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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-28Clarington Clarington Accessibility Advisory Committee Minutes Tuesday January 28, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Online via Microsoft Teams If this information is required in an alternate format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext 2131 Present: Lesley Scherer (Chair) Beatrice Kraayenhof Barbara Henn Sheikh Hossain Hawa Mire Keith Brettell Also Present: Jeannette Whynot — Accessibility Coordinator Hesam Taghati - CLMA Regrets: Sanja Wirch Councillor Corinna Traill The meeting called to order at 6:31 p.m. 1. Land Acknowledgement Statement Lesley Scherer shared the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 2. Declarations of Interest No declarations 3. Approval of November 26, 2024 Meeting Minutes Moved by Keith Brettell, seconded by Barb Henn That the November 26, 2024 meeting minutes be approved as presented. Carried 4. Committee Event: Special Interest Fair Lesley and Jeannette provided an update on the Special Interest Fair event that was proposed during the November 2024 meeting. After discussing the many ideas shared at the previous meeting, Jeannette recommended that the event be kept small for its first year to ensure its success and then explore building it into a bigger event next year. A group discussion occurred, and the following motion was put forward. Moved by Keith Brettell, seconded by Beatrice Kraayenhof, Page 11 That the Accessibility Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Municipality and Clarington Library Museums and Archives (CLMA) organize a special interest fair in support of National AccessAbility Week (NAAW). That the special interest fair offer people with disabilities an opportunity to showcase their art, talent, collection, hobby or other special interest with the community. Carried. Jeannette will work with CLMA to confirm the event details, which are tentatively set for Saturday May 31st, 2025, from 12pm-3pm at the Courtice Library Branch. Additional event planning, including determining the final event name, will take place outside of regular AAC meetings. 5. National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) 2025 Disability Tax Credit Workshop/Presentation Jeannette provided an update on the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) workshop previously requested by the committee. Due to budget constraints the DTC outreach team is unable to offer workshops/presentations after 6pm or during the weekend. Community feedback has indicated a strong preference for adult workshops taking place on evenings or weekends. DTC outreach staff advised that their new budget begins April 1 st, so they may be able to offer an evening workshop in the future. Jeannette advised that she continue to connect with DTC outreach staff and will continue to try and make this presentation a reality. Children's Author Visit Given the success of last year's children's author visit in support of NAAW, Jeannette advised that she is looking to book another author this year. Committee members mutually agreed they support this event and would like CLMA to book another local children's author who can speak to disability, accessibility and/or inclusion. Other Committee members suggested the Municipality share social media videos or video links that highlight accessibility. Members also suggested posts that focus on inclusive language and how small changes can make a significant difference. For example, why using "tone deaf" isn't a phrase to use. Committee members were asked to share ideas with Jeannette, including links to videos they like. 6. 2024 Annual Accessibility Update Jeannette reviewed the draft 2024 Annual Accessibility Update, which is a requirement for Municipalities in Ontario. Moved by Barb Henn, seconded by Sheikh Hossain, That the 2024 Annual Accessibility Update be endorsed by the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Carried. Page 12 7. World Autism Day and Neurodiversity Awareness Month Jeannette brought forward, for discussion, how to publicly acknowledge World Autism Day on April 2nd and Neurodiversity Awareness Month, which is the Month of April. Several flag options were shown and discussed by the Committee. Moved by Keith Brettell, seconded by Beatrice Kraayenhof, That the Accessibility Coordinator submit a flag raising and proclamation request on behalf of the committee in support of April being Neurodiversity awareness month and World Autism Day on April 2. That the Accessibility Coordinator purchase a custom flag featuring the words "Autism Acceptance" along with the neurodiversity infinity symbol. Carried. 8. Town Hall Accessibility Entrance As a follow-up to a previous meeting, Jeannette showed the committee several designs for the accessible entrance sign for the Municipal Administrative Centre (MAC). After discussion, the committee requested that the sign be amended, and the words "Municipal Administrative Centre" be added to sign design #3. The committee also shared feedback that the building lacks signage identifying it as the MAC, especially from Church St, where most municipal parking lots are located. Jeannette advised that this feedback will be shared with staff for investigation. 9. Clarington Special Event Permits Deferred to next meeting. 10. Other Business Jeannette shared that the Municipality is looking to make changes to the vehicle for hire bylaw, which is also known as the taxi bylaw, to improve access to accessible on -demand taxi service in Clarington. Due to licensing boundaries, only vehicles licensed in Clarington can pick up rides in Clarington. With only two accessible taxis licensed in Clarington and the accessible vehicles being more expensive to own, operate and repair, being able to access an accessible taxi in the Municipality is challenging. Committee members briefly discussed how the bylaw change would affect people with disabilities in Clarington, and mutually agreed they supported changing the vehicle for hire bylaw. Jeannette will report back to the Committee on the status of this project at a future meeting. 11. Next AAC Meeting. Tuesday April 6t", 6:30pm. Hybrid format. Page 13 12. Adjournment Moved by Hawa Mire, seconded by Keith Brettell, That the meeting be adjourned. Carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm. Page 14