD - 15 Minute Limit 

There were no questions for public question period.

8.

CONSENT AGENDA - Nil

9.

MATTERS CONSIDERED

9.1

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Update

Accessibility Staff will provide a brief verbal update with respect to the Accessibility For Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

There was no update provided.

9.2

Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee Update

Councillor Mahoney, Carol-Ann Chafe, Vice-Chair and Mary Daniel, Citizen Member and Members of the Region of Peel Accessibility Advisory Committee will provide a brief verbal update.

Carol-Ann Chafe, Chair spoke to the following updates:

• Brightwater development will include 150 affordable rental units
• electric vehicle charging stations design guidelines would include accessibility
• Region of Peel would be renewing its multi-year accessibility plan which would be ready in 2026. 

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0007-2025
  Moved By M. Daniel

  That the verbal update regarding the Region of Peel’s Accessibility Advisory Committee provided by Carol-Ann Chafe, Chair and Citizen Member and Member of the ROP AAC be approved.

  Approved

9.3

Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Work Plan

Dan Sadler, Manager, Compliance, Standards & Training noted that there could be a special meeting of the Facility Accessibility Design Standards (FADS) Subcommittee to go over the guidelines.

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0008-2025
  Moved By S. Viera

  That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Work Plan be approved as discussed at the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting.

  Approved

10.

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

10.1

Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee Report 2 - 2025 - dated March 31, 2025

FADS-0003-2025
That the deputation and presentation by Eric Zhao, Active Transportation Coordinator and
Matthew Sweet, Manager Active Transportation regarding Shared Micro-mobility Program -
2025 Pre-launch Season Update, be received.
(FADS-0003-2025)

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0009-2025
  Moved By A. Ramkishun

  That the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee (FADS) Recommendation Report 2 - 2025 - dated March 31, 2025 and minutes be approved.

  Approved

11.

INFORMATION ITEMS

11.1

Steven Viera, Citizen Member verbal update on the Transit Advisory Committee

Steven Viera, Citizen Member provided the Accessibility Advisory Committee with an update on the following:

• MiWay bus signage and spoke to the replacement front bus signage from orange to white
• new buses would have LED displays with colour contrasting; and
• buses would no longer display holiday greetings.

• RECOMMENDATION AAC-0010-2025
  Moved By M. Daniel

  That the verbal update provided by Steven Viera, Citizen Member on behalf of the Transit Advisory Committee regarding the MiWay Bus Destination Signage, be received.

  Received

12.

OTHER BUSINESS

There were no items for Other Business.

13.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

FADS – FACILITY ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN SUBCOMMITTEE
Monday, May 26, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Virtual Meeting

AAC – ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Monday, June 16, 2025 at 2 pm

14.

ADJOURNMENT - 2:55 PM

(Councillor M. Mahoney)